New Year 2019

One thing I ask from the Lord,
this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
and to seek Him in His temple. ~Ps 27:4 (NIV)

Last week we did a daring thing: camping. It was a wonderful and unforgettable experience for all of us. Our girls love it so much. At the end of the trip, they asked if we could do it again another time. My wife enjoyed the few days of worship and listening to good Bible teachings. At the end of the trip, she fell flat exhausted. I feel refreshed and recharged through the raw and soothing experience of camping and retreat from daily work. After we arrived, the next day I slept the best sleep of the whole year. What Camping has to do with New Year? I am grateful to God that I was ‘forced’ to take leave from Christmas till New Year. We had done many wonderful and great things together as a family (that’s for another story). One thing that stuck in my mind is this song “You are my Anchor” by Stuart Townend based on Psalm 27. Verse 4 is the favorite verse of a dear sister that went to the Lord last year.

As we enter into another New Year, I am reminded how desperately we need God’s help. And this Psalm 27 offers me some resolutions to face the uncertainties and challenges that this year might bring.

I know it well my shortcomings and weaknesses. I am not always loving to my wife, nor I am always wise in dealing with my children. There are moments when I reacted in anger instead of meekness. Or responded coldly because of my tiredness. Often I wonder why these children wake up early during holidays when I wished to wake up a bit later and enjoy my sleep longer. And they wake up late when I work and plan hard for a trip or important events.

Yesterday was another incident God acted in kindness to me. It was New Year day, and there’s a message from my colleague that the internet isn’t working. I wanted to rest after the tiring camping days and spend time with my family. I could ignore that ‘cry for help’, for God’s message that it’s better for me to help and save the day of others.

There are almost unending cries for help, cries of need, and I could be overwhelmed by them. There are moments of weaknesses, moments of tiredness, and often moments of helplessness as I often felt the tiredness and futility of running after my two girls and calling them to wait. My only hope is that Jesus has broken into our lives, broke His body, so that our broken lives could be transformed. That’s the only reason I dare to put my trust, that His Word is true. So I have hope and not in despair.

2019, I ask God that I would seek Him, to abide and to gaze upon His beauty. I pray that He would work mightily in and through me, to transform me into His likeness. Amen!

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