With the new year here, many have made plans, resolves and other bold and even courageous projections to help them chart what they will do in the days, weeks and months ahead.
But we know that many of these resolves fizzle sometime soon for a number of reasons – distractions, lack of commitment to pursue plans, ‘ningas cogon’ frustrations and disappointments, especially due to seeming failures and mediocre gains along the road of life.
There is, however, a way out of whatever weakened resolve we may have and that way is one that is Christ-centered.
I got an email from Crosswalk, a Christian website offering educational and inspirational articles and items one needs to fortify his or her faith.
One such article – written by Bethany Verrett – compiled 12 verses she said that will help Christ’s followers strengthen their faith as to start 2023 on a right and bright note.
The following are the inspirational verses “to start the New Year strong” in our walk as Christians and serve as our daily guide and anchor.
Lamentations 3:22-24
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in him.’”
Isaiah 43:19
“Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
Philippians 4:4-7
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Proverbs 27:23
“Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds.”
Proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
1 Corinthians 15:56-57
“The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the laws. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
2 Corinthians 12:10
“For the sake of Christ, then I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
2 Timothy 1:7
“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
1 Chronicles 16:11
“Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!”
Mark 12:30-31
“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength…you shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.’”
Romans 1:16
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
Ephesians 6:12-13
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.”
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It’s really mentally exhausting to write about the passage to the Great Beyond of someone close to our lives as our feelings and emotions do blur our sense if logic and reason.
I promised myself to write about my eldest brother, who passed away in Michigan last summer and whose celebration of life rites were held months later – in November. I have long formed my mental outline for the article but my mind seemingly breaks down when I would start putting my emotions into paragraphs.
I know I have to finish the article soon. But before I can do that, grief enveloped me once more when my neighbor, Eric Loretizo, a dear friend of about 35 years, passed away on New Year’s Eve. Another article to write and I pray that the tide of feelings ebb soon so that I can fortify my feelings and pay due tribute.
My deepest sympathies to Eric’s family.
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A blessed 2023 to all. – NWI
