HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Today is the last day of 2025. So, how was it? I’ll leave the answer to you.

I glanced at the corner of my computer screen where it shows the date, and I realized that very

shortly it would read ‘1/1/2026’. My stomach tightened a little.

Lots of emotions come with the end of a year and the beginning of another- terror, hope,

anxiety, excitement, apprehension, depression, happiness- and it’s overwhelming. As I

anticipate what this coming year of 2026 will hold, I have been reminded to pray for God’s will to

be done in my life, by the Lord’s Prayer. We pray this in church every Sunday (no, we are not

Catholics...we are Reformed!), so it comes to mind often during the week.“Pray then like this:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth

as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our

debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” - Matthew 6:9-13

Jesus commands us not to pray like the Pharisees did, who were praying elaborate

prayers in public places to show off, so he gave us the Lord’s Prayer as a guideline. “But when

you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your

Father who sees in secret will reward you.” - Matthew 6:6

When feeling stressed about what will happen in the future, this verse of the prayer is a

reminder that the Lord is in charge of it all, and I am not. “Your kingdom come, your will be

done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matt. 6:10)

The thought of what can happen this year is daunting, and yet I rest in the hope we as

Christians have - that whatever happens in this year and the years to come, God is completely

in control. We have no need to be jumpy about battles that may or may not arise in our lifetime.

It is unnecessary to fret over thoughts of bad things that could happen. We are in God’s hands.

His big, strong hands that created the universe. “I will give them eternal life, and they will never

perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” - John 10:28

Tonight, as you light off fireworks and bang on pots and pans, do not be anxious about

the new year. Make it your resolution! God will be right beside us through all, and nothing can

snatch you out of His hands. Happy New Year!!