12/31/2025
The year is going with its positive and negative scars of the past. This year has flown over us so quickly as we journey in faith. The events of the year are memorable while others hold us back in joy, anger, and disappointments. The 21st century is in motion even though we have been succumbed to the turmoil of wars, rumors of natural disasters, violence, sicknesses, economic hardships, and various challenges of our time. We are starting the new year leaning on God’s voice saying, “See I am doing a new thing.”
Indeed, we desire new perceptions in our physical, spiritual, and emotional relationships. We love worshiping God from the heart as a token of our being. This new year is a time to rededicate and commit our love of God again. It is a time to seek God while he can still be found. This could be our focus or priority to undertake such a divine task. Jesus said it well, “But seek first the kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well.” (Matthew 6:33)
The past tends to glue us in its hems, yet God is setting us off this new year on a fresh start. Isaiah reminds us to forget the former things and embrace the new things God is doing. In a way, we accept our past without regrets because it is already behind us. Our past is water under the bridge or spilled milk. We ought to handle our present with confidence and face our future without fear. Good news to seize in this moment is God’s assurance of “Doing a new thing among us.” We therefore embrace the new year with confidence.
A familiar phrase, “In order to go where we have never been, we must do something we have never done.” Well said! If we want to grow into an ever-increasingly closer walk with God, we must allow God to lead us in this promised newness. We must be united in purpose, love, vision, and faith to experience God’s newness. An African proverb puts it this way, “The journey in the sand is begun together.” Why beginning together? Because we have entered the unchartered territories of the year. We need each other along the new year in service, love, prayers, studies, committees, and growing our church. God is leading us along, as we follow singing, “Where he leads us, we will follow.” In response God says, “I will be with you, with you all the way. Remember advent taught us that He is. “Emmanuel, God with us!”
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL!
-- Rev. Ever V. Mudambanuki, Topeka Lowman UMC
We're in prayer today for Albert Otshudi Longe (Oxford), Lana Day (Pleasanton-Haven's Chapel), Craig Collins (Scottsbluff) and Daniel Kazadi M'panda (Stratton-Palisade-Haigler).
