NEW!

New Year's eve is one of the most celebrated days across the world. Different people and cultures celebrate New Year's eve differently. Among many Christian denominations is the popular 31 Night service or Watch Night service that ushers the congregation into the new year. These services begin in the year about to end and end in the new year. Literally, you enter the church in one year and exit in another. 

Every new year presents different opportunities for us to encounter. We have the opportunity to start or complete a project. Sometimes,  the previous year presents so many painful memories that it becomes difficult to begin something new without dwelling on the pain of the past. The Israelites also experienced such painful memories during the days of the Prophet Isaiah. The Lord admonished them that “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.‭‭” (Isaiah‬ ‭43:18‬). Dwelling on the past can be detrimental for the future. Even if the past had successes, we don't dwell on that alone and forget to prepare and be ready for the future. We need to understand that every new year presents us with new opportunities and new doors. 

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. (‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭43:19‬)

As the Lord admonished the Israelites through the Prophet Isaiah, He made a profound statement, “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” (‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭43:19‬). In the midst of the unpleasantness, the Lord was making something new. He was making the impossible possible; a way for the Israelites in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. Wilderness and wasteland refer to barren and deserted places. These are areas of unfaithfulness and lack. They also refer to lack of productivity and progress. In these difficult places and situations, the Lord was making something new.

This verse is relevant for us today. Our wasted years, wasted opportunities, barren lands and missed dreams are part of our past. We might have entered a new year but there is a possibility of dwelling so much on the past and forgetting about the new blank templates we have been given. Do not dwell on the past! We have been offered brand new 365 days to make new memories and to create new opportunities. To avoid making the mistakes of the previous year, we should have a plan and we should commit our plans to the Lord. We also need to avoid procrastination and laziness. The year is NEW, make the best out of it. 365 days later, we will begin another. Let this NEW YEAR count!