HAPPY NEW YEAR: “THE MOST ANTICIPATED NEW YEAR” IN RECENT HISTORY
We’ve all heard this even before we clocked in 2021, “Thank God 2020 is finally over.”
It is often accompanied by a deep sigh of relief.  With so many people still reeling from the
world of hurt that 2020 threw at them, many are agitatedly wondering what 2021 has in store for
them.  As a minister, I have been attentive to discussions about prophecies, global economies, health issues, governments, and relationships. 
It is understandable that people are fearful, anxious about 2021 becoming a repeat of the
year we just ended.  So, the question to be asked is: Are we sincere when we say, “Happy New Year.”  Or are we saying it out of courtesy?  And on the receiving end, do we absentmindedly respond to people when they say it to us because of what we are going or have been through? 

How do we deal with the baggage of last year?  We all want to be happy.  Bottom line:
how can I have a happy year without faking it?  The Bible has an answer for that.  ‘Therefore, He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light” – Ephesians 5:14.  What is the Bible really referring to when it says, “wake up? Arise from the Dead?’ It is telling us to not allow all the situations of the world to consume us to the point of killing our focus on the LORD. We must not neglect it.

 There are two directions in life.  You are either focusing on the LORD who is on the
Throne or you are embittered and focused on the problems and chaos in the world. Which
direction are you facing? Have you resolved to look up and see the LORD highly lifted up or are we looking down and see wickedness, confusion, and invariably death as alluded to in the verse above?

To avoid slipping into lethargy, spiritual slumber, and deadness, we must take the Word
of God seriously.  So how do I avoid this? What helps me to take the Word of God seriously,
especially when I don’t feel like it? Be intentional about setting aside the same time every day, a few minutes initially, to reading and meditating on the Word of God. This will open our lives to joy, wisdom, and contentment. And with time as we enjoy his presence, we will want and continue that much more time with him as the writer of Psalm 119: 111 and 130 does.

One more practical life-changing choice, one that has served me well is this: Keep a daily appointment with the LORD through Bible reading every day in 2021. But Elizabeth, how do I find time EVERY DAY to do this? Intentionally reduce the time on social media, watching the news, and self-pity. Then use that time for your daily appointment with the LORD.
This time is meant for listening AND SPEAKING to the LORD.   God is not a
newscaster. He wants you to also speak to Him, by praying, which is you talk as you normally would…to God.  Your DAILY MEDITATION IN THE WORD OF GOD IS YOUR DAILY
MEDICATION against fear, against darkness, and against the easiness you’ve carried from
2020. Then truly you will have a happy new year.

Trouble comes in different forms and shapes.    However, this unprecedented coronavirus pandemic must be overwhelming for a lot of us.  People are taking precautions with staying clean.  A lot of people are staying at home to avoid contact with people.  There is also social distancing for those who do venture out, so as to cut down on the rapid transfer. I applaud the efforts of everyone.

Despite all these, a lot of people are afraid.  The television, radio, and social media are discussing nothing but the coronavirus.  We don’t need to be afraid.  The Bible says, “

 “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the …” Psalm 46: 1-4

We have the assurance from the Word of God that however devastating the situation of this pandemic may be, there is a river that brings the peace of God. This river brings stability to the soul and so we are not moved. The antidote to all these threats and fear is to allow the river of God to flow peace into our souls.    

We will not be moved because the Lord of lords is right inside of us.  With the fear all over the world, we will spread the fragrance of God’s assurance and peace to everyone we come in contact with. V. 5.  We will achieve this because the LORD of hosts is with us.  V. 7.

The frenzy will be quickly dealt with if we can be still and receive the revelational knowledge that God is with us.  God wants us to be still to see clearly during this global chaos.  For any problem in life, there is a solution.  Let us all be still and God will again speak to our spirits.  PRAISE THE LORD! 

What is it like after Christmas celebration?  Are you still excited or you are back on the daily grind called life as is?  Sometimes we experience this feeling of blasé post any celebration. It may be due to buyer’s remorse, a loved one, not present, or a failed attempt at the perfect holiday party. But it should not be so after Christmas because Christmas should be every day.   Christ should be celebrated every day because of the great deliverance Jesus had done for us.  I am so excited to share with you this great love of Jesus Christ.  The Bible says in Luke 1: 71 & 74, “that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us;” “that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear,”

Jesus came to save us from our enemies and all who hate us.  Jesus came to give us salvation. This is spiritual and eternal salvation.  Jesus gave us a total deliverance that continues to eternity.   We are saved from these enemies: sin, death, condemnation, everything and anything that wages an endless war against our spirits.  The celebration of our deliverance ought to continue to eternity.

Our hearts should continuously be filled with joy because the LORD Jesus visited us to bring the mercy of God to us Luke 1:72.  Mercy is the foundation of our redemption and salvation.    Mercy is deliverance from judgment.  God promised His mercy to us which was performed by Jesus Christ.  Our fallen state was so tragic that God had to rescue us.

Luke 1:74 said one of the important reasons for Christmas, “that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear.”  This received God-sized mercy is to be reciprocated by serving Him in response to what He has done for us.  And when we serve, it is not out of guilt, fear, or shame, rather in joy.  God does not want man operating in fear.  In fact, God extended mercy to us to give us the right to no longer live