Well, you have kicked off the New Year, hopefully with a bang. What lies ahead awaits to be seen. The past year may have been a great year for you, or it may be a year that you would like to forget forever. Whatever, this is a new year full of possibilities, hopes, and dreams. This year you can decide that it will be greater than last year. To have a great 2018 requires a good attitude for a start. So leave 2017 behind and focus on this coming year.
There are many things that I would like to wish for you this year. To summarize, I would like to use the words of Everett Melton Garrett: “During the coming year may you have…enough happiness to keep you sweet; enough trials to keep you strong; enough sorrow to keep you human; enough hope to keep you happy…enough money to meet your needs; enough determination to make each day a better day than yesterday.” It is important to keep “enough hope to keep you happy.” Yes, when you lose hope all life seems to fall apart. Hope is the glue that bonds you between dreams and reality. Then remember that each day has the potential of being better than the day before. May this year be a great year for you.
The Lord Jesus is working in and through you to give you the best year possible. Scripture is full of encouraging words for those who need encouragement. One such verse is Philippians 1:6, “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” This means the Lord is right now, today, working positive thoughts and actions in your life, and He will continue to do this until He returns to earth to establish His kingdom. The “good work” that Jesus began in you when you became a Christian, will continue to be accomplished by Him until He returns.
Take courage! Jesus is working in your life to bring this year to be the best it can be. Look forward with anticipation to what this year can bring. It just may be the best year of your life!
