EXPECT SOMETHING NEW!

”Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.  See, I am doing a new thing…(Isaiah 43:18-19, NIV)

January marks the beginning of a fresh, unexplored and untouched new year.  A new year is all about expecting great things from God! The slate is clean and we can start anew, just like when someone becomes a new creature in Christ, the old has gone, the new has come (II Cor. 5:17)!  Each of us has hopes, dreams and aspirations for 2007.  Personally, I want to grow deeper in Christ and build stronger relationships.  What are you expecting God to do in your life in this New Year? 

There are many examples in Scripture of God performing unexpected miracles and/or orchestrating events to surprise His people.  I’m sure the Israelites weren’t expecting God to send Moses as their deliverer after four hundred years in bondage to their cruel Egyptian taskmasters (Exodus 3:7-8).  Nor did they expect God to send the ten plagues to rescue them from Pharaoh (Exodus 7-11), and imagine their surprise when God sent the pillar of cloud to guide them by day and the pillar of fire to lead them by night (Exodus 13:21-22). 

In Jesus’ day, no one expected the five loaves and two fishes to feed five thousand people (Luke 9:10-17), and who expected Jesus to raise Lazarus from the dead (John 11:38-44)?  We serve a God who is able to do immeasurably, abundantly above and beyond anything we ask or think according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus (Eph. 3:20).

In this New Year, expect God to do something new and exciting in your life.  He is a good Heavenly Father who gives us many reasons to praise and thank Him each day.  Some of us may be blessed with better health or even complete healing this year.  Others may be blessed financially, with new friendships, a new job or a new ministry.  Whatever the case may be, I challenge you to enter 2007 with hope and great expectations, keeping your eyes on Jesus, who is the Giver of every good and perfect gift (James 1:17).

Dear Jesus, We praise You for the wonderful blessings You already have in store for us in 2007!