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Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.
In Christ, Mark
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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.
Psalm 100:4-5
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
Do you have a special New Year’s Eve tradition?
What will you be doing as the seconds tick off until that moment when one year ends and a new one commences, possibly watching that giant illuminated ball descend in Times Square?
Typically, my wife and I are spending that time quietly together, toasting as the new year begins with a couple of plastic faux champagne glasses filled with non-alcoholic cider as neither of us drink alcohol. We exchange a kiss and hug before heading to bed for some rest before enjoying the New Year’s Day holiday.
Maybe you have your own New Year’s Eve customs. Some people like to go and stay at a hotel which offers a nice New Year’s Eve package, including a party where people can dance and bring in the new year together. Typically, there are plenty of imbibements and party favors which add to the festivities.
Of course, if you’re really brave, maybe you will go to New York City and watch the infamous aforementioned ball drop in person. I did this once and it was an amazing experience, although one I wouldn’t want to do again for there were way too many people drinking openly amongst a throng of humanity that was actually wedged into a small area where a lot of pushing and shoving occurred. Also, you can call me a wimp but I’m definitely not one for cold temperatures and I remember that it was freezing that night I stood with the masses. I learned that it’s much more comfortable bringing in the new year with the one I love in a warm house, watching all the people standing frozen where I once was experiencing the same.
Now, maybe you noticed something missing in all this. For I hope you caught that there was no mention of the Lord anywhere, the One who gives us the days that come one after another to form months and those months gathered into subsequent collective years.
Indeed, we get so caught up in time, with seconds counting down until a new year begins, that we tend to forget about the One who gave us that time. Perhaps, we could (and should) have a change of heart this New Year’s Eve and ring in the new year with our thoughts focused on the God and we can use the closing verses of the 100th Psalm to give us guidance as to how to go about it:
Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations. Vv. 4-5
You see, as the seconds tick down tonight, maybe we should be preparing our hearts to enter into the gates and courts of the Lord instead of a party or into a massive crowd watching a ball drop or even sitting quietly at home getting ready to toast. And maybe in place of raising our glasses and hearts in jubilation while exclaiming, “Happy New Year!”, we can instead of raising up our hands, simply giving thanks and praising the Lord for His goodness, love, and faithfulness that we experienced in the year past and look forward to in the one to come. It’s a goodness, love, and faithfulness that have existed within every year since the dawn of creation and across every generation.
And the good news is that it always will because our God never changes. He is always good and just and trustworthy and loving.
Friends, maybe this year instead of singing the words to “Auld Lang Syne” to enter into the new year, we could instead sing these words written by one of the best Christian music artists of this generation, Chris Tomlin, while entering into the gates and courts of the Lord to praise Him and give thanks for all He has done while looking forward to all He is yet to do in the days to come.
Give thanks to the Lord our God and King
His love endures forever
For He is good, He is above all things
His love endures forever
Sing praise, sing praise
With a mighty hand and outstretched arm
His love endures forever
For the life that's been reborn
His love endures forever
Sing praise, sing praise
Forever God is faithful
Forever God is strong
Forever God is with us
Forever
From the rising to the setting sun
His love endures forever
By the grace of God we will carry on
His love endures forever
Sing praise, sing praise
Forever God is faithful
Forever God is strong
Forever God is with us
Forever
Listen and sing along here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6xxWGWpaUQ
Happy New Year from The Christian Walk Ministry!
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.
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