It’s that time of the year again. It is time to look back on all that God has done in your life throughout 2016. On Friday we will look ahead with positive anticipation for all you hope He will do in the New Year.
Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:57)
Make no mistake, if you are reading this right now, regardless of all that you went through during this past year, you actually did go through it, and God has given you the victory. Now, I recognize that it might not have felt like victory at the time. The Bible does not say that all things are good; Scripture assures the Christian that God causes all things ultimately to work together for the good of those who love God.
To be sure, there is a lot of bad that happens in the lives of the children of God. But our God is faithful through every season of life and has promised to give us the victory in Christ. And if you have placed your trust in Jesus Christ for your eternal salvation, that is exactly what God has done for you, right up through this moment in 2016.
Prayerfully consider this question: how would you catalogue some of your victories? Perhaps you are a student and you can see the victories God has given you academically, athletically, and/or relationally. Maybe you can recall a victory or two in your professional life. How about some victories in your personal life? God has been working in your life—not only daily, but moment by moment. Without a doubt, God has met you in your place of need, or you would not be reading this right now. Perhaps God has met you in your place of wants too.
Did you know that God has answered every one of your prayers? To some He said YES; to others He said NO; and to still others, He said WAIT. God has been on the move in your life, guiding you every step of the way. He has not only been for you and with you, but He has been in you. He has encouraged you, empowered you, and equipped you to do all that He called you to do. Remember, God does not call the equipped; none of us are equipped to do anything God has called us to do. But God does equip the called. God equipped Moses to lead the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt. God equipped David to slay the giant Goliath. God equipped Mary to be the mother of Jesus. And God equipped you to do everything He called you to throughout this year.
So before we look ahead on Friday, I encourage you to pause for a moment and prayerfully consider all that God has done in your life in 2016. It may not have been the year you wanted or were expecting. But it was the year God ordained for you, and He did it for two very important reasons:
For God’s glory
and
For the good of all others.
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 