As we begin 2024 many of us will make a “New Year’s Resolution” seeking to “change” something. But, as most of us know, from resolutions made in the past, the resolution period seems to start off strong and tends to weaken over time, as the average resolution will last about 3.74 months. I promise I am not trying to be a discouragement as you seek to change something, rather I want us to be encouraged by God’s Word about there being “A Time for Everything” as He spoke through our brother, King Solomon.
As we seek to “change” something, we must keep a few things in mind:
First, the unchangeable God of the Universe is the Author of our lives. He planted eternity within our hearts, and although we cannot see the scope of His miraculous work, He has written each one of our stories from beginning to end. So, when we feel discouraged within this new year, we need to turn to Him, because He isn’t changing a thing, He wants to use each thing or circumstance for our good; we are the ones who are changing within our soul realm, and so the choice is ours to make…we either seek our unchangeable God to navigate through each circumstance or we seek the ever-changing chaotic world that is ruled by Satan and will make us feel absolutely crazy.
Next, God has an appointed time and season for everything within our lives. I know it doesn’t seem like somethings are right, or the timing is completely off, or they are just not fair, or you want everything and everyone to pause for a moment…but we must remember that everything and every circumstance is in place by God. He is in control, and He wants us in these moments to be humbled, to raise up our hands, to exalt Him and to fully trust Him.
Finally, no matter what we walk through this year, we need to know that God has set us within these places, and He wants us to seek Him so He can use us. Even the most painful places, God will make beautiful within His time because He has a purpose for ALL of His creation, and that includes you and me, my friend.
May God bless each one of us this new year!
Ecclesiastes 3:1-13 (NLT)
A Time for Everything
1 For everything there is a season,
a time for every activity under heaven.
2 A time to be born and a time to die.
A time to plant and a time to harvest.
3 A time to kill and a time to heal.
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
4 A time to cry and a time to laugh.
A time to grieve and a time to dance.
5 A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
6 A time to search and a time to quit searching.
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
7 A time to tear and a time to mend.
A time to be quiet and a time to speak.
8 A time to love and a time to hate.
A time for war and a time for peace.
9 What do people really get for all their hard work? 10 I have seen the burden God has placed on us all. 11 Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. 12 So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. 13 And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.
Prayer: Jesus, thank You for never changing. Please help me to accept Your plan for my life. I want to trust You more fully and rely less on my own self and understanding of things, since You are the One Who has written my complete story. My life belongs to You. Help me to lay down myself and to carry my cross more frequently this new year. I want to share Your love with those I come in contact with so they too may know and grow in love with You. I ask all of this in Your Name, Jesus. Amen.