New Year Blessings

I recall a passage in Philippians about being content in all situations, whether you are going through trials, of which Paul was in prison during the writing of this book, or whether you are living favorably and comfortable.  If struggles are upon me or I am on a mountain top, I am striving to live a life of contentment in my relationship with Jesus.  My circumstances may not be what I expected or desire, but my relationship with Jesus is solid.  What does this have to do with New Year Blessings, well, anyone can receive blessings from God regardless of their circumstances.  The prophet Isaiah said in chapter 61:1-4 that the Spirit of the Lord is upon me - He has anointed me to bring good news to the poor, bind up the broken hearted, proclaim liberty to the captives, and open the prison to those who are bound - through all of this we are to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor!  No matter what situation you find yourself in, we can be conquerers.   Isaiah also said that when you find those around you who mourn or are sad we are to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes; the oil of gladness instead of mourning; the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit.  When we do this, then we can be called oaks of righteousness- imagine, OAKS that God plants so He can display His glory.  Wow!  This is powerful stuff.

Let me share an experience I had with a very good friend of mine.  She was struggling with some issues in her home and needed someone to, as my sister says, vomit upon.  (This sounds gross, but it illustrates the ugliness we carry inside sometimes and just need a listening year to get it out of our system.)  So, my job that evening was to just listen.  For about two hours, I listened, she talked.  She shared her struggles, her circumstances that she was going through.  She was emotionally and physically drained and I was her outlet for two hours, no kids, just us and God.  When she finished, I simply said, now let's turn this frustration of life and put on a garment of praise.  I told her to find as many things about her situation that she could find good in and then praise God for them.  So, she started with all the good things about her family, job, home life, until it just started to pour out of her.  She was given the oil of gladness and the garment of praise.  God was beginning to plant in her the roots of an almighty oak so He could display His glory.  Ask yourself, what is your perspective on this new year ahead?  Are you ready to allow the burdens of life to be released and live a life that is full of the garment of praise and an oil of gladness.  When you do, God takes root!  I have been thinking about this hymn lately and cannot shake it off - "Showers of Blessing, Showers of Blessing we need, mercy drops around us are falling, but for the showers we plead."