New Year’s is a great representation of new beginnings. An excellent time to reflect, hope, and dream. What would you like to see happen in 2017?
As you ponder this question, I encourage you to remember one simple truth: God is Good! Regardless if 2016 was a nightmare, a dream or somewhere in between, let’s go into 2017 expecting, anticipating to see God’s goodness.
As I read the creation story as found in Genesis I am reminded of a few things:
1. In the beginning, God spoke into chaos and created order. He spoke into darkness and there was light. He is still speaking into your life and bringing peace out of chaos and light in the darkness. Expect 2017 will be marked with peace and light.
2. God’s first action toward man was to bless Him. Before Adam did anything to earn God’s favor, God blessed him. In 2017 God still wants to bless His children. What He commissioned Adam and Eve to do, He is commissioning you to do as well – “In 2017 be fruitful and multiply. I have blessed you so now go and be a blessing.”
3. God is extravagantly generous. Did you know that God put gold and precious stones in the garden of Eden? This served no other purpose than beauty. That same God, gave the world His only Son to redeem man from the curse and give us eternal life. That same extravagantly, generous God is with you in 2017 and wants to shower His blessing upon you!
My friends, let’s go into 2017 hopeful. Let’s believe God for big things. Let’s ask God to do the impossible. Do not allow the disappointment of past years to diminish your expectations. Hang your hopes on this one fact: God was good at the beginning when the world was created. He was good 2000 years ago when He sent His son. He is good today. He will be good in 2017!
So I ask you again, “What would you like to see happen in 2017?”
“A river watering the garden flowed from Eden; from there it was separated into four headwaters. The name of the first is the Pishon; it winds through the entire land of Havilah, where there is gold. (The gold of that land is good; aromatic resin and onyx are also there.)”
Genesis 2:10-12 NIV