Are you ready for a new year? Ready or not, here it is! What will this new year bring? And how will we navigate our way through it? I want to remind you (and me) that our loving God will lead us, now as always. Just as God did in the Exodus, when “The Lord went in front of them in a pillar of cloud by day, to lead them along the way, and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light, so that they might travel by day and by night” (Exodus 13:21-22). Just as God did for the magi, who were led by a light – the star of Bethlehem – to the place where the new king was born. “When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage” (Matthew 2:10-11). 

So God will do for us. But not always in quite so literal and tangible a way. More often, God shows us the way by sending us a different kind of light – through God’s Word and through God’s Son. In the Psalms, for example, we learn that it is God’s inspired word that offers us light, that leads us and shows us the way. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105). And in the upper room, Jesus assures his disciples that he himself is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). Jesus is “the light of the world” (John 8:12) who shows us the way. 

When we lose our way in life, as we all do from time to time, we can ask Jesus for guidance, and he will show us the way. We can turn to God’s Word, which will teach us the way. With Jesus as our guide, we can take that next step, in faith and trust. As Martin Luther King Jr. famously put it, “Faith is taking the first step, even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” We can take the first step, trusting that Jesus will continue to shine a light on our path, and show us the way.

What will this new year bring for you and me? I have no idea! But I know who will be with us, and who will be guiding us through it. And for that I am forever grateful. May the light of our loving God bless you this year, and lead you all along the way. 

I have been blessed with the opportunity to contribute some devotions to a wonderful new devotional app, “Good Ground.” You can learn more about the app in this post or on their website. This is an adaptation of a devotion that was shared on December 15th.

13 thoughts on “Devotion for a New Year”

  1. Pingback: Devotion for a New Year – Tonya LaLonde

  4. With all due respect, I have been asking for spiritual help and guidance — and faith — since the passing of my wife three years ago this month, and I’m as lost as ever — more so, actually, because I see nothing changing.

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  5. Pastor, thank you for your “ponderings.” I do not know how I found your posts. Nor do I remember when I signed up for the posts, but I’m glad that I did.
    You’ve served as an inspiration for a year that saw me publish my first two books, and today I launched my own website. My own blogs will launch next week.
    It’s been a good 2021 for our household. I’m looking forward to the new year.
    I pray you blessings.

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  6. Pastor, thank you for your “ponderings.” I do not know how I found your posts. Nor do I remember when I signed up for the posts, but I’m glad that I did.
    You’ve served as an inspiration for a year that saw me publish my first two books, and today I launched my own website. My own blogs will launch next week.
    It’s been a good 2021 for our household. I’m looking forward to the new year.
    I pray you blessings.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

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