Each year for the past several years I write a New Year’s Letter to all my friends and family on the first day of the New Year –January 1st. This year, however, I wasn’t able to do it. My husband and I spent New Year’s Eve on the Seven Mile Beach in Grand Cayman. This was our first time ever spending New Year's Eve at the beach.
As I reflected on what I would share with all of you on my letter, I realized that the highlight of the entire year came for me on the very last day—spending New Year's Eve with my husband on the beach. That had been one of my dreams since I got married almost 30 years ago that came true thanks to my daughter and son-in-law. They gave both of their parents this incredible vacation to thank us for everything we’ve done in their lives and especially during their college years. When they surprised us with this amazing gift, I said, “That is so sweet of you two and we’re totally going to let you do it!” And so the six of us went to Grand Cayman to say goodbye to 2017 and receive the New Year.
There were no major life events that happened to our family during 2017 and I am thankful for that. Sometimes nothing happening is good for us. No one got married and no one got divorced in my family. There were no new babies and no one went to heaven. We didn’t move or started new jobs. Life was busy enough without any of those events. I am blessed and I rejoice in the love I feel for my family and all of you, my dear friends.
So today I want to introduce you to my new theme for this year—BELIEVE!
Believe in God with ALL your heart beyond what you have believed ever before.
Believe for the things you’ve been waiting for to happen this year.
Believe for the healing yet to come.
Believe for someone to believe in you and offer you that job you need.
Believe for broken relationships to be restored.
Believe that God LOVES you for no other reason than you are HIS child.
Believe in other people. Give them a chance to show you they care.
Believe that everything will work out for your good.
Believe in God’s plan for your life.
Believe in yourself. Because you’re worth it! – This is the title of one of my next books.
I encourage you to do things to increase your faith in God. Here are some examples that help me have more faith:
Write down everything that God has done for you in the past. You will see that He’s never left your side.
Associate yourself with other believers who encourage you in your faith walk.
Read scriptures that remind you to have faith. I will leave you with some of my favorite ones about Abraham and his amazing faith:
Romans 3:25-31 (NLT) For God sent Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to satisfy God’s anger against us. We are made right with God when we believe that Jesus shed his blood, sacrificing his life for us. God was being entirely fair and just when he did not punish those who sinned in former times. And he is is entirely fair and just in this present time when he declares sinners to be right in his sight because they believe in Jesus… So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law… He makes people right with himself only by faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles.
Romans 4:3 (NLT)… “Abraham believed God, so God declared him to be righteous.”
Romans 4:18, 20 (NLT) When God promised Abraham that he would become the father of many nations, Abraham believed him… Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was absolutely convinced that God was able to do anything he promised.
I want my faith to be like Abraham’s. I want to be absolutely convinced that God is able to do anything He promises to me—in every area of my life. Most of us have areas where we feel strong in our faith and then there are other areas we could use some encouragement.
Will you join me in my journey to BELIEVE more than ever before in your life?