What Will the Year 2012 Bring?

What will the new year bring? This past year was a tough one for many reasons. You can guarantee that there will be political unrest around the world in the new year. In the United States as the presidential election draws near the mud slinging will grow worse. Some people are expecting the Occupy Wall Street protests or other protests to intensify.

Economically things don’t look that good either. The new manager of the International Monetary Fund warns that the global economy faces the prospect of “economic retraction, rising protectionism, isolation and. . .what happened in the 1930s” (i.e. an economic depression). Some sources see the Europe Union imploding both economically and politically. Sorry for the bad news before the new year even begins.

But there are things that you can do to have a blessed new year no matter the circumstances. First, make a commitment to read Scripture. An ancient psalmist wrote about Scripture, “Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path (Psalm 119:105).Allow the light of God’s Word to give you wisdom, insight, comfort and courage for all of life.

Second, trust God. The writer of Proverbs said, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him,  And He shall direct your paths (Proverbs 3:5, 6).” No matter what the new year brings trusting in God to direct your path is wise counsel.

Third, be generous in your charitable giving and serve others with the love of God. The New Testament proclaims, “But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.  And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work (2 Corinthians 9:6-8).” And “through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’ (Galatians 5:13, 14).”

Finally, share the good news of Jesus Christ and the coming kingdom of God with others. The Bible proclaims “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20).” There are people looking for love and hope and answers to life’s questions. “You are an epistle of Christ (2 Cor. 3:3).” In other words, you are Christ’s love letter to someone out in the world.

So read the Bible daily, trust God in all you do, cheerfully give, serve in love and make known the good news. Have a very happy and blessed new year!