American Greetings

Stepping into the New Year with Jesus!

By Helen Jesze, 29^th December 2023

“’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”

Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

2024 lies before us and is about to dawn! Let’s step out today in confidence, based on our King of Kings and His Word, knowing that He will be with us. Faithful as in the Past, so He will be in the Future. His Love is never failing for His Children!

Let’s be encouraged today that as we seek His face, we will find our Heavenly Father waiting to show His goodness also to us in this new year. Let’s trust in Him as never before. There will be situations in our lives and in the world, which, if we just looked at them, we would be horrified and dismayed. But with our great and glorious God, you and I will be victorious, and we will plainly see the path we are to tread! Rejoice, it’s better on ahead!

Let’s believe that the answers to prayer we have been waiting for – perhaps for a long time – may be just around the corner, and will materialise in this new year! Our God is a faithful God, the All-Sufficient One, the Alpha and Omega – the Beginning and the End. We have the Greater One living inside of us, in our spirit, and He will put us over! When we need counsel and advice, one of His Names is “Counsellor”, and by His Spirit we will be led the right way and receive the answers we are looking for.

For those of you who are going into this new year with a sorrowful heart, because of something or someone you have lost, may the comfort of the Holy Spirit flood and surround you. May you feel the Father’s love wrapping round you like a warm blanket on a cold night. He will never leave you or forsake you, and the day will come when He will turn your mourning into dancing, even though it seems impossible now.

For some there will be changes in this year; this might be a change of circumstances, a geographical change, a change of job or profession, a change of ministry, the ending of one chapter and the beginning of a new one.

One letter, one email, one WhatsApp, one telephone call, one ‘chance’-encounter may change the whole of our life, and God can do this in an instant, for He has been planning it all behind the scenes, usually for a very long time!

Prayer: Thank you Father, that you have kept us until this moment in time, and that you will not leave us now. Thank you for the challenge of new beginnings, new ways and new experiences in this new year! We gladly acknowledge you to be the most important One in our life. Help us to strip off of us those things which would hold us back, and to press on ahead with excitement and determination.

Thank you that your plans for us are good, not to harm but to prosper us! We reach out to you in a new way for your strength, power and guidance.

In the Name of Jesus, we receive it right now!
Amen.