Hope for the New Year
A compilation
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The fireworks are over. The balloons have dropped. The year is officially over. But the celebration is not yet done. After the festivities of New Year’s Eve wind down, there is another holiday to be celebrated—New Year’s Day. It is the beginning of a new year. It is a holiday of hope for what is to come. It does not matter what happened in the past year, the past day, or even the past hour. The dawn of [a new year] ushers in a feeling of hope within us where our slates are wiped clean and we can start fresh.
But what are we putting our hope in this year? Are we trusting in our New Year’s resolutions to bring us joy? Is it the anticipation of a new job, new relationship, or a new season of life that is stirring up hope within us? While resolutions and new opportunities are joyful, they are not guaranteed and will not last forever. …
Our hope cannot be based on our circumstances because it is unstable ground. Instead, we can place our hope on the solid rock of Jesus.
Jesus explained the security of our hope in Him through a parable. He said, “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on the rock” (Matthew 7:24–25). Jesus compares our lives in Him to a house built on a rock. Even when great storms attacked the house with wind and rain, the house remained intact. Because the foundation of the house was secure, the house would never fall.
In the same way, Jesus tells us that our hope in Him is as secure as a house built on solid rock. No matter what difficult circumstances we face, those who have been saved through faith in Christ will never crumble. Even if difficult circumstances arise, we know that our salvation is secure in Him and our future with Him is guaranteed. Therefore, we will stand secure because of the hope we have in Him. …
Those in Christ have hope that we are already saved by His work on the cross and that we are being transformed by His Spirit that dwells within us day by day. And we have hope that He is returning again one day to rid the world of all sin and death forever. Even if we stumble in our resolutions or our plans for the year go awry, we are confident that Christ will always remain within us until the day He returns and we can live with Him forever (Revelation 21:22–25).—The Daily Grace Co.1
A hopeful New Year
Another year has come to a close, leaving its indelible mark in our lives. Reflecting on this year, we as believers can see an abundance of things to give God thanks for, though many areas remain where we like Paul must say, “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected, but I press on” (Philippians 3:12).
If we have continued in the faith of the gospel, we go into the New Year as a new person, having experienced God’s promise of transformation by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:1–2). Though our outward man is perishing, the inward man is being renewed day by day. We therefore have no reason to lose heart, but can go boldly forward on the way of life, having our confidence in God, who is at work in us both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
Paul also writes that He who has begun this good work in us will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6). … To this end, God works all things for our best, that we can be conformed to the image of His Son (Romans 8:28–29).
Our task is to remain in the mind of Christ, who humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death on the cross. “If we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection” (Romans 6:5).
“Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new’” (Revelation 21:5). What a tremendous hope to have in one’s heart in the coming new year.—Gary Fenn2
Strength and courage for the New Year
In his very last speech, given in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1968, the day before he was assassinated, Martin Luther King imagined God asking him what era he would like to live in. He goes on to survey all of human history, starting with Moses leading the Israelites out of slavery, goes through Greece and Rome, the Renaissance and Reformation, the Emancipation Proclamation, and finally the very troubled times he lived in, when his country was full of hatred, injustice, and fear. Here is his reply:
“Strangely enough, I would turn to the Almighty, and say, ‘If you allow me to live just a few years in the second half of the 20th century, I will be happy.’
“Now that’s a strange statement to make, because the world is all messed up. The nation is sick. Trouble is in the land; confusion all around. … But I know, somehow, that only when it is dark enough can you see the stars. And I see God working in this period. … We’ve got some difficult days ahead. But it really doesn’t matter with me now, because I’ve been to the mountaintop… I’ve seen the Promised Land… I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land!”3
Martin Luther King believed that no matter what the circumstances were, or what difficulties, setbacks, pain, and anguish he experienced, God was in control. His optimism wasn’t based only on his belief that his cause was right and would prevail, but mainly on his belief that God was right and would prevail.
In our lives as well, whatever this new year will bring, we can depend on the same certainty. “Be strong and courageous. … For the Lord your God is the one who will go with you; He will never leave you or abandon you” (Deuteronomy 31:6). May God bless you with a wonderful new year filled with His love and care!—Ronan Keane
A prayer to keep God first this New Year
Dear God, thank you that you make all things new. Thank you for all that you’ve allowed into our lives this past year, the good along with the hard things, which have reminded us how much we need you and rely on your presence filling us every single day.
We pray for your Spirit to lead us each step of this New Year. We ask that you will guide our decisions and turn our hearts to deeply desire you above all else. We ask that you will open doors needing to be opened and close the ones needing to be shut tight. We ask that you would help us release our grip on the things to which you’ve said “no,” “not yet,” or “wait.” We ask for help to pursue you first, above every dream and desire you’ve put within our hearts.
We ask for your wisdom, for your strength and power to be constantly present within us. We pray you would make us strong and courageous for the road ahead. Give us ability beyond what we feel able, let your gifts flow freely through us, so that you would be honored by our lives, and others would be drawn to you. …
We ask that you would provide for our needs, we ask for your grace and favor. … Help us to be known as great givers, help us to be generous and kind, help us to look to the needs of others and not be consumed by only our own. May we be lovers of truth, may the fruits of your spirit be evident in our lives—your love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Shine your light in us, through us, over us. May we make a difference in this world, for your glory and purposes. Set your way before us. May all your plans succeed. May we reflect your peace and hope to a world that so desperately needs your presence and healing. To you be glory and honor, in this New Year, and forever. In Jesus’ name, Amen.—Debbie McDaniel4
Published on Anchor December 2024. Read by John Laurence. Music by John Listen.
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