Fearlessly Courageous
Desk of Dennis Piller
1 1 2024
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However, you End this Last Year…Will be the way you Begin the New Year.
Let’s put this last year into perspective as leaders. Leaders of our families, our jobs, our ministries, our neighborhood. Ever want a do-over? One more chance to get something that went terribly wrong… right? Most of us enter a new year with a mixed bag of emotions. Both the good and the bad. I have some of those mantles I have carried for years. (Wrongfully so… damagingly so… to myself and others).
And I made another one of them this year and honestly, the guilt of it makes me want to carry it forward because I feel those dismal feelings are part of my penance for that. They say some people think they actually feel better by feeling bad because they think they deserve it! (I know that feeling) But I know it’s wrong. Mistakes happen and God forgives. Sometimes people don’t so quickly,
but his love is infinitely bigger than our mistakes.
Thank God His is not the way of condemnation but love acceptance and forgiveness. (Rom 8: 1-4)
So now what? How does one begin again without the baggage that weighs you down and even contributes to taking you down.? Let’s face it, we are all racing toward our destinies…towards eternity.
We are on the brink of a New Year.
Hal Linsey wrote a book called The Late Great Planet Earth. It was written in 1970 to explain the return of Jesus Christ. It is based on Biblical prophecy and is spot on for what is happening today in the USA. In it, he made GRACE an acronym “GRACE – God’s riches at Christ’s Expense”
The bible says there is a season for everything. We are beginning a new year… a new season. How do I do that in God’s way? How do I enter this new season prepared?
Rev 22:21 says, “ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” The Last Words in the Bible.
Grace to you…for you. WHATEVER, you did this last year…good…not so good…horrible, or stupid.
God filled in the gaps with His Grace.
One thing I know, however you end your year
will be the way you begin your new year.
So again, let’s be honest. Did you crash and burn, flounder or were you one who pressed forward and made some respectable gains?
What about your sins of Omission?
What about my failures? God’s Grace!
What about the things I should have done but didn’t do? God’s Grace!
The way we end the past year and begin the new year is God’s Grace. Amen
God’s riches as Jesus’s Expense!
What does that mean? Whatever is behind you or before you God says I will take care of that!
I will manage that!
I don’t believe we can walk knowing about God’s Grace without knowing about his forgiveness.
This New Year’s resolution should be about accepting…receiving God’s Grace that develops you, envelopes you…consumes you… So That,
You delight in living every day for God and seek to enjoy him at all times.
To enjoy him in all situations.
I know that’s easy to say…
But what happened last year? What changes rocked you?
What catastrophic event took place that took you to your knees?
Do you NOT know YET that God was in it?
WHAT?
Yes, He was. Yes, He is!
That great crisis of faith or one that still is… God will either redeem you out of that
temptation of Satan or your flesh,
or it might have been a trial by fire sent by God.
For the believer…you and I…we MUST believe he will redeem us.
HOW DO WE DO THAT? HOW DO WE LEAVE THE PAST BEHIND US?
Rom 8:28 “And WE KNOW that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose”. It is not about the good of suffering’s end; rather, it affirms that things are working together for good in the midst of suffering and that God is working even in suffering for our good and ultimately for His Glory.
1 Peter 1:7 CEV “Your faith will be like gold that has been tested in a fire. And these trials will prove that your faith is worth much more than gold that can be destroyed. They will show that you will be given praise and honor and glory when Jesus Christ returns”.
We must pray for the year ahead surrounded by His Grace. Ask fervently and daily for God’s wisdom, favor, power, and grace.
– Wisdom is His living word.
= Favor is God’s affection. Did you know he can’t keep his eyes off you?
– Power is the Power of the Holy Spirit moving in your life. Be dependent upon Him!
Be Reckless in the New Year For Him! For His purposes.
Rev 22:21 says, “ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”
Live as though this is the only year you will ever have.
On Sept 10th of this past year, I survived a massive heart attack. Only by God’s Grace!
This new year or tomorrow is promised to no one. Start living like that! Take hold of God’s Grace and commit, maybe for once in your life, to live every day trying to enjoy Christ and all His daily blessings.
This week I want to spend some time on preparing for the new year. It has already begun. Stay tuned and commit to spending time in prayer over the things I share this week.
