Lamentations 3:22-23(ESV) tells us, “22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Within this passage is a theme worthy of our aspirations for not only the beginning of a new day, but most assuredly as well, the beginning of a new year. Great is our God’s faithfulness! It is exceptional, perfect, and enduring beyond what we can comprehend. God gives us this word of truth about His faithfulness so that we will depend on it. He encourages us with this Word so that we will not face the beginning of today harping on yesterday’s provision, but that our appetite will be anticipating the new thing God will perform every morning. If this should be our attitude for a new day, imagine what it should be for a new year!
Many of us are long overdue for a shift in our thinking, believing, and attitude. We’ve become so anesthetized by the absurdity and chaos of the world. Because of this, a lot of us have unconsciously hit the ‘off’ button to enthusiasm when it comes to the things of God. Thoughts and feelings of faith can flatline when this happens, because we cease to expect more of ourselves; therefore, we expect less when it comes to seeing the manifestation of God’s power. He will meet us in the place of expectancy and excitement, but too often many of us will not meet Him there.
In the Old Testament, Moses desperately wanted to be as close to Heavenly Father as humanly possible. He was so captivated by the relationship he had with God that he wanted to see God’s face and asked Heavenly Father for this precious gift. God told Moses that if he saw Him, it would be too much for his or any other human’s sinful state; therefore, Moses could not see God and live. So, God told him, “Here’s what I’ll do, I’ll pass by. And when I pass by, Moses, you can look out and see the afterglow.” Moses saw the afterglow of God. The radiation from it impacted Moses to such a degree that his countenance was changed. He had to cover his face with a veil to conceal the glow.
Those who tried to look at Moses could not take the brightness of God’s radiance on him. This glory had to be veiled, but Jesus Christ changed all that for us. 2Corinthians 3:16(NLT) tells us, “16 But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.”
Many of us won’t allow our minds and hearts to be changed—to behold and be swept up in the splendor of God’s glory; and then wear it unveiled continually through Christ. We remain closed off and uninspired by the life we are destined to live. Instead of rejoicing in the preparation for the blessing, we let our unfulfilled desire for marriage and quality relationships set the barometer for how we approach everything, and this is the classic definition of living life beneath our privilege. The children of Israel could not look at Moses’ face; they couldn’t handle the glory of it. We must ask ourselves if we can. Can we handle something new in our lives? Or will it be denied, neglected, or undervalued in the way we have approached our own blessedness in the Lord?
Moses wanted to be close to God. He recognized that this is the most important desire of any in eternity. We must want to grow in Christ and stay in the face of God more than we want anything else. If this isn’t in our hearts this moment, making a commitment to shift our attitude and desire is a great way to put a fabulous New Year in motion.
In Isaiah 43:15-19(NLT), God told His people, “15 I am the Lord, your Holy One, Israel’s Creator and King. 16 I am the Lord, who opened a way through the waters, making a dry path through the sea. 17 I called forth the mighty army of Egypt with all its chariots and horses. I drew them beneath the waves, and they drowned, their lives snuffed out like a smoldering candlewick. 18 “But forget all that—it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. 19 For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.” This is the God we serve! With Him all things are possible! He is about to do something new, and our eyes must be wide with the excitement and expectation of faith in order to see it.■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
“Long Overdue!” written by Kim Times, edited by Reverend Fran Mack, for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2019. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.