Starting a new year is always interesting.

It’s interesting because it’s new. I love the beginning of a new year. I feel that anything’s possible. I love to begin again.

The new year is also interesting because of the all the articles that tell us “trends for the new year” and “events that are certain to take place.”

We all want to know what the new year “holds.”

What really matters is who holds the new year.

I am thankful to belong to a kind, compassionate, loving heavenly Father who has promised to never leave me or to forsake me.

No matter what will take place in 2016, God will be right there with me.

I am thankful to serve the Creator of the universe who has a grand plan for my redemption and is right now preparing a place for me. Jesus said, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am” (John 14:1-3, NLT).

The fact that God is holding the future does not mean I should not work and pray to make the future better. 

God has given us the responsibility to seek the very best for others–that is what it means to love your neighbor. In the new year we will be called on to help the hurting and to care for people in need. Doing this will require wisdom and understanding. We will have to make hard decisions and tough choices.

As we move through this year, let us seek God and His ways. Let us ask Him to lead, and let us pledge to follow Him.

I praise God that my future is in His compassionate and kind hands.

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