OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL: SUNDAY, JANUARY 1ST 2017- STARTING A NEW YEAR

Memorise: Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. Ecclesiastes 7:8
Read: Job 8:5-7 (King James Version)
5 If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty;
6 If thou wert pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.
7 Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.
Bible in one year: Matthew 1-3, Isaiah 1:1-17

AS REVEALED BY PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE IN TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL

Welcome to this New Year! It is always good to experience something pleasantly new. At the dawn of a new year, hopes are renewed, aspirations are born and expectations are high. But when the ups and downs of life take their toll in the course of the year, many people are not able to sustain the zeal and zest that they started the year with. Does this sound familiar? For some, it appears as if the events they experience in the course of the year are set up to completely dash their hopes. If this has been your experience, it shall be different this time around in the mighty Name of Jesus.
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Jeremiah 29:11
As you take in the fresh New Year breeze, know for sure that God has something great in store for you which will unfold in the course of this year. Something huge is coming your way, so let your hope be fixed on the Lord. God wants you to end this year big and great, and to have your heart overflowing with joy. Remember that in the Kingdom of God, the end of a thing is always of greater significance than its beginning. Hence, the Holy Ghost in Job 8:7 said: “Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.”
Because some people start a new year with little or nothing, they don’t expect anything great to come their way that year. If you find yourself in such a situation, know that if you settle some key issues in your life, you can be assured of a greater, bigger and glorious year. First, start the year with God (Proverbs 8:17). If you are still living in sin, the greatest way to start this year is by going on your knees, confessing your sins to God, asking for His forgiveness and inviting Jesus Christ to be your captain and pilot from now onwards.
Also, you need to cultivate a personal relationship with God by studying the Bible regularly, fellowshipping with other believers in a Bible-believing Church, worshipping God and taking time to pray on daily basis. In addition, daily ask God for direction, wait to receive it, and be sure to follow as He leads. Utilise all opportunities that come your way and give your best to God and His work. If you do all these, I assure you that this year will end very well for you.

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

Truth have been revealed to us today on how to spend the rest of the year and be free of worries, depression and frustration. Life is sweet depending on the kind of environment or relationship we find ourselves and how we position ourselves in such relationship. However, the best of all relationships is that of the God through the help of the Holy Spirit. God from creation has a good thought towards humanity according to Genesis 1:28 ” Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth”. With no element of doubt, what we have read, heard and know about the Almighty God is that He’s a compassionate and loving father. His wish for you in this particular year is of blessings, favour, abundance, miracles, promotion and all manner of good desires you may think of but your position and stand with Him really matters. Let’s not compromise our faith this year that will prompt God to call us “dog” just like the woman Jesus regarded as dog in Matthew 15. Ensure that your relationship is intact with God this year and see your heavenly Daddy backing you up throughout this year. We pray that none of us shall end this year in sorrow and frustration in Jesus’ name. God be praised for our father in the Lord Pastor E.A Adeboye for the daily insight into God’s word through this devotional, may He alone be adored forever more in Jesus’ name

Action Point
Thank God for granting you access to this New Year. Let your thanksgiving be a daily offering to God this year.

HYMN

1. O Jesus, I have promised
to serve thee to the end;
be thou forever near me,
my Master and my friend.
I shall not fear the battle
if thou art by my side,
nor wander from the pathway
if thou wilt be my guide.
2. O let me feel thee near me!
The world is ever near;
I see the sights that dazzle,
the tempting sounds I hear;
my foes are ever near me,
around me and within;
but Jesus, draw thou nearer,
and shield my soul from sin.
3. O let me hear thee speaking
in accents clear and still,
above the storms of passion,
the murmurs of self-will.
O speak to reassure me,
to hasten or control;
O speak, and make me listen,
thou guardian of my soul.
4. O Jesus, thou hast promised
to all who follow thee
that where thou art in glory
there shall thy servant be.
And Jesus, I have promised
to serve thee to the end;
O give me grace to follow,
my Master and my Friend.

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