May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Romans 15:13 (ESV)

 

As we come to the last and final day of the year, let us take time to pause and reflect on all the things we are thankful and grateful for in our lives. Even though not everything that happened was good, we can still rejoice with the hope that God never forgets us or forsakes us.

The Apostle Paul prays a very uplifting prayer, asking God to fill our hearts with joy and peace so that we will be overflowing with hope. In our Christian faith, hope is not wishful thinking. Rather, our hope is in God, who is with us everywhere we go.

Do not dwell on the past or fear the future.

God will be faithful in your tomorrows just as He was in your yesterdays. While life will present us with uncertainty and problems, we must learn to look to God and trust Him to lead the way. Only the humble can remain hopeful and confidently move forward with faith.

Step into the new year with unparalleled anticipation and expectation, knowing that God will continue to work all things for your good. Be prepared to be amazed by His greatness and blessed by His goodness again and over again. Turn your encounters into testimonies and stories to share with others. Your encouragement will build their hope in God and find joy, even in the most impossible circumstances.

On behalf of my family and everyone here at Firstlight, I wish you a new year full of faithful confidence and hope in God's presence, power, promises and provisions.