“Seek the LORD and His strength; seek His presence continually! Remember the wondrous works that He has done, His miracles, and the judgments He uttered, O offspring of Abraham, His servant, children of Jacob, His chosen ones!” Psalm 105:4-6
Tomorrow night we will close out yet another year on this big green and blue ball of God’s. On that night we will be taking time during the worship service to reflect on God and His goodness toward us this past year of hardships and celebrations. So over the course of the next couple of days, I would encourage you to take a look back over the past year . . . to remember and reflect on the many and multiplied wonders that God has done in your life so that we are prepared, adequately, to walk into 2025, if the LORD tarries to… Seek the LORD and His strength; seek His presence continually! And we will do this because we follow His command to “Remember the wondrous works that He has done, His miracles, and the judgments He uttered, O offspring of Abraham, His servant, children of Jacob, His chosen ones!”
Someone wisely observed that “It is difficult to climb to the summit of the mountain when you are always looking over your shoulder.” That is certainly true, but every once in a while…taking a look back, can be and is beneficial for the Christian believer to remember all that God has done: His care, His provision, His discipline, His protection, and His many gracious answers to our prayers. Do you remember? He loves us…He cares for us…He is always with us…our Immanuel!
For those of us who have gone through this Advent Season reading the Jesse Tree we have looked back and seen firsthand, through God’s Word, how God prepared the world for Jesus’ coming the first time…which proves that God keeps His promises. To be sure, any look back must be brief, but thorough, if we are to begin making forward progress throughout 2025. But make no mistake; it is the best way to close out another year of blessings that our loving LORD has given (especially since God commands it).
However, it is important to point out that taking a look back is not the same thing as walking backward. We cannot go back, nor should we want to. God is moving us forward into His perfect plan and purpose for our lives. We must always treat the past as a school; we are to learn the lessons from our past but not live in our past. For as believers we are to be looking forward “…looking to Jesus…” (Heb. 12:2)…seeking His presence continually! …until He returns!
So take some time today to look back at both your successes and your hardships. There is much to glean from both life experiences, because God grants both to us in order to conform us into the image and likeness of His beloved Son, Jesus Christ and to keep us humble and dependent upon Him. Let your looking back bring to mind God’s faithfulness, His discipline, His mercy and His love for He delights in us and seeks us that we might continually be seeking Him until He returns.
By looking back today and tomorrow you will be ready to share Tuesday night. Remember the wondrous works that He has done, His miracles, and the judgments He uttered, O offspring of Abraham, His servant, children of Jacob, His chosen ones!” This is who we are …we are the offspring of Abraham who have been given God’s covenantal promise, children of Jacob…His chosen Ones…chosen before the foundations of the world to be His.
Because God has been and is continually faithful we can and must…“Seek the LORD and His strength; seek His presence continually!” I pray that your brief look back over 2024 will encourage you and strengthen you to embark on another year looking to Jesus and His grace, through the wonderful work of the Holy Spirit. As we actively seek Him, His strength and His presence we will be able to walk through whatever God has planned for us in 2025… for His glory! Soli Deo Gloria
God Bless and Happy New Year!
In His Grip,
Pastor Mike
