The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (Deuteronomy 31:8)

Today is the first day of a new year, and to be honest with you, it’s almost a bit scary staring another year in the face. Maybe you were one of those last year at this time who had good intentions and resolutions; remember, the which not only failed in attaining but maybe. just maybe you can’t even remember what they were…..

I don’t know about you, but looking to the future, I have hopes that things will be better in our world, in our homes, in our personal lives; yet someway our hopes are laced with a slight whiff of cynicism, knowing that we are apt to see a rerun of the past, much like the man who had a boring job which he had for years. He used to say that he actually had one year of experience repeated thirty-five times…..

Thank God that we may not know just what 2023 holds for all of us; there is one very important thing you should remember: that NOTHING this new year will happen to us without first being filtered by our heavenly Father.

Whether it’s personal struggles that we will face in our lives or unknown crisis in ad around our family and circle of friends, know this, that nothing will come as a surprise to the Lord. He’s in control of time, and He knows…..all things.

Do you remember if you as a child or maybe your own son or daughter or granddaughter were out for a walk towards evening, and as long as it was light, your child ran ahead of you, playing, having no thought of you, until…….. it began to get dark, and then the darker it became the closer the child got to you, grasping up for your strong hand, wanting daddy, mommy, grandma or grandpa to curl his large hand around his?

Well, I’ve got to say that’s my very feeling as we start another year in 2023.

But you know what? Is whatever the New Year brings to us nearly as important as what WE bring to it. Don’t waste time making resolutions; instead why not yield your future to Him who holds the future? One of my favorite Bible characters, David knew all about the ups and downs of living on earth. Remember in Psalm 130:4 where he cried out, “There’s forgiveness with You that You may be feared.”

I for one am glad that I don’t know what the future may hold—for two reasons: (1) If I did know what was coming in the future, , there would be no surprises, like those very special moments when out of nowhere, something wonderful happens,

And (2) If I DID know some of the troubles that would come knocking on my door, I’d be thinking about them, worrying about them, and of course, trying to solve them long before they even arrive.

I think it was Mark Twain who said that “most of the things he worried about never even happened.”

There is one thought I would like to leave with you as we embark on 2023. Like the manna God gave the Israelites, once a day, (Except the Sabbath) God’s grace is given out on a daily basis….one day at a time. It will be by God’s mercy and grace that we will be traveling on throughout this new year because, “It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because His mercies fail not, they are new every morning; great is Thy faithfulness, the LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in Him.” (Lamentations 3:22-24)

“Let us then with confidence draw near to the Throne of Grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)

And so it will be in 2023, whatever comes your way, know that God has a plan, and the promise of that plan is a very tangible Mercy and Grace, empowered by God, Himself.

Corrie ten Boom used to say that “My Father never gave her the ticket until it was time to board the train.” That’s how God dispenses His grace, too. Just enough for today, and no sooner or later than you need it. Remember, God is seldom early, but He is never late. He is exactly on time….. Happy 2023!

“The Lord 8 The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be 8 The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never lea8 The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”ve you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do t be discouraged.”

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