Hebrews 13:15 “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.”
The greeting for today is Happy New Year! It is a time to celebrate and be jubilant over the Goodness of God in Transitioning us from the previous year into a new one. Because January is always a month of new beginnings, people look forward to it with great anticipation. Today marks the first month of the new year, 2023, and we could say: Ebenezer, “Thus far the Lord has helped us” – 1 Samuel 12:7.
To God be the glory for His Saving Grace, unceasing Supplies, Caring Mercies, and Compassionate Love. Let the unpleasant experiences of the last year go with the year. In most cases, you can expect a new and better beginning. Thus, you can look into the future with hope as long as God Leads. For Paul, giving thanks to God is a perpetual experience. The Scripture Says: “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.” You and I have a continual sacrifice of praise to offer to God. When you understand the Goodness of God, you will readily start praising Him. Indeed, through Christ, we have a debt of gratitude to God.
Can we ever stop thanking God? Like Jeremiah, you may have said, “My strength and my hope Have perished from the Lord.” I remember my affliction and roaming, The wormwood and the gall. My soul still remembers And sinks within me.”(Lamentations 3:18-20, emphasis mine). But in the new year, and with the freshness of the day, you can declare:
“This I recall to my mind; Therefore I have hope. Through the Lord’s Mercies, we are not consumed, Because His Compassions fail not. They are New every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!” – Lamentations 3:21-24 (emphasis mine). Surely, you can affirm that “The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him”. Verse 25.
This year, think ‘possible’ because ‘With God all things are possible.’ Matthew 19:26 NKJV Read these two Scriptures: ‘With God all things are possible’ (Matthew 19:26 NKJV). ‘He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief’ (Matthew 13:58 NKJV). Those two verses mean this: many things that are possible remain undone because of doubt and unbelief.
This year, think ‘possible’. If God’s Word Says you can succeed but you’re failing, it may mean you don’t really believe what He says or you’re not willing to do your part. When you think ‘possible’, it increases your energy level. Who gets energised at the prospect of losing? If you know something can’t succeed, how much time and energy are you willing to give it? You only invest yourself in what you believe can succeed.
When you think ‘possible’ and trust God for success, your Faith becomes the Energising Force. Some people believe that possibility thinkers are naive or foolish. If you’re one of them, answer this: how many highly successful people do you know who are continually negative? How many impossibility thinkers are you acquainted with who achieve big things? None!
The first step to thinking ‘possible’ is to stop yourself from searching for and dwelling on what’s wrong with each situation. People with an it-can’t-be-done mindset have two choices: they can expect the worst and continually experience it, or they can
change their thinking. And that begins with eliminating the negative self-talk you hear in your head before you have even opened your mouth. ‘The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences’ (Proverbs 18:21 NLT). In order to think ‘possible’, you must believe and speak ‘possible’.
LET US PRAY
Praise and thank God for a new year; thank God for His Mercies in the past year; pray to walk with Him in the new year;
Pray for your family, church members, neighbors, work/school colleagues, friends, and well-wishers.
Pray for people in difficult and unpleasant circumstances in the country and the world.
Pray for a prosperous and peaceful nation; pray for God’s Righteousness to Reign in the country.
