Wednesday 31 Dec 2014

December 31: Isaiah 43:16-21

Key Verse: Isaiah 43:21
This people I have formed for Myself; They shall declare My praise.

Devotion:
What a statement for the last day of the year: I am going to praise God for the whole of the next year! Would you be able to do such a thing? Would you be able to find something small to praise God about each and every day for the next 365 days? I certainly am going to try and I would like people to join me in this one. Get a reasonable size jar and write a small note each day, even if it is just one word, and drop it in the jar… If you ever get feeling a bit down during the year, open the jar up and read a few from the bottom…

This may well be a new way of working for you because it may be the first time that you have acknowledged something God does for you every day. I do try to but I know that I get down and start feeling sorry for myself at time; so when I saw this suggestion on Twitter I thought it would be the ideal start for this year – something even I can cope with!

I am embarking on a new course this year as I challenge myself with more work and more study for Christ. I join my colleagues at work in changing from being a company to being a charity and ask some wonderful Christians to come in and help us to discern which direction God wants us to go during this year. This means giving up control to other people – but when we trust in God He can ask you to do some difficult things too.

I have learned to trust God with my life and not just what he will give me when I ask. I don’t go out asking for a certain direction or a certain event but rather ask Him to guide me toward His path and His direction. Isaiah knew he would have to obey God in order to make changes; He did not ask God to make the changes but listened to God first and then followed those answers. Building up that trust can be difficult at first so start by counting your blessings…

Points to Ponder:
Do you count your blessings?

Will you join us to count our blessings?