< Back

Happy New Year

Happy New Year! Having happiness this year, of course, will not happen automatically. Turning over a new leaf of the calendar won’t change anything. But turning over a new leaf in life can.

What do we need in order to have a happy New Year?

• You need a self you can live with. If you don’t like yourself it’s hard to like anybody or anything else. If you need to change, do it. Christ will help you.

• You need a purpose to live for. Humans are the only creatures who must have a purpose for being. All other animals are content just to exist. Our lives find their deepest meaning in serving God.

• You need a faith to live by.  Life must have some anchors and some compass points. Otherwise we wander aimlessly without a sense of direction. It’s God and his word that give direction to life.

 

Broad categories to help your search
Holiday messages
Even more refined tags to find what you need
New Year's
Paul W. Powell - www.PaulPowellLibrary.com

Read

Watch

Listen

Today's Devotional

Senseless Tragedies

Once we buried a young lady who was only 21 years old. She was killed in a head-on collision while on her way to church. The night before the funeral, my daughter asked why God allows things like this to happen.

I wish I knew. Things like this have puzzled saints, wise men, and philosophers since the world began.

There is simply no one easy answer as to why tragedies like this happen. The answer may lie in the fact that God made us free. He created us with the ability to make our own choices, and choices always involve consequences. If we are careless or foolish in our choices, or if others are, we may suffer because of them. If God did not allow us freedom, we’d be less than people. We’d be robots.

This may be the only explanation we will ever have for some suffering. However, we do not have to know why things happen in order to be victorious over them. On the cross Jesus cried out “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46) But the heavens were as brass. God was silent. He didn’t even answer his own Son. Jesus might have despaired and become bitter against God. But instead he said, “Father, into thy hands I commend [entrust, hand over] my spirit” (Luke 23:46).

This kind of faith is far more important than any answer we might receive. In our lives, as in the life of Jesus, it is faith that makes the difference between victory and defeat.

So keep believing in God no matter what. Commit your life to him and regardless of what happens, God will help you.

Paul W. Powell - www.PaulPowellLibrary.com

Missed yesterday's devotional?

Get it

Want to search all devotionals?

Go

Want to receive the weekday devotional in your inbox?

Register