Listen:
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3, NIVUK).
What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have him, this Father of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we’ve been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven—and the future starts now! God is keeping careful watch over us and the future. The Day is coming when you’ll have it all—life healed and whole (1 Peter 1:3, The Message).
Reflect:
New.
I start this new year with a breather, some days off, having worked through Christmas. I was gladden to step into 2024 in the company of friends and family, with great expectations, some trepidations, from news near and far.
A brand new year! How shall I spend it? I have spent half a century, not always wisely. It reassures me that Christ is my model and comfort. He spent time resting, cooking, fishing, as well as teaching, praying, and miracle-working. He hung out with different people. He lives on in hope. As I look back at the past year, I too remember miracles, connections, forgiveness, ups, downs, and always, grace.
What a God we have! Death-conquering, life-giving, that we may have new hope, in a future that starts now. Each new day, Father is keeping careful watch over us. Careful watch, for we will face trials, be purified. As foreigners in a foreign land, we will need to seek and sow mercy, work onwards for healing and justice, mediate peace and channel love. These are not easy tasks.
To make things new is to apply what is fresh or unused, to make known where it is not known before, to remember and renew what has been experienced then forgotten. These are not tasks to do alone. We will need to work together with others, perhaps new rhythms, always the Spirit’s wisdom, and deep roots in case of storms. Still, we have everything to live for, this new year. To live for tenderness, kindness, goodness, faithfulness. To live in perfect love, that casts out fear.
And so I wish you, dearest reader, living hope, great expectations, new life, this new year.
Prayer of Response:
Thank you Father for a new year, and a future that begins now. Help me remember and renew where hope has been experienced then forgotten, to make things new where mercy is unused, and to make known where good news is not known before. That I may live each day with great expectations, through a love that casts our fear. For your glory, amen.
Questions to Ponder:
- Take some time to remember a time where hope has been experienced, deep living hope. Choose a colour to remember it by, to savour it with God this week.
- Do you feel the Spirit prompting you somewhere new with this renewed hope, to perhaps make hope known there? Choose a shape to remember this place or image, to explore with Christ this week, with great expectations.
—Submitted by Kae Ting Trouilloud
Kae lives in Lyon, France, and is thankful for new daily mercies and living hope in Christ. She looks forward with great expectations to new tasks and journeys, walking alongside family, friends, and the Lifesprings international community. Please pray onwards for Lifesprings France, Lifesprings UK and satellite Greece, following the 2021-2023 school in Lyon. May all involved be renewed and encouraged to work onwards, towards a kinder more merciful eternal future.