Joshua 1:3; Philippians 1:20

A Spiritual Fitness message from the ROA National Chaplain

The New Year has arrived.  Ready or not, 2021 is here.

With its arrival comes hope, anticipation, unknown, curiosity, and the sense that the “New” will be even better than the one just left behind. Some may feel apprehension or anxiety. The yearning for something better is always with us depending upon our focus. That yearning is a gift from God to us. The Scriptures repeatedly proclaim God’s desire for the year ahead as our best yet. In order for such a reality, our focus is toward Him for our source and strength.   

He has placed in His Word words such as fulfillment, hope, new, and renew. With God comes the word the future can be better than the present. The message from God throughout both the Old and the New Testament was for His followers to turn their faces toward Him and the future, evidenced by confidence and expectation. 

When Moses met God, the assurance was that Moses was there for more than defeat but to lead under the direction of God. When Joshua met God, he was to lead toward a new land.  When David met God, David was hardly known but God walked before him into the role of a king. When Saul of Tarsus met God, he was to go forward with a message and mission. A search of the Scriptures reveals God that wants to make all things new. 

The amazing and most fulfilling facts about God’s proclamations are that he uses people like you and me-or Moses, David, Joshua, Saul of Tarsus. We turn our face toward Him.  It means we do not find the resources within us but from God.  We need resources that are fresh and new from Him.  The true “newness” comes from beyond ourselves.  Walking with God is a privilege providing His input of new resources for the tasks before us. With the presence of God comes all sorts of proper possibilities. 

The Scriptures provide multitudes of evidence of this truth.