In a year that dragged on forever, we come to the closing page of 2020. Throughout this unprecedented year, I thought about this moment and wished it arrived sooner. I repeated time and time, "I can't wait until the New Year" or "We just have to make it to the New Year." Now that "New Year" is here, I don't feel the sense of relief that I thought I would.

While 2020 held more challenges than any other year I've walked through, there were some beautiful moments that I will miss. As I studied The Attributes of God, I fell in love with The Lord of Heaven and Earth. I spent more time in quiet moments with Jesus, being taught by His Spirit, than at any other time in my history. Those moments have shaped me into a new creation, and the passion I have for God's Word has been fanned into a mighty flame.

2020 brought me a more profound love for my husband and my son as we spent so much time together. Words like "quarantine" and "shelter-in-place" weren't in our vocabulary last year at this time. Today, they are part of the vernacular. We didn't go on any fancy vacations, but we spent weekends having water fights as we washed our cars. We didn't go out and about roaming in other vinyards, but our own vineyard, we kept. (Song of Songs 1:6)

2020 opened our eyes and gave us a "clear vision." It's funny to me that as 2019 came to a close, virtually every preacher I heard was "prophesying" clear vision and "the year of the double portion." I don't think 2020 delivered what they were hoping. Still, the year gave my husband and me clearer vision nonetheless. We began to see things in our world as they were, without the rose-colored glasses we are told to wear. We began to see that the kingdoms of this world continue to crumble, but we can pledge allegiance to a KINGDOM that has no end. 2020 gave us this gift, and I will be thankful.

So while there is the hope of a better year ahead, I am mourning the end of 2020. I didn't think I would. But here I am at the dawn of a New Year, thanking God not for the end of 2020 but for the beauty and the lessons it brought.

As I was praying this morning for the New Year, I thought of the The Attributes of God that we have inscribed this year. None of us has any idea of what 2021 will spring upon us, but we know a God who does not change. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Our future is in His hands, and He works all things together for good because He is good! (Hebrews 13:8, Romans 8:28)

We serve a God who is Sovereign; a God who says, "I declare the end from the beginning, and from long ago what is not yet done, saying: my plan will take place, and I will do all my will." (Isaiah 46:10) We pledge allegiance to the Kingdom of our Lord, a Kingdom that is full of love, peace, grace, patience, and mercy. We worship a God who is omniscient - He knows what 2021 holds, and He knows He will carry us through in His mighty power!

I am beyond thankful for 2020, and my prayer is that we continue to see The Lord more clearly in 2021. That we give Him the baton and allow Him to conduct our life - our Symphony of Praise - bring us into a place of union and harmony with Him.

To close this year, I would like to share with you Charles Spurgeons New Year's Resolutions. It was December 31, 1891, and Charles Spurgeon stood in front of his congregation and told them what he saw for the New Year. As the bell struck midnight and a New Year dawned, Spurgeon delivered a brief address to his congregation. He had been sick and came to bring a short word of encouragement. Unbeknownst to him, he would die just thirty-one days after delivering this address at the age of fifty-seven.

His words, an encouragement to his congregation in 1891, hold as much strength and guidance for us today as we open the page to 2021. As Spurgeon rang in 1891, and we ring in 2021, may we see . . .

1. God’s Sovereignty

“I see a highway cast up by the foreknowledge and predestination of God. Nothing of the future is left to chance; nay, not the falling of a sparrow, nor the losing of a hair is left to haphazard; but all the events of life are arranged and appointed. Not only is every turn in the road marked in the divine map, but every stone on the road, and every drop of morning dew or evening mist that falls upon the grass which grows at the roadside. We are not to cross a trackless desert; the Lord has ordained our path in his infallible wisdom and infinite love.”

2. God’s Guidance

“I see, next, a Guide provided, as our companion along the way. To him we gladly say, ‘Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel.’ He is waiting to go with us through every portion of the road. ‘The Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee.’ We are not left to pass through life as though it were a lone wilderness, a place of dragons and owls; for Jesus says, ‘I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.’”

3. God’s Strength

“Beside the way and the Guide, I perceive very clearly, by the eye of faith, strength for the journey provided. Throughout the whole distance of the year, we shall find halting-places, where we may rest and take refreshment, and then go on our way singing, “He restoreth my soul.” We shall have strength enough, but none to spare; and that strength will come when it is needed, and not before…God all-sufficient will not fail those who trust him. When we come to the place for shouldering the burden, we shall reach the place for receiving the strength. If it pleases the Lord to multiply our troubles from one to ten, he will increase our strength in the same proportion….Our lamps shall be trimmed as long as they shall need to burn. Let not our present weakness tempt us to limit the Holy One of Israel. There is a hospice on every pass over the Alps of life, and a bridge across every river of trial which crosses our way to the Celestial City. Holy angels are as numerous to guard us as fallen ones to tempt us. We shall never have a need for which our gracious Father has furnished no supply.”

4. God Glorified

“One thing more, and this is brightness itself: this year we trust we shall see God glorified by us and in us. If we realize our chief end, we reach our highest enjoyment. It is the delight of the renewed heart to think that God can get glory out of such poor creatures as we are….We hope that God has been in some measure glorified in some of us during the past year, but we trust he will be glorified by us far more in the year which now begins….We wish our whole life to be a sacrifice; an altar of incense continually smoking with sweet perfume unto the Most High. Oh, to be borne through the year on the wings of praise to God.”

My Friend, we have no idea what this New Year will hold, but I pray that we hold onto God’s Sovereignty, God’s Guidance, and God’s Strength. I pray that in us, the world will see God Glorified to a place of honor and that our Symphony of Praise sings His Song.

I am blessed to walk into this New Year with you,
Erika 💛

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