Isaiah 43:16-21

Isaiah 43:16-21
New International Version (NIV)

  Happy New Year!  We're a full day into a new year -- who knows what God might have in store for the year? 
  Think of the Israelites -- trapped between the onrushing Egyptian army and the sea, they couldn't see what God might do, but God made a way through the sea and led them into safety while defeating their enemies.  All the planning in the world might not have predicted that, but the Israelites did need to be ready to move.
  So we don't know what God might have in store for us this year.  God could have prepared us for something big this year, or this year may be a year of preparation.  Maybe this is a year of healing, or maybe the most important thing you'll do this year will be to be present to a friend in need of companionship on their journey. 
  But let's not sit idly while we wait for God to show us our next step.  There is plenty of active preparation you can be involved in.   You can be in active prayer every day, training yourself to listen to God and leading your heart to love God more than you do today.  You can be in worship, re-orienting yourself and your life around the worship of God, being reminded of God's glory through communal worship.  You can be involved in community, leaning into one another and both offering your gifts and love to others while simultaneously being lifted up and encouraged on your walk in faith.  There is plenty for us to do as we wait for God to reveal what the next step is for us in faith.