2024 Let God Help Make Your Life Beautiful

Ready or Not Here It Comes

Leap year is upon us. Yep! We get to have one extra day on the calendar of 2024. And as the new year opens up before our very eyes, whatever we bring into this year -- good, bad, happy or sad -- will be a part of the fabric of this new year. For some of us this will be challenging. Why? Because some are really struggling with what is going on in our culture. Many are having to grapple with spiritual, emotional, relational, financial and/or physical struggles. And just because people are saying "HAPPY NEW YEAR" these challenges are still very real. So, how are we to get ready for this if the new year, in focus, appears anything but happy?

But Remember -- God

I have learned that when life meets us head on, it is important to think of all these challenges, but remember God:  As Christ Followers, you and I are not in this journey alone, and as the ancient wisdom of Ecclesiastes 3:11a teaches, "God makes ALL things beautiful in it's time." Say what?  That's right, God has complete control of all that is going on, and He has complete control of the circumstances of your life, and my life. And making all things beautiful is explained as the Apostle Paul tells us, "We know that God works in all things for the good of those who love God, and who are called according to His purpose. For those, whom He for knew, He for ordained to be formed into the image of Christ that He (Jesus) might be the first born among many brothers and sisters." The beauty is, no matter what happens, IF we surrender it all to God, we will come out of this stronger and created into the beautiful/handsome image of our big brother Jesus.  WOW! So, we can be of good cheer because Jesus overcame, and so can we! Why? Because we are being formed beautifully/handsomely into Christ likeness.

Then, There Is Eternity

Now, keep in mind there is eternity: As we continue examining Ecclesiastes 3:11b, we learn that God has put eternity in the human heart. God IS eternal. And God has placed in us eternity which is to share in God's life forever! Wow! We are also eternal beings, with hearts full of eternity!  That is to say, in order to be overcomers, let's remember God, and lets embrace God's life in us, through Jesus, by the Holy Spirit. When we do so, we get a God perspective, and when we get just a glimmer of how God looks at things, and receive this viewpoint into our lives, we have a greater power at work in us than we can imagine.

Y E T

One more thing: There is the "Yet" factor. No one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end."  Appreciating, comprehending, figuring out, grasping, the Divine is way out of our league. Who can even begin to fathom the marvelous, and the mysterious work of The Most High God. Yes, God can help us with these scars that need turning into stars. God fills us with His eternal perspective; yet, understanding the eternal understanding that is quite another thing. Ah ... But it is beautiful, and God makes all things beautiful in His time.

The Opportunity

You may be going into this next year with everything being really good. If this the case for you, I am happy for you; however, if you are like many of the rest of us, you have the opportunity for God to beautify the garden of your briar infested life. If you surrender, He can take the weeds out and make you into Christ's image. He can give you His eternal perspective, and you can experience the unfathomable glory of God flowing through your life. This can happen just when you need it most. You may NOT understand it. It may be a mystery. But the beauty can come, if you genuinely let go and let God, ONE DAY AT A Time be in control.

Prayer

Dear Lord,

I stand amazed of Your love, mercy, wisdom and grace: I hold on tight to You, by faith, that You make ALL things beautiful in its time. When I think about my past, and look forward to the unknown future, I know that I can trust you to lead me. Please Lord, help me hold on to the promises you make. Regardless of my past, or what the future holds, I choose to believe that You are always at work -- from beginning to end, even if I don't understand. Help me, Lord, overcome my unbelief.

I pray this in Jesus Name.  Amen.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

S o J o u r n e r