New Year, Same God

It’s that time of the year again…….Cheers to a New Year! Normally, I don’t really think too much about the new year, but this year, I actually feel different. I’m super SUPER excited about 2023! It’s the time when we begin to plan what we want to fix, upgrade, add, subtract, release, accomplish etc. It’s usually all about CHANGE and newness. We are optimistic about the future and turning the page to a new chapter. The holidays are behind us, and it just seems refreshing. Most people are working on vision boards, setting goals, and preparing for first and second quarter. Out with the old and in with the new. Nothing wrong with it at all!

((You know how when we were younger, and we had to hand-sharpen our pencils?!  I feel like that’s what God was doing in my life. In 2022, he shaved off all the things that weren’t needed to prepare the graphite for it’s true purpose. Lord I am truly grateful for 2022, the good, the bad, the ugly, the blessings and the lessons! 🤎))

But when everything around us is preparing for change, God stays the same.

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Malachi 3:6 “I the Lord do not change.”

Seasons change, and as humans, we can change in many different ways, but God cannot.  If God changed, that would negate the fact that He is HOLY, PERFECT, AND JUST in all His ways. This is a great thing! This means His promises and covenant with his people remains the same!

Numbers 23:19 “God is not human, that he should lie,not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?”

As we begin to make our “plans” for the New Year, we must not grip them too tightly. Leave room for God to come in and perfect them.  He enjoys hearing from us about what we desire and want to accomplish, but we have to leave room for God. His goodness is not confined to a certain day or time. Maybe God gave you an idea, or you started something in 2022 and it didn’t happen yet, or it doesn’t look how you thought it would by now. Remember God’s timing is PERFECT. He sees things we don’t see; he hears things we don’t hear, and He is simply all-knowing. I know sometimes for me, I will second guess things a lot when it doesn’t look how I think it should. Like, “Did God really say that? Maybe I just heard him wrong” or “Maybe I need to make a few changes to this/that”. But we can stand confident in knowing that if God said it, He will bring it to pass.

So don’t squeeze your schedule so tight, that you leave no room for God. Sometimes his disruptions will lead us into divine destinations. Every moment in our lives should be available for God to use it for his purposes. So as I think about all the things I want to do in 2023,  I submit my plans to God,so he can perfect them. Cling only to God. He is our anchor in this ever-changing world. A new year may bring change, but I plan on sticking with the never-changing God. Sticking to His Word. Stick with God because he WILL stick with you. Don’t give up on the dream, God can turn that thing around at any time and on any day. What if Moses would have given up on leading the people out of Israel? Or Joseph would have given up after he was thrown into prison? Or Jesus given up after He was mocked and humiliated?? Your God-given purpose is so much bigger than you! Don’t give up! Stay ready!

My Prayer:Thank you God for being our anchor. Thank you for guiding us in this thing called life. I pray that as we begin to shape what we want our new year to look, that we would allow you to be the leader. We know that you direct our steps and we can trust that you will be with us along the way. Everything we need can be found in you and as we step into 2023, I pray we continue to seek you first and watch as you give us all else. We thank you for keeping us throughout 2022 and we wait with expectancy for everything you have for us in 2023.

Happy New Year!✨