New Year’s Praise

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Scripture: Romans 11:33-36 (ESV)

33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

34    “For who has known the mind of the Lord,

or who has been his counselor?”

35    “Or who has given a gift to him

that he might be repaid?”

36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

Devotion:

            Believe it or not, a new year is upon us again. As we prepare to celebrate the arrival of 2023, we look back to see all the wonderful things that the Lord has blessed us with in 2022. To be certain, the year had many ups and downs. While there were many things that happened in the last year we will not necessarily celebrate. However, we can rejoice that even in the challenging times that God has brought us through.

            We celebrate with Paul that you are our God who is the creator, redeemer, and sustainer of this old world. Yet we know that we must lift our hearts, minds, and voices to praise God’s holy name. We should acknowledge that God has given much to celebrate. Let us look forward to the year that is coming with joy in our hearts and minds because we know that God loves us and cares for us regardless of our outer circumstances.

            Truly, who knows what the new year will bring. We can be calm and assured because we know we do not walk alone but Christ walks with us every step of the way. We look to God to provide us with good things in the year to come. If we seem to receive things that are displeasing to us, we must accept them as being for our ultimate good. Even if we cannot imagine how, it could possibly be good for us.

            The new year provides us with a chance to start over with a clean slate. Let us choose to make this a year where following Christ in all things is our priority. Let us claim the title disciple and live as one who is truly a follower of Jesus. Let us lay aside every sin and every distraction so that we may live lives fully devoted to our Savior! May we praise God for all his goodness to us. Let us rejoice in the gifts He gives us. Let us pray a prayer of praise.

Prayer:

            Glory to you Lord! Hear our songs of loudest praise! May we praise you with loud music, rejoicing, and dancing. You are our God and you have given us so many good gifts we would never have time to list them all. Even when things look dark and foreboding, we know that you are our light in the darkness and you will see us through. Lead us into the unknown of this new year with joy and gladness in our hearts. Amen.

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