Shout to the LORD, all the earth; break out in praise and sing for joy! Psalm 98:4 (NLT)
New Year’s is a big deal for our family. My brother and sisters and I rarely get to see each other as the years have scattered us far and wide. But each year we congregate at my parents’ house for the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day. There are about twenty of us including in-laws and kids. We look forward to our time together all year long.
On our last night together, we want to do it up right. We want to soak up every minute. Ringing in the New Year involves sparkling cider, delicious appetizers, and the end-of-the-year countdown. If we are lucky, my brother, Chris, will serve up his gourmet pizza with imported olive oil and cheeses.
My sister, Jenny, makes her famous meatballs that all the boy cousins fight over. We play games. We laugh hard. And we relish the fact that we are all together. The night’s celebration ends with watching the New York City ball drop on TV amidst shouting and lots of hugging.
There are moments in life that need to be heralded with joy. Jesus is so good to us. There are a million reasons to celebrate this New Year—all of the obstacles we have overcome in the last year. The joy and healing that Jesus has brought about in our hearts. His faithfulness and bountiful provision. The cherished relationships He has brought into our lives. The goodness of being alive. The prospect of a new, untarnished year in front of us. The promise that Jesus will be with us in every circumstance, no matter what. So many reasons to bring in the New Year with a shout of praise!
Faith Step: Do a countdown of the top ten things you are thankful to Jesus for as you go into this New Year.
Excerpted from Mornings with Jesus 2018.
