Be expectant about what God has prepared for us in the new year

BY GOD’S grace we have made it to the end of another year, and even if right now everything seems to be the same 12 months later, the truth is that God’s mercies are new every morning, and things can be different in 2024. There is grace available to us to accomplish some of the scary and exciting dreams that we might have given up on over the last year. Let us be expectant about what God has prepared for us in the new year.

Next year can be better than you ever dreamed. “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9 (NLT). Let us not miss out on any of the amazing and unimaginable plans that God has in store for us.

Sometimes, however, we must admit that we often stand in our own way. God might tell us to do something, and we are hesitant or disobey because we don’t believe His plans for us are always good. This way of thinking needs to go if we want to elevate in 2024. We need to:

1. BE OBEDIENT TO THE WORD OF GOD

He knows what is around every corner and He knows what will happen every day. He is more prepared than we could ever be. So, when we live in obedience to the written Word of God, we get the benefit of His perfect vision to make our path straight.

It is important to remember that this faith is based on the entire Word of God, not only the parts we like. When we move outside of God’s Word, we have no basis for our faith, but we have a right to believe for anything the Bible promises to all believers. However, we have to watch how we live our lives. Sin and strongholds can prevent promises from coming to pass, even when we operate in faith. We cannot occupy our lives with activities and thoughts that are outside of His will, but then expect God to respond to our attempts at faith.

2. TAKE UNCOMFORTABLE ACTIONS

Faith requires that we get out of our comfort zone. We must be willing to let God take our world and turn it upside down. God cannot do wonders when we limit Him or put Him in a box.

So, we have to war against our emotions that tell us to continue living in our comfort zone and business as usual. Our emotions are poor decision makers. Let us make the decision that no matter how it looks we will believe God, and that “we walk by faith, not by sight”. (2 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV). There is always going to be a test of the faith we profess. But God is always good, so when things don’t look good it is a tool that God is using to get you to the best He has for you.

3. EXERCISE PATIENCE

In order to receive what we asked for from God, we need to live out Mark 11:24 (NKJV), “Therefore, I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”

By faith, your breakthrough is on the way, but it requires patience. There is a best time to receive, and there is a change that God often wants to bring in us before we leave the stage we are in. Since we don’t have the full picture, we need to trust God to bring it forth in the right time as we remain obedient, even in uncomfortable situations.