“I remember the days of old; I meditate on all you have done; I reflect on the work of your hands.” – Psalm 143:5

Yesterday my wife and I had the opportunity to share the testimony of our relationship with a group of high school students. We talked about how we met, our friendship, our decision to remain pure until marriage, and our marriage of almost 25 years. Preparing this talk was an incredible blessing. We remembered all the difficult times God had walked us through, we remembered all the victories he had won in our relationship, we remembered all the forgiveness we had experienced from him and from one another, and we remembered his enduring faithfulness in our lives. All this reflection gave us so much joy and encouragement. We walked away excited to see what God has planned for the next 25 years.

At the beginning of a new year, we often spend our time looking forward with new year’s resolutions, goals, and schedules. But today I want to challenge you to spend some time looking back. I encourage you to sit down and write out an actual list of how God has worked in your past. Remember the incredible blessings he has given you. Remember the moments of amazing deliverance. Remember how he has forgiven you and restored you time and time again. Remember his incredible faithfulness in the midst of the most difficult situations. Let this be what encourages you and gives you hope for the coming year. You do not know what 2023 holds, but you do know who holds 2023.

Loving heavenly Father, we come today to thank You for Your amazing faithfulness through all the years of our life. We are amazed at Your deliverance through all our trials. We are humbled by Your forgiveness through all our failures. We are at peace today knowing You hold 2023 in Your hands.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Shane Cannon