“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

January 2011,

Happy New Year! Trusting that all is well with you and your loved ones, and that you had a blessed Christmas. Here we are in a new year once again! Isn’t it amazing that every time we turn around it is a new year? Thank God we are still here, and pressing in to all that God has for us! Wishing you and your loved ones a very blessed New Year, filled with peace, joy, happiness and good health.

As we meditate upon this last year, we can think of many good and bad times. Times when we felt that we were riding high, and grabbing hold of our dreams as they came to pass! Also, times of sadness and discouragement, wondering if God would ever answer our prayers. Let’s be truthful now, we have all had these times and many of us have become discouraged because of them. However, there is good news! “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.” (Isa. 40:31) Glory to God! As we are faithful, God is more Faithful! We have much to look forward to if we hold on and wait upon Him. Let us hold on to this!

This new year offers both promises and challenges. Through God’s Word we know what His thoughts are toward us: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jer. 29:11) So we already have God on our side! Isn’t that the best? Glory!

This month can be a time for reflection as we meditate upon the past and look towards the future. January is a great time to begin reading the Bible through for the whole year. I compose a Bible Devotional called “Stay in the Word” for our church each week, but it takes a few years to complete the Bible with the way we are doing it. The church reads a chapter a day, reflects on it, then answers questions regarding it. This is another way to begin your study. Take a method that works for you and go with it, but stay in the Word. If you are interested, you can find the devotional on the church website: www.gatewaycitychurch.net Anyhow, moving along... have you thought of things that you would like to see changed this year? I don’t like to say New Year’s Resolutions because we never keep them! Be honest now! Right? Okay... so we are thinking about life changes that would make a difference to us spiritually and in the natural. God continues His message in Jeremiah when He says “Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me and I will listen to you. (Vs. 12) So, when we call upon God, and pray, He will listen. God continues to say “And you will seek Me and find Me when you search (earnestly in desperation - my words) for Me with all your heart.” So God is saying that when we earnestly, and in total desperation, cry out to Him with all our heart, He will act. Read on...”I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity...” Throughout Scripture, we find many references to God’s people seeking after Him. There are times of intense prayer, which goes beyond the times of “please Lord hear my prayer.” We are crying and we are desperate! We need an answer and it may be a matter of life or death, either spiritually, or physically. When in these situations, let us always remember that God intends good for His people to give them hope! We serve a Mighty God, who loves us so much that He sent His only Son to die on a Cross for us. How much more do we need to know? Our God is a God of Mercy, a God of Healing, a God of Restoration, a God who Provides and so much more!

This year, let us be faithful to stay in the Word, and take time to truly understand Who God is, and what His plans are for us. Let us be found faithful to fellowship with Him in the good times and in the bad. Let us seek Him with all our heart, and make prayer a priority! Let us shut the TV down, and take out our Bible and read and pray. Let us make our goal this year to be one of reaching out to truly know Him, love Him, and serve Him. Let us be still and hear what He has to say. God is always speaking to us, but the things of the world get in the way of hearing. Let us take this year to search our hearts and change what needs to be changed. Let us pray for all the voices that fill our minds with busy thoughts to be still and silent. These thoughts may be good ones, they may have to do with relationships, work, family, school, etc., but if we put God first in our life, and if we truly search for him with all our heart, in total desperation, He will give us rest. Jesus tells us in Matthew 11:28; “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Wow! By a show of hands, let me see who needs that “rest?” Okay, I see you!

God has the most wonderful plans for your future. He wants to renew you spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and give you rest. He wants to provide for all your needs. All He asks is that you call out to Him and let Him know what you need. He wants fellowship with you, in both the good times and bad. Let us vow to say “good morning” to Him, and give Him our day when we wake up. Let us talk to Him as we go about our day. At the end of the day, let us thank Him for all that He has done. And through all of this, let us learn to be silent so that we may hear His voice of wisdom and encouragement. Let us pray together right now, for this new year.

Father, in Jesus Name, I thank you for this new year. I thank You for all you have done for me in the past year, and I look forward to wonderful new adventures with You. Thank You Lord, for being a large part of my life, and thank You for your love, Your forgiveness, Your mercy, and for Your guidance. Thank You for meeting all of my needs. Father, I commit this year to You for Your honor and glory. I give myself to You and ask that You lead and guide me as each day passes. Watch over me, and my loved ones, and let this be a year of being filled with Your Glory and Presence in me, and in all that I do. Let me glorify YOU! Thank you Lord, for hearing my prayer. Amen!

God bless you!
 

Rev. Barbara A. Yovino, Ph.D.

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