While there are always the well wishes for physical health and prosperity, we should not forget that our primary focus should be on the spiritual blessings that are ours through faith in Christ. The Apostle Paul reminds the Christians in Asia Minor --
… “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.”(Eph 1:3 KJV)
God’s provision for our spiritual good as well as all our physical needs has already been provided since eternity past. God knowing all things and able to do all things desires for us to use by faith all that He has designed for our lives. That is the challenge for us as the New Year begins, for there will be times of difficulty and adversity, for that is all a part of life. Likewise, there are times of happiness, well being and the wonderful fellowship of friends and family. Each situation that we will face provides the opportunity to respond with thanksgiving, or we can react by complaining, with ingratitude that eventually will lead to anger and bitterness. A positive faith response to circumstances is a result of knowing the promises of God and effectively using them as we allow the Spirit to lead and direct our life. A negative reaction to the problems of life may seem natural at first, since that is a tendency of human nature, but the believer in Christ is challenged to live a supernatural life, looking for Divine help and Divine solutions. The writer of the epistle to the Hebrews wrote --
“fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith.”(Heb 12:2 NASB)
When we are able to turn our eyes off of self and fully trust our Heavenly Father in the things that He in grace allows to come into our lives, we then find that rest of soul and that inner peace which can not be explained in human terms, nor comprehended by a world that does not know the Savior. To the Philippians Paul wrote --
… “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”(Phil 4:6-7 NIV)
In writing to the Jewish believers just three years before the Romans would destroy Jerusalem, the writer of Hebrews issued a warning --
“Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it.”(Heb 4:1 NIV)
The Psalms offer spiritual counsel that will result in a heart of gratitude, trust and great blessing --
… “How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers.”(Ps 1:1- 3 NASB)
At another time David wrote --
“Delight yourself in the LORD; and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He will do it.”(Ps 37:4 - 5 NASB)
This coming year offers the opportunity, once again, for each of us to demonstrate our trust in the Lord so that we may experience all the spiritual blessings that our God has for us.