Start at the End
A Message for the New Year (2023)
30 Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “We should by all means go up and take possession of it, for we will certainly prevail over it.” 31 But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, because they are too strong for us.” 32 So they brought a bad report of the land which they had spied out to the sons of Israel, saying, “The land through which we have gone to spy out is a land that devours its inhabitants; and all the people whom we saw in it are people of great stature. 33 We also saw the Nephilim there (the sons of Anak are part of the Nephilim); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.” – Numbers 13:30-33 (NASB)
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentle spirit be known to all people. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 As for the things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. – Philippians 4:4-9 (NASB)
The BIG Idea
God has given us the gift of a New Year (2023) and a “new beginning.” Will we choose to look at this new opportunity with eyes of faith or eyes of fear? There is nothing enjoyable about living a life of fear. God has made it possible for us to live a life of faith and peace in God through Jesus Christ. The choice will be ours. The choice will be ours.
Will I look at 2023 with faith rather than fear?
ILLUSTRATION: The Twelve Spies of Israel evaluating the Promised Land
When we look at our future through the eyes of fear, we will experience several things.
There is NOTHING enjoyable about living in fear.
How do we live a life of faith and peace?
Statistics prove that we do not do a good job in keeping our “resolutions.”
Paul came to the reality that God never fails, and regardless of his circumstances, his hope and cause of all joy should be in God alone.
We can rejoice in Jesus and take our concerns to Him.
Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth. – Colossians 3:2 (NASB)
ILLUSTRATION: Thomas Edison and his laboratory fire; “Thank God, we can start anew.”
In Christ, we are able to . . .
Questions for Reflection:
When you survey the past year, what do you want to see transformed the most in the coming year?
How does your faith impact your evaluation of this past year?
When you look at the coming year, what do you most want to accomplish?
What do you need to think about less in the coming year?
Why do most “resolutions” we make for the New Year fail?
What does God want you to want?
What do you need to start? What does God want you to stop?
What step of faith do you need to take?
What role do the grace and power of God play in these goals?
Will I look at 2023 with faith rather than fear?
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentle spirit be known to all people. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 As for the things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. – Philippians 4:4-9 (NASB)
The BIG Idea
God has given us the gift of a New Year (2023) and a “new beginning.” Will we choose to look at this new opportunity with eyes of faith or eyes of fear? There is nothing enjoyable about living a life of fear. God has made it possible for us to live a life of faith and peace in God through Jesus Christ. The choice will be ours. The choice will be ours.
Will I look at 2023 with faith rather than fear?
ILLUSTRATION: The Twelve Spies of Israel evaluating the Promised Land
When we look at our future through the eyes of fear, we will experience several things.
- We will be stressed by conflicting information.
- We will develop a mindset of scarcity.
- We will fulfill our own self-defeating prophecies.
- We will spread our negativity to everyone else.
- We will see ourselves as inadequate.
- We will make ourselves miserable.
There is NOTHING enjoyable about living in fear.
How do we live a life of faith and peace?
- This can only be done through a faith journey with Jesus.
Statistics prove that we do not do a good job in keeping our “resolutions.”
Paul came to the reality that God never fails, and regardless of his circumstances, his hope and cause of all joy should be in God alone.
We can rejoice in Jesus and take our concerns to Him.
Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth. – Colossians 3:2 (NASB)
ILLUSTRATION: Thomas Edison and his laboratory fire; “Thank God, we can start anew.”
In Christ, we are able to . . .
- Live a life of faith and peace.
- Embrace a God-centered confidence each day.
- Unapologetically pursue a Kingdom purpose.
- Pursue and steward rich, God-centered community.
Questions for Reflection:
When you survey the past year, what do you want to see transformed the most in the coming year?
How does your faith impact your evaluation of this past year?
When you look at the coming year, what do you most want to accomplish?
What do you need to think about less in the coming year?
Why do most “resolutions” we make for the New Year fail?
What does God want you to want?
What do you need to start? What does God want you to stop?
What step of faith do you need to take?
What role do the grace and power of God play in these goals?
Will I look at 2023 with faith rather than fear?