Bringing in the New Year with the Lord!

Every year our church brings in the new year by having what we call a “Night Watch”. What all takes place at our “Night Watch” service, is that we come to the church at night and watch a Christian Based movie, afterwards we conduct our Praise & worship until we enter into the new year. With doing that, we certainly know when we bring in the new year while worshipping God without looking at the clock, for there would suddenly be a burst of power running through the congregation as we are all giving God all the glory! God reminds us every year to lean closer to Him, and stay prayed up for the nearing time of His return, and for that we recognize our enemy at hand who tries to prevent our victory, that is more the reason for us looking toward the new year seeking a powerful new beginning for our battle is just around the corner.

Now all I can think of as we are bringing in the new year has been all that transpired in the year 2017, it was surely a whirlwind of a year with trials and pains for me, but as we were entering into 2018 God tells me to let go of the burdens of 2017 and embrace the new beginnings of 2018. As I was praising God all I could think of was the baggage I carried and how I needed to drop them and move forward. The baggage of Self-Doubt, Fear, Worry, Betrayel, Heart Ache & Loss. I had no reason to continue carrying these weights, because God will show His works when I keep my eyes on Him. He has so much in store for me, and I can’t look at what is all around me for they will bring me down!

Matthew 14:25-31

And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. 26And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. 27But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.28And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 29And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 30But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. 31And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

When trouble comes we think God will immediately pick us up and take care of the solution right there and then, but that is not the case every time. There is a point where trials will feel like it’s a mile long and God is so far away, but that is not the case. God knows our struggles and He knows our pain, and there is a time where he waits to see where our heart to cling most to, Him or the world.

Hebrews 4:15-16

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Throughout the time of my trials, I often felt I was fighting all by myself, and the more I prayed it felt like God wasn’t hearing me, but that is what satan wants me to think. It is the total opposite…..

Joshua 1:5

There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

Psalms 34:18

The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

1 Timothy 6:12

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

I was called for a purpose, just like every one God has called throughout the years and continuing to do throughout all the earth today: to spread the good news of salvation and redemption! Satan tries to prevent that from happening, but just like the very beginning where God’s prophets (Highlight John the Baptist) were sent out to warn the people of their sins and were killed for it, it doesn’t stop the word from being preached.

Psalm 44:22

Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.

Matthew 11:12

And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

Does this put fear in us? Does this prevent us from continuing to spread the gospel? It shouldn’t, because God is fully in control of what is before us. He already tells us who wins at the end: Those who stayed faithful till the very end!

Hebrews 3:14

For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;