To be sure, there are bumper stickers to suit every taste, and Sunday, on our way home from lunch after church, we saw a new one which read: ‘Cool! This calls for a spreadsheet!’ One instantly wonders about the person who chose it. While I might surmise we have little in common, maybe they’re simply filled with hope at all future possibilities and excited to put their gifts to good use. The closest I can come to this is my first day of school every year: all new pencils, pens, a carton of my favorite peacock blue ink cartridges, notebooks, teachers, etc.; a blank slate filled with untold discoveries. And now you’re wondering about me. I get it. Whatever floats your boat, Don.
We’ve crossed over the threshold into a New Year, this strange-sounding, twenty twenty-four. It is, in many ways, a blank slate just waiting for us to begin writing a new chapter, facing new challenges, having new adventures, making decisions big and small, creating spreadsheets, etc. Of course, there are things that will come to us, both the delightful and the not so delightful. And decisions made by others which either help or hinder our journeying through these twelve months.
As a guiding and grounding prayer theme for the year, we might write out this verse from Colossians 1:16, TPT, rereading it before we take in the news from our preferred sources:
“Every seat of power, realm of government, principality, and authority –
it all exists through him and for his purpose!”
I particularly love the words ‘every’ and ‘all.’ They prove helpful in putting things back into perspective. Then, Paul adds this caution for the church he loves so much. It is still à propos for us in this New Year.
“Beware that no one distracts you or intimidates you in their attempt
to lead you away from Christ’s fullness by pretending to be full of wisdom
when they’re filled with endless arguments of human logic. For they operate with humanistic and clouded judgments based on the mindset of this world system,
and not the anointed truths of the Anointed One.” Colossians 2:8, TPT.
Great! That neatly wraps up all the issues of the year ahead of us. Now, to get ready to celebrate, with every confidence, all the fullness of Jesus in every 24/7 aspect of our lives, living totally worry-free, fully trusting in all the fullness of his perfect provision for every want and need. You know what? Maybe that bumper sticker had it right! Maybe this year does call for a spreadsheet! Charge! PD
