SAFELY THROUGH

Psalm 135:13-14 NLT Give thanks to him who parted the Red Sea. His faithful love endures forever. He led Israel safely through, His faithful love endures forever.

Many years ago we were on the moors in Devon at the top of a ravine but we wanted to go to the river at the bottom. As there was no path we had to push our way through shoulder high ferns and thickets of trees and dense undergrowth. We felt like we were in the film The Last of the Mohicans hacking our way through the wilderness! It was actually a lot of fun and we had such a sense of achievement when we won through to the bottom, somewhat wobbly legged and scratched, but triumphant! We made it!😊

Maybe you’ve been feeling like you’ve been hacking your way through some things this past year and it may have been heavy going but nevertheless, here you are, a bit wobbly legged and scratched perhaps, but the Lord has led you safely through. You made it with His help!😊

As we approach a new year God wants us to know His faithful love endures not only in our forever, but also in our now, in our wilderness, in our pushing through some things, in our down times and in our joy filled experiences. We’re never ever without His faithful love to rejoice with us or to see us through whatever we deal with on a daily basis.

Let’s be encouraged by knowing that, and make it personal with a positive confession each day…

“God is faithful to me and His great love will see me safely through today, and the coming year. Not only that, He will always lead me in triumph, to be an Overcomer, to be a victor and never a victim because I am on the victory side, because I have His Holy Spirit in me to help me. Thank You Lord. Amen.”

Photo by Altansukh E on Unsplash

THANK YOU

Colossians 3:17 NIV And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Well after all the present giving and receiving, now it’s time for thank you cards or texts and we all appreciate it when someone takes the time to say ‘thank you’.  

We know God is the same because scripture is full of verses that remind us to come to our Father with a grateful attitude and a thankful heart for all He has given us and done for us; for His faithfulness, for His mercy when we’ve blown it, for His grace and favour that none of us deserve. Perhaps we’re prone to forget or He wouldn’t have to tell us so often!😊

1 Thessalonians. 5:16-18 NIV Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. It’s sad when we see children, or adults, who take things for granted and never say thank you, but when we do hear a ‘thank you’ it always blesses us and we can bless God in the same way.😊

Even when we make our new requests God asks us to remember to be thankful for what He’s done already. Philippians 4:6 NIV Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

God is so good to us all and it’s not hard to say thank you and acknowledge His goodness and mercy especially as He has promised they will continue to follow us into our new year.

So Father, we come with grateful hearts for all Your goodness to us and we say a heartfelt thank You for who You are, and all You have done for us, for Your faithful promises, and blessings still to come, and most of all for Jesus Himself. In Jesus name. Amen.

Photo: Howie-r-Col on Unsplash