2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore if anyone is in Christ (that is grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior), he is a new creature (reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit); the old things have passed away. Behold, new things have come (because spiritual awakening brings a new life).

We are entering a New Year, and many of us seek change and make commitments to change. When we are in Christ and born again, we have become a new creature, and the old self has been changed. God can help us make any change that we are looking for. He has the answer to the problem or the direction we need to go. Reach out to God, and He will guide you in the next steps. 

John 14:27

Peace I leave with you; My(perfect) peace I give to you; no as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. (Let My perfect peace calm you in every circumstance and provide you with courage and strength for every challenge).

May the Peace of God bless us in the New Year. Let our hearts not be troubled, but let us build a closer relationship with God and continue to grow and mature in our faith. May we flourish in our lives and families, and prosper. Let this year be a year of breakthrough and multiplication of favor and love from God!

Deuteronomy 31:6

Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble in dread before them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not fail you or abandon you.  

This scripture applies to every adverse circumstance that may come into our lives. Faith must always be our first reaction and never fear. Even when the mind becomes overwhelmed by taunts, let our brains speak faith against the onslaught. Faith against any negative report from the doctor, bank account, or anything. God goes with us and will not fail or abandon us in our time of need.

Isaiah 40:29

He gives strength to the weary, and to him who has no might He increases power.

God never intended for us to live our lives separated from Him, but that happened at the fall with Adam and Eve. God wants to strengthen us and fellowship with us daily. He can clear a path in the fog of daily living. God can bring answers that we don’t know exist. When we are weak, He will increase our strength and will see us through. 

Psalm 119:29-30

Remove from me the way of falsehood and unfaithfulness, and graciously grant me Your law. I have chosen the faithful way; I have placed Your ordinances before me. I cling tightly to Your testimonies O Lord, do not put me to shame!

The devil will try to throw up roadblocks as we make advances in our belief in God. God has all the answers to the devil’s negative doubting questions. When we remain faithful and true to God and His teachings, we will not be put to shame. Keep the faith, steadfast and unwavering, and battle the doubt with the truth of the Word.

Isaiah 40:31

But those who wait for the Lord (who expect, look for, and hope in Him) will gain new strength and renew their power; they will lift up their wings (and rise up close to God) like eagles; they will run and not become weary; they will walk and not grow tired. 

When we wait on the Lord, we wait in confidence, fully convinced that what He has promised He will do. We don’t listen to the whispers of doubt that the devil uses. Or keep our eyes on the circumstance, we keep our eyes on the scripture, and use our authority to confess the promise. Our strength will be renewed, and we will not become tired.

Luke 18:27

But He said, “The things that are impossible with people are possible with God.”

Jesus walked on water, raised the dead, cast out demons, multiplied bread and fish to feed 5000. We think too small. When we stop looking at the Bible as a story and start reading it as a how-to-live guidebook, the impossible becomes possible. Jesus died to restore the authority Adam and Eve lost. We need to use our authority.

Ephesians 6:18

With all prayers and petitions pray (with specific requests) at all times (on every occasion and in every season) in the Spirit, and with this in view, stay alert with all perseverance and petition (interceding in prayer) for all God’s people.

Prayer needs to be specific and focused. We can’t pray a random prayer and expect a particular answer. God must work through people, and it may take time to find people willing to do what He is asking. Don’t give up and let the devil say it isn’t working. We must keep interceding in prayer for ourselves and God’s people. 

2 Corinthians 5:6-7

So then, being always filled with good courage and confident hope, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord- for we walk by faith, not by sight (living our lives in a manner consistent with our confident belief in God’s promises).

What we see in the natural isn’t always the truth in the spiritual realm. God’s promises exist for us to lay hold of through faith. We are to walk by that faith in Jesus and the Bible to overcome and bring into existence what God has waiting for us in the spiritual realm. 

Colossians 3:17

Whatever you do (no matter what it is) in Word or deed, do everything in the name of Lord Jesus (and in dependence on Him), giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

If we want to break through the worldly barriers and succeed in our lives here on earth, we must become entirely dependent on Jesus. When we draw closer to Jesus through the Word, prayer, fellowship, and praise, we will have a stronger connection and be able to hear His voice. Our success in this life centers around Jesus and the Bible, leading us forward.