WATCH

I will stand my watch and set myself on the rampart, and watch to see what He will say to me, and what I will answer when I am corrected.

(Habakkuk 2:1, NKJV)

A happy and blessed 2025.  Beloved, by the blessing of God we have turned a page of the calendar as we entered 2025.  2024 in my reflection seems to have quickly flown by so that 2025 seems to have quietly sneaked upon us.  I shared with a friend that 2025 feels like a continuation of 2024.  I do not know what your sense of 2025 is but I know that regardless of how we have experienced the new year, the fact that the year has changed is worth some thought.  I am holding a picture of this first week of the year as a starting point of a journey ahead, a journey that requires planning and focus.  When we watch athletes in a competitive event, they kneel at the starting point and set their gaze into the race they are taking.  Watching closely, one will notice that their whole body focuses and concentrates on the race ahead, their hearts and minds held by a conviction of giving it their very best.  Beloved, that is the posture that our reference verse above calls us to. 

The prophet Habakkuk made a decision to stand undistracted on a raised wall, looking ahead and waiting.  The verse does not just tell us of taking a position but also having the fortitude to conscientiously wait, there is a sense of expectation of receiving some information and so he watches and listens at the same time.  It i; instructive that the reason for the watching and waiting was to know  how he will answer, he was not going to go ahead with a response or action when he has not received a word or an instruction.  His answer was going to be guided by what he heard or saw.  Brethren, I do not know how you have purposed to move into the new year, but maybe like prophet Habakkuk, there is need for a moment of silence to take in what the new season brings and then by the help of the Holy Spirit chart your path.  It is in times like this that we are reminded to focus more on the direction that we take and less on the speed.  It is possible to move very fast but in the wrong direction; it is not about zeal but about obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

In our limitations we might not have clarity of what the new season brings, but we can find comfort in God’s word, the assurance of His promises.  Every morning we arise, we know that His mercies are new and His compassion over us never fail, and so we can confess of His faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-23).  He is not just in our mornings, but He commands His lovingkindness for our daytime while in the night His song is with us (Psalm 42:8).  Brethren, we step into 2025 with the confidence that His eyes are watching over us each moment, He who never slumbers is watching over His own children.  As we watch out and listen for His voice,  let us confidently ask Him to be our strength and salvation (Isaiah 33;2).  Our Father has blessed us with a new season, may we be found watching and waiting for His leading so that we know which steps to take.  Let us take our positions and look into 2025 with a hope of a blessed and fulfilling phase of our lives.  Happy new year.

Thoughts:

Have you taken a pause to watch and listen to God?

What has the Lord told you about 2025?
How will your response grow your faith in God?