12.29.08

I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. - John 15:5.

If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. - John 15:7-8.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. - Philippians 4:13.

We stand on the threshold of a New Year and there are some things that we can count on in this New Year: great opportunities along with great challenges will confront us. We will likely encounter disappointments and trials in one form or another and probably much more!

In 2008, many of us have faced trials, and challenges. How many people in this country and around the world expected the economic collapse that has occurred? Only a very few. Last Tuesday night I suddenly became very ill. It was a complete surprise. So sick, that for several minutes I did not even have the strength to move. However, I still had strength. I had the strength to know that God was still God, and that I was in His hands, whether I was to leave this earth or stay upon this earth. As the apostle Paul said, "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21)." God was and is my strength, and He is your strength too for whatever you may encounter in life.

Only God knows what is ahead for us in the year 2009. Whatever we may face, we can be confident that as children of God, we have a power source that is more than adequate for whatever is needed in our lives. The Creator of the universe through the Holy Spirit dwells within every believer. When we abide in Christ we have more power available to us than our minds can comprehend.

Sadly, the opposite is true as well. When we try to accomplish things and go through things in our own strength, we always find that we have a lack of power. We fall short. We fall on our faces when we leave God out of the equation. Why? Because as Jesus says, "…without Me you can do nothing."

What is God’s plan for your life in 2009? To find out, we must "abide" in Him. If we "abide" in Him then we will find that we have the strength physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually that we need for each step of every day. Allow the Lord to empower you for the challenges of the coming New Year. Make the commitment now that your plan for the New Year will be to "abide" in Christ and to seek His strength for every area of your life.

May you have a very Happy and Blessed New Year!!