I. Introductory Remarks.
In this message today I would like to share with you some thoughts about how you
can enter the coming new year with an profound sense of God’s presence. This will
give you the faith to face all of the many challenges that shall come your way in this
coming year.
The Christian life is a life of faith, meaning we must have the ability to see and
perceive those things that are in the Heart of God that He desires to release into our
lives. When we are walking in an acute sense of His presence we are able to face
problems, undertake tasks, meet emergencies and to dedicate ourselves to the
opportunities that come our way with a greater degree of fervency and zeal.
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to
God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek
Him.
God desires to be with us in all that we do. He is there for us no matter what it may
be. Whether you are facing problems that seem insurmountable, undertaking
various tasks, meeting emergencies or taking advantage of opportunities that come
your way, God wants you to know He is with you in all that you do.
Isaiah 42:16 (NIV) I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along
unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and
make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.
Isaiah 46:4 (NIV) Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will
sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue
you.
With this in mind I would like to share with you some directions you need to be
looking in to sense God’s awesome hand at work in your life.
II. Directions to Look for God.
- Look Back.
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are
noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are
lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is
anything praiseworthy; meditate on these things.
Take the time to look back over the past year and identify those times in which you
had evidence of faith in overcoming doubt, sin, unbelief or anything else. Identify
those times you saw yourself go from despair to courage in the midst of suffering or
situations that seemed insurmountable. As you look back and see how the Hand of
God was at work in your deliverance, take the time to give Him thanks for all that He
did.
Psalm 105:1 Oh, give thanks to the LORD! Call upon His name; Make known His
deeds among the peoples!
Psalm 140:13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks to Your name; The upright
shall dwell in Your presence.
As you take the time to meditate on these things and give God thanks for His many
blessings in your life, you will experience a fresh sense of His presence preparing
you for what’s yet ahead in this coming new year. - Look Inward.
Psalm 51:6-8 Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part
You will make me to know wisdom. {7} Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. {8} Make me hear joy and gladness, That
the bones You have broken may rejoice.
Take stock of yourself – look at your relationship with God and with others and your
stewardship over all that God has given to you. Hold each area of your life
alongside God’s standards and pray to grow in faithfulness and holiness.
Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my
anxieties; {24} And see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way
everlasting.
Psalm 26:2-3 Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; Try my mind and my heart. {3}
For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes, and I have walked in Your truth.
As you take the time to look inward you will be blessed and encouraged when you
see the many areas where you did well and you will sense great hope when you
sense God’s help, encouragement and leading in overcoming those areas that you
failed in. Be honest with God and yourself and you shall experience a great
refreshing from Him that will give you the enthusiasm you need to change.
Acts 3:19 “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so
that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord…”
2 Cor 7:10-11 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be
regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. {11} For observe this very
thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what
clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal,
what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
- Look To Jesus.
Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of
witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us,
and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, {2} looking unto Jesus,
the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured
the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of
God.
Since Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our faith, this means He is also at work
right now with our lives. As long as we keep looking to Him we will find the
sufficiency to move forward in the many areas we are daily being challenged in.
In the midst of temptations, problems, difficulties, sorrows, various tasks and
opportunities that will surely come your way during this coming year, stay focused on
Jesus, who is the Author and Finisher of your faith. He is there to hope you through
any circumstance you may encounter.
Psalm 28:7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I
am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, And with my song I will praise Him.
As you endeavor to stay focused on Jesus, you will encounter His presence, which
will give you that extra added dimension to your faith that will encourage you to
boldly move forward in every area of your life.
Hebrews 13:5-6 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such
things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake
you.” {6} So we may boldly say: “The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can
man do to me?”
Remember He is your sufficiency and you can do all things through Christ, who
strengthens you daily. - Look To The World.
Look at the world through the eyes of Jesus and serve them with love and
compassion. Getting involved in the Lord’s harvest of souls keeps you in the
presence of God.
John 4:35 “Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the
harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are
already white for harvest!”
Matthew 9:36-38 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with
compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no
shepherd. {37} Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the
laborers are few. {38} “Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers
into His harvest.” - Look Forward.
Philippians 1:6 …being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good
work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
Because God will be with us, we can look to each new day with keen anticipation.
Faith calls us to move into this new year – to face problems, undertake tasks, meet
emergencies, and dedicate ourselves to the opportunities the year will present. We
can go forth with confidence knowing that God is at work in us we are His children
who will be led by Him in our journey from day to day.
Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; But
happy is he who keeps the law.
III. Concluding Remarks.
You can enter this new year with a sense of God’s presence if you look to Him in
each of these directions. He is there to help you through every trial, temptation and
task no matter what it is. He is all-sufficient for you for the coming year. So let each
of us resolve to “run with patience the race that is set before us,” looking to Jesus to
find the way. He’s there to meet you each and every step of the way.
