Reflections on the New Year
29 Dec 2011 3 Comments
in Devotionals2 Tags: Child-of the KING, Christ, God, Jesus, Lord, New Year, pain, Second Epistle to the Corinthians
“Therefore we do not lose heart, though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly, we are being renewed day by day.” (2 Corinthians 4:16)
New Years tends to make us step back and reflect our lives.
I paused in front of the mirror and stared at a reflection looking back at me. I could hardly recognize that girl in the mirror. She was so different now, than she was just a few short years ago. Illness and depression had left their marks on her. Time was slowly draining her youth. Stress and pain had caused lines, sags, blemish, and distress to her skin. A New Year means slipping time.
It was so apparent that my outer body was wasting away. With this realization, how can one help but to lose heart.
Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 4:16 that to age in this earthly body is to draw closer to the Spiritual body we will soon have in heaven for all of eternity.
This human body we live in now is so frail and weak. Yes, we can make resolutions to exercise and diet trying to make our life healthier and longer, However we are all in the process of dying; that is a part of the cycle of life. We live under so much pressure, perplexity, persecution, and pain in this world. This is a cruel, dark world in the face of suffering.
But, despite all of this, there is a way to know that Christ is alive and working through us. This is called hope.
We cannot expect a world without pain and sorrow. Even our Lord suffered tremendously while He was here on earth in the human flesh, but the scriptures remind us that this life is but a moment compared to the eternity God has waiting for us. Earthly life is just a flicker. Just a fraction of reflection compared to Grace.
Through the suffering we should focus our eyes and gaze at the image of Christ in the invisible, eternal world to come, so that we can reflect the image of God to the world. This material and temporary world is so painful, dear loved one. We need to grasp to the “hope” of a Savior who loves and cares for us. A Father who will hold us and carry us through the trials.
This hope gives us the confidence to face life’s threats and problems. My prayer today is that you will grasp to hope and will see the inner reflection today of a “Child-of the KING” and draw strength from the image of Christ. You are so precious and so loved!
Prayer: Dear Lord, Help us to “carry-on” in this coming New Year. Help us to grasp the reins of hope. When we look at the reflections of our lives, helps us to see what awaits us in eternity, not what has passed. Thank you Lord for your strength and wisdom in all things! Amen.
About the author:
Debbi Farmer, mom, wife, writer, business owner, Child of the King, suffers from several illnesses including Fibromyalgia, and knows how easy it is to lose heart in the mist of the pain. She Hopes this is the year that everyone reading this devotional will find Hope and Happiness!
You can now read this on your Kindle. Find out more at http://TodaysDevotionOnKindle.com
What do you reflect on in a New Year? Do you see beyond this life? How do you focus yourself to resolve to live a New Year with HOPE?
Dec 29, 2011 @ 14:41:41
Beautiful and true, Debby. I am very much in the place that you are in (suffering fibro and trying to deal with life’s changing realities..). May I wish you strength, hope, joy and faith in the coming year?
Dec 29, 2011 @ 19:13:14
I can certainly relate to the “reflection in the mirror” thing. How many times I have looked at my reflection and hardly recognized myself! And more recently, I guess I have gotten used to the way I look, because now I look at old photos of myself in my “pre-fibro” days, and don’t recognize THAT girl. The young, vibrant, healthy, pretty one. Sigh…It is depressing if we dwell on that. We must focus, as you said so beautifully, on our future hope, not what is past.