Expectant Prayers ®

10....9....8....7.....6.....5.....4.....3.....2....1...   HAPPY NEW YEAR!  Aren't people so predictable on New Year's Eve?  Everyone standing around waiting for the clock to strike midnight; full of eager anticipation of beginning a fresh, new slate in life or fulfilling hopes and dreams?  We try to leave the past behind and plot on toward a better tomorrow....

I can't help but think of the spiritual parallels with this!

All the waiting for the midnight hour to come... watching for it... excited about it... Isn't that just how the church should be right before the hour of Christ's return? 

I sat before the TV as they played "countdowns" from countries all around the world.  All the parties... all the fanfare... and I sat back in reflective melancholy.  I asked myself how many of these people are "watching" to see the return of Christ!  If the countdown to midnight and the New Year was a count down to His return... how many would be ready?

In Matthew chapter 25, we read about the parable of the virgins preparing for the wedding party (a foreshadowing of the return of Christ).  It talks about those who were foolish in preparing and those who were wise.  The foolish ones (half of them) didn't prepare their lamps with oil and actually fell asleep before the party began!  The other half prepared their lamps and took oil in jars with them. 
Then we get to verse 6, "At midnight, the cry rang out:  'Here's the bridegroom!  Come out to meet Him!'"  The passage ends with a warning, "Therefore keep watch because you do not know the day or the hour (of His return)."

The account in Mark chapter 13 says "No one knows about the day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.  Be on guard!  Be alert!  You do not know when that time will come.  It's like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.
Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back- whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows at dawn.  If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping.  What I say to you, I say to everyone: 'Watch!'"

That sounds like good advice to me as the prophetic clock ticks closer and closer to the midnight hour!!!

What exactly makes people so ecstatic about a day on the calendar changing when Christ can instantly change a life!   All the "self" that goes along with the gloating and pride of what WE accomplished over the past year.  OR...All the "self" that goes along with resolutions, commitments, etc. to have a better life.  All the standards and rules we set for ourselves cannot be kept and then we are left with feeling worse about ourselves than before!

God is the ultimate in dreams for the lives of people.  He has plans for you to give you hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11)  He forgives and forgets our sins!  When we put our trust and hope in Him, we are NEVER put to shame.  He gives His children good things.  He protects us.  He makes our paths straight.  He heals.  He promises never to leave or forsake us.  He is preparing a place for us where we can be with Him forever.  The promises of God are as numerous as the sands of the sea!

So, why is He barely remembered by the multitudes of people at Christmas and scarcely remembered at the beginning of our "New Year"?  HE should be our focus during this New Year!

Here's 2 more verses to consider as we begin 2007:

Psalm 119:62 says,"At midnight I rise to give You thanks for Your righteous laws."

Psalm 65:11 says, "You crown the year with Your bounty, and Your carts overflow with abundance."


Dear Lord,

I thank You for another year and for Your goodness to me and my family.  I see your blessings in my life.  I pray that You would crown this new year with Your favor, bounty, and abundance.  Where I need refining, I pray that You would refine.   Where I need cleansing and forgiveness, I pray that You would bring those areas to my attention and help me to be ready.  Keep my eyes and spirit in tune with what Your Spirit is saying.  Help me to be watchful and to guard closely my personal walk and the people or things You have entrusted me with.
I ask that this would be a watermark year for me and that You would use all my talents, gifts, and abilities to bring You great glory this year and to further Your kingdom. 
Grant me peace, wisdom, integrity, evidences of Your fruit in my life, health, prosperity, strength, and love .  Keep me from evil and protect me from the fiery darts of the enemy.
I claim Psalm 67 today, "May God be gracious to us and bless us and make His face shine upon us, that Your ways may be known on earth, Your salvation among all the nations."
In Your name I pray, Amen.