Living a life purpose

God is a rock that cannot be moved by any who would harm us. God is a fortress or a place of safety where the enemies cannot follow. God is a shield that comes between us and harm. God is a place of safety high above our enemies. I love you, Lord. You are my strength. The Lord is my rock, my protection, my Savior. My God is my rock. I can run to him for safety. He is my shield and my saving strength, my defender. I will call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I will be saved from my enemies. (Psalm 18: 1 - 3)

I cannot be certain about what lays ahead of me in 2013. What I do need to know about the future is not what is ahead of me, but who is ahead of me. It is the Lord who goes before me; He is ahead of me; He is preparing the way. My future is in His sure, strong and caring hands. I will be with you and I will protect you wherever you go. One day I will bring you back safely to this land. I will be with you constantly until I have finished giving you everything I have promised you. (Genesis 28:15) I cannot be certain what the future holds but what I need to know about the future is that I know who is holding me. It is the Lord holding me, He has great plans for me and my future is in His sure, strong and caring hands. 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. (Jeremiah 29:11)

Be confident of God's promises, it will surely come to pass. Isaiah 55:11 (ESV) - So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. In every situation, always remember God promises and who made those promises: the Omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent God, the powerful God. So why should I fear when I know God can never lie. He will always do what He says. Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for peace and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. I will not fear for I know that God never lies.

As we look ahead to 2013, we should not fear because we know the one who is leading us. Lord I want to follow You wherever you lead. Help me to place my fear aside and move forward with you. You have said that there is nothing to fear for You are with me. I should not look around me in terror and be dismayed, for You are my God. You will strengthen me and harden me to difficulties. You will help me, hold me up and retain me with your victorious right hand of rightness and justice. As we look forward to 2013, do not fear the unknown because God is with us, God will help us and God will hold us up. Isaiah 41:10 - Fear not [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My [victorious] right hand of rightness and justice.

My regrets and my failings all seem to be set in stone and they often weigh on my mind. But God says that He makes all things new. Revelation 21:5 - And He who is seated on the throne said, See! I make all things new. Also He said; Record this, for these sayings are faithful (accurate, incorruptible, and trustworthy) and true (genuine). Amplified version God is continually making all things new. God can bring good out of my past including all my regrets, my failings and my losses that I no longer have access to. My past and all my failings and imperfections do not faze a God whose goodness knows no bounds. Although I am limited, God’s grace is not. So why would I, a creature powerless to change the past want to hold on tightly to it. Why not give it to the One who can actually do something about it.

Begin the day with God! He is thy Sun and Day! His is the radiance of thy dawn; To Him address thy lay. Sing a new song at morn! Join the glad woods and hills; Join the fresh winds and seas and plains, Join the bright flowers and rills. Sing thy first song to God! Not to thy fellow men; Not to the creatures of His hand, But to the glorious One. Take thy first walk with God! Let Him go forth with thee; By stream, or sea, or mountain path, Seek still His company. Thy first transaction be With God Himself above; So shall thy business prosper well, And all the day be love. --Horatius Bonar