Moving forward....

Moving forward.....

As I have read various friends' annual Christmas letters (yes, I read them), it is fun to see all the different things we have done this past year.  There have been ups and downs for us all, some more painful than others, some less...some are house bound...some have travelled the world.....but we are moving forward....into the future....and we all have choices each day...will it be a down day?  Or an up day?   Health may or may not have anything to do with it....attitude has a lot to do with it...

Am I willing to trust each day to God and his plans or do I have mine own that must be done?  Am I willing to hand the day/future over to God and let Him direct is really the bottom line?? The joys, the disappointments...the laughter...the tears....life itself....

It is hard to give "control", like we really had it in the first place...it is hard to give up the hopes, dreams, expectations we may have had....

Just like yesterday, I started the simple task of uninstalling a printer in my computer....that went well...but then I wanted to install a new one.....I worked on it literally all day and never was successful....I followed all the directions, went to all the right places...and still it wouldn't load.....so I worked with the manufacturer and finally had to order a company cd which wasn't included for my computer...simple, yes, NO....I wanted to move forward....but my day was to work in the here and now, learning patience for the day....letting go of my expectations....and going with the plans that God had for me....

The computer incidence was foreshadowed with the eye doctor visit, early in the morning....eye pressure sky rocketing....what does that mean....we don't get we eyes installed...try new medications, again....loss of sight if not controlled .....what about my plans, here, God....my expectations?   My attitude?

Going Into the future .....day by day....line upon line....I have the choice to give thanks, or not....Thank YOU, God....help me see your plans, be thankful for them, meet them as from YOU....not resentful.....but rejoicing in each new day.....

Deuteronomy 26:11
Then you and the Levites and the foreigners residing among you shall rejoice in all the good things the Lord your God has given to you and your household.

1 Chronicles 16:10
Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.

1 Chronicles 16:31
Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!”

Psalm 5:11
But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

Psalm 104:34
May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the Lord.

Psalm 118:24
This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Philippians 4:4
[ Final Exhortations ] Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!


A New Beginning
Daily Devotion for December 31
From the Writings of Ray Stedman

From your friends at
www.RayStedman.org
Read the Scripture: Job 42:16-17

After this Job lived a hundred and forty years; he saw his children and their children to the fourth generation. And so he died, old and full of years (Job 42:16-17).

The book of Job ends on a note of contentment and peace. Job was probably about seventy when the book opens, so he is an old man. What a picture of peace, a contented man. God had greatly blessed him.

Before us stretches a new year, a new beginning. The old is past, put away forever. God invites us always to forget about all the distrust and fears, all the anxieties of the past, all the resentments we have been holding against others, all the grudges, all the criticisms--to put them away and begin again.

The question that hovers over us as we close this book (and I feel it deeply in my own heart) is, On what basis am I going to live in this new year? Will it be on the old basis of it-all-depends-on-me, do-it-yourself goodness before God, trying my best to be pleasing to God and meaning it with all my heart but never realizing the depths of evil with which I have to deal? Or will I accept the gift of God that is waiting for me every day, fresh from His hand, a gift of forgiveness, of righteousness already mine, of a relationship in which He is my dear Father and I am his cherished, beloved son, and in which I therefore have provided for me all I need, all day long, so that I may say no to evil and yes to truth and right?

Will it be on that basis? If it is, this will be a year in which my life will be characterized by peace, fragrance, and beauty. And so will yours. Or, if we insist on living it on the same old basis, we will find ourselves like these friends of Job, arousing the anger and the wrath of God. Though He is patient and merciful, our only escape will be to repent of our evil and rest upon the righteousness of our perfect substitute and return to God for the blessing that He is waiting to give. That is the choice before us, every one of us. How are we going to live in this new year?

Lord, thank You for this new year that lies before me. I choose You. I choose to depend on You, trust You, and accept from Your hand all that You would give me.

Life Application: Before us stretches a new year, a new beginning. The old is past, put away forever. On which one of the two bases are we going to live in this new year?

Related Message: This daily devotion was inspired by one of Ray's messages. Please read "The New Beginning" or listen to Ray for more on this portion of scripture.

Copyright © 2007 by Elaine Stedman — This daily devotion is from the book The Power of His Presence: a year of devotions from the writings of Ray Stedman; compiled by Mark Mitchell. It may be copied for personal non-commercial use only in its entirety free of charge. All copies must contain this copyright notice and a hyperlink to www.RayStedman.org if the copy is posted on the Internet.