January 1, 2025

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” – Romans 15:13

Well, here we are – the first day of 2025! I don’t know how you are approaching this year. Some of you are probably looking forward to 2025 with great excitement. Some of you may be having a difficult time with the struggles that may lay ahead. I am probably closer to that second category. I have a lot of health problems to face this coming year, and I have some very difficult decisions that will need to be made. 2025 has the potential to be a very heavy year for me. So how do I move forward? Where do I find hope?

Well, the answer to that question is the same no matter which category you are in: we look to the God of hope. If you are excited about this coming year, but your excitement lies in circumstances, then you are setting yourself up for disappointment. Things don’t usually go the way we want, and even if they do, what we want doesn’t always turn out to be what is best for us. And if you are dreading this coming year, then you have probably put your hope in the wrong place. Our God is the center and foundation of all hope. True peace and joy can only come from him. If you want to start out 2025 the right way, then look to him to fill your every need. Make your relationship with him the #1 priority. Then, and only then, can you truly overflow with hope as you look forward to this new year.

Almighty God of hope, please fill us with your Holy Spirit and give us all the peace and joy we need for the coming year. If we are excited, keep our minds focused on things of you and not the things of this world. If we are worried or scared, teach us to find our peace in you, not in circumstances.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Shane Cannon