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Every time we face a New Year, many Christians will tell God all of the things they didn’t do in the previous year, and then make a bunch of promises about the things they want to do for God in the New Year.
Jeremiah 29:11 NIV says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Do you ever worry about the future? Are you ever filled with fear about what is going to happen in your life? Every time we face a New Year, many Christians will tell God all of the things they didn’t do in the previous year, and then make a bunch of promises about the things they want to do for God in the New Year. This has been a matter of self-inflicted stress on God’s people for years.

Do you really think God is worried about it? No! God is not expecting you to do anything other than depend upon His grace and mercy toward you. You might ask, “But what about all the things God’s Word tells us to do?” Well, go ahead and do them… but not out of the need to perform for God, because doing a little “song and dance” before the Lord does not impress Him.

We know that every year comes with new challenges, but those challenges are no more than new opportunities to trust God and His Word. Many Christians begin a new year thinking about all of the mistakes they’ve made and how hard it will be for them to get through another year of the same mess.

God’s Word says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Are you making your own plans for success this year? Well, how about setting your plans aside for a moment and consider the plans that God already has for you.

Look closely at what God says…
  1. “I know the plans I have for you,” Who better than God to have a plan for our lives.
  2. “Plans to prosper you …” We have all strived for prosperity, but it doesn’t come like that.
  3. Plans “not to harm you…” We should never be afraid of a God who loves us… for God is not mad at you about anything.
  4. “Plans to give you hope…” Hope is the foundation of faith, and when we have faith in the finished work of Jesus, it gives us all the hope we need.
  5. And “plans to give you a future.” You could actually say, “God has my future on His mind.”
God’s plans for you are far greater and more productive than the plans you have for yourself. You may ask, “How can God accomplish His plans for me in my life?”  There is actually something God does ask you to do. And you may say, “I knew there was a catch to it.”  But it’s not hard… He only asks you to trust Him with His plans for you.

Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;” In other words, stop trying to figure everything out, such as “how is God going to do it?” Then it says, “In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”  So, even in the Old Testament we see that God says,
  1. Trust Me;
  2. Don’t look to yourself;
  3. Acknowledge Me;
  4. I WILL direct your steps.
The greatest difficulty for us humans is to let go of the controls of our life. God still gives us the right to make decisions for ourselves. God is asking you to place your complete and total trust in Him. “For (He) know the plans (He has) for you…” God “plans to prosper you…” God plans for no harm to come to you…  And God has “plans to give you hope and a future.”

That promise of security is far above what anyone could ever want, and God is offering it to you. The hardest thing about approaching a New Year is facing new experiences… such as a new job, a new marriage or a new church; which are all elements of uncertainty. But Jesus “Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Heb. 13:5).

The feeling that you are facing everything alone is a deceptive lie from Satan… It is a lie because Jesus will never leave you alone. Jesus is always with you according to the Bible.

Today, God wants you to stop looking at your failures, and start looking to Jesus and the finished work of the cross. This is your year for success, and it is not found in the wisdom of this world, it is not found in how smart you think you are. It is found in the person of Jesus Christ.

If you want more Word, enter into a serious love-relationship with Jesus this year, and never look back. Only look at God’s plan for you. …Think about it!

Author Biography

Bill Hanshew
Web site: Bill Hanshew Ministries
 
Dr. Bill Hanshew started preaching at the age of 17, was a youth pastor at the age of 18 and was a senior pastor at the age of 20. Bill loves to preach, teach, write and lead worship.
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