By: Pastor Samuel Namatiiti:
“And we know that
for those who love God
all things work together
for Good”
(Rom. 8:28 HB)
As you and I look forward to God willing, joyfully diving into the unknowns of the Year 2025, you and I need to be thankful to God who has allowed us to make it through the Year 2024! Glory to Him, He who is in the Highest. The inferable Word of God; The Bible is very clear about that: The Psalmist, in the book of Psalms chapter sixty-five, verse eleven says;
You (God) crown the Year with your goodness;
and your paths drop fatness.
(Ps. 65:11)
The Bible also advises us to be thankful in everything, because it’s only God who knows why each of us encountered all that we faced throughout 2024; good or bad, easy or difficult. Each has been part of the godly design for each one’s path through the year: Let this thinking dwell richly in us that; nothing is happening in the world without God’s permission, or Him knowing about whatever happens, on our way throughout the year. In everything; He, God alone has the final say, permitting whatever happens. And it will be in heaven where heavenly goers will be able to know why such was as so! Again, the Word of God warns us not to be extremely anxious in any encounter with challenges facing us from time to time, on our way through the year. But rather, facing every challenge with calmness, trusting the Creator God. It is an excellent habit to treat every encounter; as a setup for our spiritual muscles’ growth. God is well able to turn all blessings and challenges you have faced with, throughout the year, into maturity for your life.
Give thanks in all circumstances;
For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
(1 Thess. 5:18)
There was a time when I had visited a couple, in the US, and on a particular day; the wife had decided to include soybean in the meal she was preparing for us. I happened to be around when she was arranging the ingredients. When I saw her adding soybeans as well, I remembered what, at that time, was the serious information going on back here in Uganda. We then were seriously being warned not to eat soybean without first being treated by the scientists; to remove a poisonous part naturally included among the ingredients makeup of every soybean. Therefore, I asked the lady whether the soy, she was including on the menu preparation was also treated to remove the poisonous part as per the warning we were being bombarded with back home in Uganda!! The lady answered; “Truly, what you are being told is true; every grain of soy has a certain amount of poison in it. However, all that was intended by God Himself, the Creator of all things, for functional abilities known to Him alone; but for the goodness of our physical health wellbeing.” She explained more saying, “Removing that poisonous part from soybeans, is a total violation of God’s plan for human physical health growth.”
Wow! What an insight, to keep in consideration, as we look back to 2024 and forward to the 2025. Let us be thankful that we are still alive. All the happenings of the past year; good or bad, were fully permitted by God, for His own reasons, making a way for you and I into the forthcoming package of year 2025. As year 2025 begins to unfold and continues unfolding before us; let us fix our eyes on to our God; whether in the valley of difficulties or in areas of blessed achievements. Let us be sure of the true fact that ‘EVERY CONDITION we currently may find ourselves in, HAS AN EXPIRY DATE’.
0n 31st December at midnight, as Year 2024 expires and right there and then Year 2025 kicks in with the 1st day of the same; Glory be to God; that up to now you and I are still alive! 2025 is herein as a package with unknown contents. However, the encouraging news is that God, the creator and planner of all things, knows every detail of 2025 contents. Therefore, as this year continues to unfold itself by-and-by, let us fix our eyes on God the initiator of all. He knows every day’s detailed happenings, even regarding us individually.
Trust in the Lord, and do good:
Delight Yourself in the LORD,
and He will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your ways to the LORD;
trust in Him, and He will act.
He will bring forth your righteousness
as the light, and your justice as the noonday.
(Psalms 37:3-9)
Let us face it with determination, trusting in God.
