I'm truly excited about what God has in store for Epoch Church in 2024! But as we step into 2024, it's crucial to reflect on the events of 2023. Instead of dwelling solely on the challenges and hardships, we ought to prioritize acknowledging our blessings. This perspective shift is essential, as illustrated by the enduring example set by Ara, my late mother-in-law.
Though she is no longer with us, her unwavering faith continues to speak to our family. Through years of battling aggressive cancer, she demonstrated resilience by consistently writing and fervently praying. Even as the cancer progressed, she would often remind us of her favorite song, "I Won't Complain," whose poignant lyrics emphasize both struggle and gratitude:
"I've had some good days
I've had some hills to climb
I've had some weary days
And some sleepless nights
But when I look around
And I think things over
All of my good days
Outweigh my bad days
I won't complain!"
Listen to this gospel classic by Rev. Paul Jones when you have a moment. This song is a testament to her faithfulness and never fails to draw tears as I reflect on her faith walk. Reflecting on 2023, a year marked by challenges, I resonate with Rev. Jones's acknowledgment of the struggle: hills to climb, weary days, and sleepless nights. I recognize that similar struggles may arise in 2024.
Yet, my hope is that our perspective aligns with Rev. Jones's transformative lyrics. When he contemplates over his life, he realizes that his good days outweigh the bad days, leading him to shout, "Thank you, Lord—I won't complain!"
In 2024, let's begin to cultivate a mindset of gratitude, as highlighted in this song. Beyond personal benefits, expressing thanks aligns with biblical wisdom. Romans 1:21 warns against forgetting to honor and give thanks to God, emphasizing the consequences of becoming futile in thinking and darkening our hearts.
“For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.”
- Romans 1:21
To avoid this, we must actively honor God and express gratitude. By reflecting on our blessings since January 2023 and considering how we honored God in those moments, we can lay the foundation for a righteous perspective in the coming year.
Thanking impacts our Thinking.
Before we make resolutions, let's first resolve our thoughts on 2023. Did the good days outweigh the bad days? Did we thank the Lord? Is his goodness based on our circumstances or his character? Emulating the practical approach of my mother-in-law, Ara, let's intentionally think things over by literally writing down our blessings.
In 2024, one of the greatest gift we can give ourselves is a spirit of gratitude. Let our thankfulness influence our thinking, acting as a shield against the potential tribulations and trials of the this year. May this year bring us renewed minds and a deeper relationship with Jesus!
Grace & Peace,
Pastor Chris
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