By Grace Ida Rajan
ARE you looking for directions to be blessed this New Year ? Here are some which I found useful:
Look Back
Relax and take time to look back into the past year (s). There might be happy moments, hurting times and sorrowful moments. In all of those, were you able to see God at work? If so, take time to thank God for all experiences and for all that He did for you in those situations.
“Surely the righteous will praise your name and the upright will live before you.”(Psalm 140:13).
If this “looking back” exercise fails you, going to the next direction will be of help.
Look Inward
Check your life honestly. It is good to check your relationship with God and with others. Also check whether you were stewards of all that God has given you.
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24)
“Test me, O LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; for your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth.” (Psalm 26:2-3)
You will be happy for all that you did well. But be sure enough to identify the failures and the grey areas where changes are needed.
Look to Jesus
Don’t ever skip this direction. We need to look to Jesus.
….let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2).
“My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:2)
“My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:2)
When we look to Jesus as our model, we fill find a sure sense of sufficiency to move forward in the New Year. And we need to keep looking to God because it is He who can help us at all times. He is our hope for the New Year.
Look at the World
In our country lots happen, that breaks the heart of our Creator and Saviour God. We need to look into the world with the eyes of Jesus. Many a souls are ready for harvest too. What do we do? Let us get into action. Let us be instruments of justice, peace and salvation.
“Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.” (John 4:35)
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. “Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” (Matthew 9:36-38)
Look Forward
God is Immanuel. He is with us. So we can look into each day with great anticipation.
“…He who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6)
With that confidence, we can move into every new day of the year to face problems, undertake tasks and opportunities and meet emergencies. When we look into each of the above directions, I am sure we can sense God’s presence all through the New Year. Blessed 2013 folks!
Grace and her husband Suresh Rajan are part of Charis Seva Mandal which works for the socially and geographically isolated communities.
