MORNING MEDITATION

“Happy New Year 2022!”

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Happy New Year 2022. Sermon as dialogue.

Pastor: Happy New year my dear Christian.
Christian: Happy New year Ba Reverend. We thank God that by his grace he has brought us to this new year.
For reasons of insecurity our New year eve service started at 4.30pm and ended at 6.30pm. But I couldn’t believe my ears when few minutes past midnight I heard all around shouts of merriment as people tried to outdo each other in shouting happy New year. And the deafening noise from knockouts! I didn’t think it could happen in Bamenda. God is great.
Pastor: You are right. I even saw video clips of crossing over services where new year met faithfuls in church. It is good to celebrate God’s goodness, thanking him for having brought us this far, and being confident that he is going to be with us all through the year.
Christian: The theme that guided us in 2021 was “Celebrating the Lord’s Favor.” from the gospel of Luke. What is our guiding theme for 2022?
Pastor: Before we get to the theme, let me tease you a bit. There is this fun time question, “Which comes first, Christmas or New year?”
Christian: New year of course! 1st January is the first day of the first month of the year, whereas Christmas is towards the last days of the last month of the year.
Pastor: You are correct. But there is a sense in which Christmas comes before New year. The church year begins on the 1st Sunday in Advent, which is the fourth Sunday before Christmas.
More than that Christmas is that great day in which God seated himself among humanity.
Celebrating the Lord’s Favor was drawn from the Christmas text of last year. Our theme for this year is, “God of peace, equip me with everything good for doing your will” Response: Lord, work in me what is pleasing to you.” This is from Hebrews 13:20-21.
Christian: Rev. the theme is long and complicated and does not seem to give any direction.
Pastor: My dear, the journey of life is long and complicated and most times it doesnt seem to make any sense at all. There is only one person who makes life simple and easy for us, despite all the complexities.
Christian: Come to think of it, I don’t feel like anything has changed. Yesterday we read themes like,“Cross Over To Take Over Without Carry Over!” On this 1st January 2022, I have not noticed any change from the me of 31st December last year. By the way, to open a new account page there is always a brought forward.
Pastor: You are on point. Brought forward is necessary, but when the brought forward is negative, then the picture is not good. There will be need for working to improve on the account.
This is why we should not only always depend of tangible blessings and favors from God. Rather we should allow him to work on us to achieve the results that would please him and in turn make us achievers for him.
Our greatest asset for 2022 would be for us to pray that God should equip us with everything good for doing his will and to work in us that which is pleasing to him.
Christian: Praise God! I’ll just mind my business and allow God to do what he is doing.
Pastor: You miss the point! God is not going to do it alone without you. He will “equip you” with the right tools and means. And while you are using the equipments, he will be working in you what is pleasing to him.
When you ask for bread, he will provide you with flour. When you ask for flour he will provide you with a piece of land.
Manna is no longer going to rain from heaven.
If you do not ask, it will not be given to you. If you do not seek you won’t find and if you do not knock, nobody will open to you.
Only those who ask receive, only seekers find and doors are opened only to those who knock (Mt.7:7-14).
God makes ninety-nine steps to bring to us, but expects us to take the one step of faith to receive. Only those who have cultivated their gardens rejoice at the approach of rain.
Christian: What you are saying is that New year resolutions much be accompanied by actions?
Pastor: Exactly! More than that the resolutions must be in tandem with what is pleasing to God.
New Year Prayer: God of peace, equip me this year with everything good for doing your will; work in me what is pleasing to you in Jesus’ name. Amen!
Happy New Year my dear! Blessings, peace and love!
Rev. Babila Fochang.

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