Monday Reflection \u2013 January 03, 2022\u00a0Beginning with God<\/p>\n\n\n
You, O\u00a0Lord, are in the midst of us,\u00a0\u00a0and we are called by your name;\u00a0\u00a0do not forsake us!\u00a0Jeremiah 14:9<\/p>\n\n\n
We have marched into a new year! To God be the glory! To have survived 2021 is sufficient to give God more than 10,000 praises. I witnessed so many illnesses and death in 2021; so many persons experienced unprecedented challenges. But we have made it, and all praise and glory belong to God. 2022 is before us, filled with opportunities yet with challenges. We march forward with God as leader and guide.<\/p>\n\n\n
Jeremiah 14 captures a period in Judah\u2019s history when they were afflicted by\u00a0droughts. Sustained or multiple droughts were always a life-or-death issue in ancient societies where most made their living by farming.\u00a0Drought was also a special issue for ancient Israel and Judah, because the often-worshipped Canaanite idol Baal was thought to be the god of weather and rain. Many ancient Israelites were drawn to Baal worship because they wanted rain.\u00a0It was also thought that\u00a0the Lord\u2019s purpose in sending drought was to bring the nation to repentance.\u00a0This led to confusion\u00a0and despair\u00a0by the people as they covered their heads. The Orientals cover their heads when in the deepest grief, as David did, when he went over the brook Kedron.\u00a0Charles Spurgeon says that this\u00a0means, \u2018I cannot face it. Do not look on me in my sorrow, nor expect me to look on you. I cover my head, for it is all over with me.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n
Fortunately, the people never stayed in this state of confusion and despair. They rose up and offered true repentance to God. It began with an utter confession of guilt and an appeal to pure mercy, not what they deserved.\u00a0They were very aware that only the Lord\u2019s mercy could save them. Having approached God\u00a0with humility and repentance,\u00a0they \u00a0appealed to God by reminding Him that He was Israel\u2019s\u00a0Hope\u00a0and\u00a0Savior, and asked Him not to be a\u00a0stranger\u00a0to them in their great need.\u00a0In this appeal we find today\u2019s Watchword, as the people reminded God that He\u00a0was\u00a0near to Israel,\u00a0in their very midst, and that they did belong to Him. They\u00a0called upon God to act upon that nearness and identification.\u00a0These reasons should be sufficient for God not to forsake them.<\/p>\n\n\n
We know not of what 2022 will bring, perhaps drought and famine, sickness and death, pain and sorrow, disappointments and heartaches. Whatever we may face, a good place to start and a great practice to exercise is to turn to God with humility and repentance; to recognize our state of sinfulness and plea for God\u2019s mercy. As we embark on a new year, may we march forward knowing assuredly that God is always with us and invites us into a loving relationship with Him. May we remember that God will not abandon us. Let\u2019s follow in His footsteps as we seek to become more like Christ and do His will.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n
I leave you with the usual New Year thought that I have found ever renewing at the start of each new year: I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year, \u201cGive me a light so that I may walk safely into the unknown.\u201d He replied, \u201cGo your way and place your hand into the hand of God. \u00a0That will be to you better than light and safer than a known way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n
Happy New Year everybody!<\/p>\n\n\n
Jermaine Gibson\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Monday Reflection \u2013 January 03, 2022\u00a0Beginning with God You, O\u00a0Lord, are in the midst of us,\u00a0\u00a0and we are called by your name;\u00a0\u00a0do not forsake us!\u00a0Jeremiah 14:9 We have marched into a new year! To God be the glory! To have\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"template":"","watchword_topic":[12],"class_list":["post-725","watchword","type-watchword","status-publish","hentry","watchword_topic-hope"],"yoast_head":"\n