“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” Isaiah 43:18-19
The Internet is full of promises to start the New Year off with “A new you in 5 easy steps.” How is your new year going? You may have started off with high expectations, thinking this was the year of results. It’s almost the end of January and you’ve messed up. You may have given up on those changes you wanted to make.
We all do. We start with good intentions to be health conscious and do the things to be healthier. We decide to stop smoking and get the patch. We are determined to save instead of wastefully spend. Statistic Brain states that 41% of Americans usually make New Years Resolutions and 9.2% felt they were successful in achieving their resolution. Do these statistics surprise you?
I stopped making resolutions years ago. I just found them too hard to keep, even though I was the one who made them. Instead, I’ve chosen a One Word. A word I focus on, pray about, think on, read about, and try to live. In 2015 I chose Trust as my word. That was a life-changing year for me and God knew I would need to trust Him for what was to come. That was the year we lost our Dad to cancer and John and I moved from Arizona to Ohio. If I did not have my focus on trusting my Heavenly Father, I don’t think things would have turned out as well as they did. Or I would not have had the peace that I did.
My One Word for 2018 is HOPE
“But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.” Micah 7:7
Hope is needed in our world today. Watch the news and you can easily lose all hope. Our children are being bullied and committing suicide because they’ve lost hope. Our elderly have given up hope because of failing health. A young couple loses hope they will ever have a baby. The hopeless list goes on and on.
I love the start of a new year. But the New Year doesn’t provide hope. The Hope I write about is a person and His name is Jesus. He makes all things new. He is our Anchor in the storms, our hopeless situations.
Let’s trust Him today. He is faithful and always with us.
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Barbara Ann, thank you again for stirring my mind & heart with your blog!
God bless you today with HIS love & hope!
Carol Ann, I pray God Blesses you too. Miss you, my friend.