God Is for You

By: Gina Welsh

Friday, January 3, 2025

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me." Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NLT)

As we begin a new year, it's good time to consider what last year taught us. For some, it was a "good" year filled with answered prayers. For others, 2024 was a difficult year, one that left them weary and grateful for a fresh new start. For the rest of us, it was probably a mixture of both. But no matter what last year was like, we can face 2025 with confidence and faith. Why? Because God's plans for us are always good, even when we don't see it! God is always for us, never against us... Let that spiritual truth sink in. Why can we have hope each (and every) morning? Because in Lamentations it says each morning The Lord is waiting for us to wake up so His mercy can show up!

The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. Lamentations 3:22-23 (NLT)

Whether things have been going well or life has been really hard, it's good to slow down, stop, and quiet our emotions. Then, we can take an honest look as we evaluate our lives, attitudes, and relationships. It's also a good idea to acknowledge God's plans and purposes on a regular basis, even if we don't completely understand what He's doing.

It's good to pay close attention when we read scripture, because God's word is active, alive, and powerful. His Word is also sharp enough to cut between soul and spirit, exposing our innermost thoughts and desires (Hebrews 4:12). In all seasons, good and bad, it's good to draw nearer to God, have faith, and believe that He is working out His master plan for us. Finally, as 2025 begins, let's start this new year with a renewed determination to live out these words from Hebrews.

"...let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith." Hebrews 12:1-2

Remember, even if 2025 isn't what we expect, we are more than conquerors through Jesus! Nothing (absolutely nothing!) can separate us from God's great love!

Read: Romans 8:35-39