A NEW YEAR, A NEW DAY

A NEW BEGINNING, A NEW WAY 

Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea

And a path through the mighty waters,

Who brings forth the chariot and the horse,

The army and the power

(They shall lie down together, they shall not rise;

They are extinguished, they are quenched like a wick):

Do not remember the former things,

Nor consider the things of old.

Behold, I will do a new thing,

Now it shall spring forth;

Shall you not know it?

I will even make a road in the wilderness

And rivers in the desert.

The beast of the field will honour Me,

The jackals and the ostriches,

Because I give waters in the wilderness

And rivers in the desert,

To give drink to My people, My chosen.

This people I have formed for Myself,

They shall declare My praise.            Isaiah 43:16-21 NKJV

As of writing, the first three weeks of 2021 have almost passed, with Christmas 2020 just a memory. The year 2020 will always be remembered for being the year of the Corona virus and the challenges that brought to nations of the world. Those challenges are still ongoing.

As is the case every year, many, no doubt, made New Year's resolutions, with some of those being already discarded and dispatched to either the too-hard basket, or the "Whatever" realm of non-resolve.

Like all of us, I have had "good intentions" in the past concerning things in my world that I know need to change. Someone has said: The road to hell is paved with good intentions. One of those things is probably near the top of the list of resolutions at this time of the year for many people - to lose weight. I would like to think that this year, 2021 is going to be the year when this goal is fulfilled with significant benefit to my health and well-being.

    Thank God that every day can be a new day with new opportunities to grow closer to Jesus, to break off and shake off the shackles of the past, and to begin to walk in new freedom and purpose. The Lord's ways for His people are ALWAYS onwards and upwards. We are admonished by the apostle Paul to "redeem the time, because the days are evil." I just recently turned seventy, and more than ever, I am realizing that we are only here for a short time, and I don't want to waste the opportunities God has given me to serve Him, anointed by the Holy Spirit, and bearing much fruit for His kingdom. Sometime early last year, a lady at our church fellowship one morning came to me and said prophetically: "No retirement for you, Peter." I was encouraged, because sometimes I feel that ministry-wise, my life could have been much more fruitful for the Lord than it has been. GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME!

    The past, with its highs and lows, victories and defeats, seasons of growth, and those of stagnation - is gone, and gone forever. Today is a new day! This is a new year. With the Lord's help, we want to make this the best year of our lives - so far! I believe the Lord is calling my wife, Tessa and I to a new level of trust in Him this year, but with a greater sense of expectancy for what He is going to do in and through us to bring greater glory to His name. The same sense that we believe God is saying this to us, is the same that we believe He is speaking to all who would truly want to follow Him in the journey of life!

In the early chapters of the Book of Joshua, after forty years of wandering in the wilderness, because of their disobedience under the leadership of Moses, Joshua lead the children of Israel over the Jordan River into the land of Canaan, the Promise Land. Joshua, who had been known as the servant of Moses, now became the servant of the LORD to lead the people forth into the land of promise.

Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, 

"Pass through the camp and command the people, saying, 'Prepare provisions for yourselves, for within three days you will cross over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which the LORD your God is giving you to possess.'"

So it was, after three days, the officers went through the camp;

and they commanded the people, saying, "When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests, the Levites, bearing it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it.

"Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure. Do not come near it, that you may know the way by which you must go, for you have not passed this way before. Joshua 1:10,11; 3:2-4 NKJV

In essence, the children of Israel were told to POSITION THEMSELVES so that the LORD could lead them in a new way! He is saying the same to each of us who would follow Him into this new year. There is much land spiritually to be taken for the Kingdom of God, as we position ourselves to be led forth as an army with banners proclaiming JESUS IS LORD, and the Word of God is the unchanging Truth which must not be allowed to be compromised in the name of Political Correctness! 

A NEW YEAR, A NEW DAY, A NEW BEGINNING, A NEW WAY!

Keep your eyes on the prize! Look to Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith. Hebrews 12:1,2

    This year, we are blazing a trail for Jesus. Where I have allowed compromise in my life, I am saying NO MORE! Compromise is the language of the devil.

We are in a spiritual battle for the future of our families, our nation and the nations of the world. The darkness is increasing all around us! This has been highlighted so vividly by the battle for the soul of America in recent months following the November 3, 2020 Presidential election. The massive extent of fraud, lies and criminal sabotage of the electoral integrity of this election has left the nation reeling, with massive cover-ups and demonically-fuelled denials. BUT GOD! The prayers and intercessions of millions of Christians around the world will see the enemy fully exposed and TRUTH will prevail!