Get Encouraged

Tag: New Year’s Day

  • Where Our Help Comes From in the New Year

    Ushering out 2025 and welcoming in 2026 may bring mixed emotions. The beginning of a new year often does. Hope, uncertainty, and resolve just to name a few. Turning the calendar always gets us thinking, and we may be whispering to ourselves: “What if we need help? Where is it found?”

    If this is your question today, the Bible helps answer.

    “I lift my eyes up to the mountains –
    Where does my help come from?
    My help comes from the Lord,
    the maker of Heaven and earth.”

    The Psalmist offers great encouragement in these words.

    “I lift my eyes.” – Choosing Where to Look

    As we start 2026, goals, plans, finances, health, and world events are all battling for the spotlight. Each creates an emotional roller coaster, but Psalm 121 challenges us to make the Lord our focal point.

    The Psalmist says, “I lift my eyes.” By lifting his eyes, the Psalmist shows he was intentional in placing his focus on the Lord. This is no accident. Amid everything clamoring for attention, the Psalmist chooses to focus on the Lord.

    Lifting our eyes is an act of faith. It is choosing to start 2026 with peace and stability rather than anxiety and uncertainty. Where we focus determines how we start the year.

    “Where does our help come from?” – An Honest Question

    A new year often exposes our struggles and challenges. The goals we have and difficulties we face may require help. The world events of which we have no control may cause angst. The result is our cry for help. An honest, open request answered in Psalm 121.

    “My help comes from the Lord.” – A Confident Answer

    The Psalmist answers his own cry for help with assurance. “Where does my help come from?” he asks, and immediately responds, “My help comes from the Lord.” There’s no doubt in this response. It is fully confident. The Psalmist knows the Lord is going to help him.

    The same is true for us. Help is present, tailored to our needs.

    Think back. How has the Lord helped you in 2025. If he helped you then, he will certainly help you in 2026. We can walk into the new year with confidence. Our help comes from the Lord.

    “Maker of Heaven and earth.” – Power Behind the Promise

    Notice the last phrase of our passage; “the maker of Heaven and earth.” The Lord, who helps us, is also the creator of the universe. Nothing in the coming year will be beyond his authority and awareness. If he hung the stars in the sky and birthed the universe, the Lord can certainly sustain us in the coming days. Allow this truth to anchor your hope in overwhelming circumstances.

    Walking Into the New Year with Lifted Eyes

    Psalm 121 reminds us we do not have to face 2026 alone. We may not have all the answers, or know everything that is going to happen, but we have assurance of help. The Lord will help us, so make a daily choice to lift your eyes. The Lord has helped us before, and he will help us again!

  • Rock-Solid Promise 1: The Lord Goes Ahead of Us

    Today is the first day of the new year, and 2024 has 364 days to go. We don’t know what the future holds, and it can be unsettling to think of what might happen. Amid the uncertainty and unknown of the future, there are some certainties to which we can cling. Over the next few days, we are going to offer 10 rock-solid promises we can carry with us through each day of 2024 and beyond.

    1. The Lord will personally go ahead of us.

    We are unsure of what 2024 holds for us. As we embark on a new year, it can be frightening to walk into the unknown. It was for the Israelites.

    They found themselves standing beside the Jordan River. Enemy nations and unknown land awaited, and we can discern the Israelites had feelings of fear. What was going to happen? How were they going to accomplish the goal? And, the Lord makes a sweet promise to them.

    Deuteronomy 31:6-8 says, “So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.’ Then Moses called for Joshua, and as all Israel watched, he said to him, ‘Be strong and courageous!…Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

    The promise the Lord makes is for personal guidance. As Israel crossed the Jordan, faced enemy nations, and traveled through an unknown land, The Lord personally went ahead of them. The same promise is for us in 2024.

    As we face the enemies of bad health and financial struggles, as we walk into the unknown lands of lost jobs and new opportunities, The Lord says he will personally go ahead of us. “For God has said, ‘I will never fail you; I will never abandon you” (Hebrews 13:5).

    We’ll be back tomorrow at 6 a.m. Eastern with promise number 2.

  • Embracing the New Year: A Perfect Time for a Fresh Beginning

    As we stand at the threshold of a new year, the timeless words of Ecclesiastes 3 remind us that there is a season for everything under the sun. In the beautiful tapestry of life, God orchestrates moments of beginnings and endings, and the dawn of 2024presents a perfect time to start anew.

    In Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, we find a poetic depiction of life’s seasons—times to be born and to die, to plant and to uproot, to weep and to laugh. As we reflect on these verses, we are reminded that change is a natural part of our journey. Each season brings its own opportunities for growth, learning, and transformation.

    In Ecclesiastes 3:11, we find comfort in the assurance that God makes everything beautiful in its time. This includes the transitions, the uncertainties, and the new beginnings we encounter. As we step into the new year, we can trust that God’s timing is perfect, and He has a purpose for every season of our lives.

    The concept of time in Ecclesiastes 3 encourages us to embrace the present moment and look forward to the possibilities that lie ahead. Whether you’re reflecting on the past, setting new goals, or navigating changes, remember that each day is an opportunity for a fresh start.

    Starting tomorrow, join us as we explore rock-solid promises from the Word of God that will guide and inspire you throughout the new year. These promises are anchors for our faith, providing strength, comfort, and hope as we navigate the seasons of life.

    In the spirit of Ecclesiastes 3, let’s approach the coming days with a sense of anticipation and openness to the new opportunities that God has in store. As we welcome the new year, may we find solace in the understanding that, with God, every moment is a perfect time to start anew.

    Thanks for reading.

  • Navigating Change: A Christian’s Guide to Navigating the Changing of Year

    As we stand on the cusp of a new year, the air is filled with anticipation and the promise of fresh starts. Change is inevitable, and as Christians, we have the incredible privilege of navigating the twists and turns of life with the guidance of our faith. Join us on this journey as we kick off a series of posts that delve into the Christian perspective on navigating the changes of a new year.

    In the tapestry of Ecclesiastes 3, we discover profound wisdom about the seasons of life—times to sow and times to reap, times to build and times to tear down. Embracing this biblical perspective, we recognize that change is not only a natural part of life but also an integral component of God’s divine plan.

    The new year often brings with it a wave of resolutions and aspirations, but as Christians, our approach to change goes beyond mere self-improvement. It’s about aligning our hearts with God’s will and trusting in His unfailing guidance. The Bible assures us in Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

    As we navigate the changes that the new year brings, let’s anchor ourselves in prayer, seeking God’s wisdom and discernment in every decision. Let’s embrace the challenges and uncertainties, knowing that God is the constant amidst the changes. His promises, found throughout the Scriptures, serve as beacons of hope and assurance as we step into the unknown.

    Over the next few posts, we will explore practical insights and timeless truths from the Bible to guide you through the changes of the new year. From setting God-centered goals to finding peace in transitions, we’ll delve into topics that resonate with the essence of Christian living in a world that is ever-changing.

    Join us on this journey of faith, as we embark on a series designed to inspire, encourage, and equip you for the beautiful adventure that lies ahead. May this new year be a season of spiritual growth, deepened faith, and a closer walk with the One who holds the future in His hands.

    Thanks for reading, and we’ll see you tomorrow at 6 a.m.