"The Lord is with me, I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"
-Psalm 118:5

A New Year

A new year is upon us. Turn on the news and read the newspaper, however, and you will soon see that it is the same 'old' world that we live in and not all the news is good. There are many who are suffering. There are many disasters, places of warfare, violence, disease, starvation, broken families, etc...unfortunately the list could go on and on. How are you going to face it? Many people begin a new year afraid of what will happen to them or wondering what 'new' terrible events the world might see in the year to come. But I challenge you to face the new year with confidence, knowing that God is with you! What can happen in this year that can cause God not to be there for you? Read Psalm 118: 5 above and Hebrews 13: 5-6 below and have faith that God will be with you no matter the circumstances.

Perhaps you are worried that you are not 'deserving' of God's love. Maybe you feel that this past year was 'not your best.' Why would God be there for me you might wonder? Yet what can you do to turn God's love away from you? We are not perfect and are prone to make mistakes. I find this to be very true of myself. Even the great evangelist, Paul, had his struggles. He writes in 2nd Corinthians 12: 7-8, "To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me." What was Jesus' reply to Paul? "But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' " (2nd Corinthians 12: 9) God loves you and will be there for you, even in your times of weakness. So face the new year with confidence! Knowing that no matter what happens God will be there for you. Praise the Lord!

Take a moment and encourage someone this week.

I pray that all is well with you. Please let me know if you have any prayer concerns or praises. Have a great week and remember to smile :), the Lord loves you!

In Christ,

Shan D. Hartsough

"Keep your eyes free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you.' So we can say with confidence, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?' "
-Hebrews 13: 5-6

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