Daily Devotional

Every year during the New Year’s holiday we fly back to Chicago to visit both Jenn’s side and my side of the family. There’s something special about ringing in a new year surrounded by those you love most. And New Year’s is a big deal for our family. Each year my sisters and their family, Jenn’s sister, brother and her family, get together to celebrate the goodness of God this past year, and to prayerfully consider what God might have planned for the new year. We look forward to our time together throughout the whole year.

I have to admit, we don’t usually stay up till 12:00 to watch the ball drop and officially ring in the new year. We just celebrate around 10:00…calling that our new year. But we still try to do it up right. We have sparkling cider, delicious appetizers, and college football. My mom will have her famous lasagna. And Jenn’s Dad will make wedding soup. Amazing food. I always eat too much.

We play games. We reminisce. We laugh so hard we cry. We enjoy the fact that we are all together, because it just doesn’t happen that often. We all grew up together in a very close family. But as the years have passed, work has called us to different parts of the country. So that time together means so much.

Thankfully most of our family are committed followers of Christ. So when we ring in the new year, it is with the joy that Jesus has been good to us, thanking Him for all His blessings this past year. There are also losses from the past year that are also brought up, with great sensitivity. Maybe loss of a loved one. Maybe a failed dating relationship. Maybe the loss of a job. These lead us to prayer. We have seen God’s faithfulness throughout the years, so we know He will continue to be faithful even in the midst of our pain.

There are a million reasons to celebrate the new year, but the number one thing we should celebrate is the joy and healing Jesus has brought about in our hearts. He has been faithful. He has provided for us every moment throughout the past year. And we are so grateful for the cherished relationships He has brought into our lives. The goodness of being alive. And the hope of the great year in front of us.

We claim the promise of Jesus' presence with us, no matter what (Mt.28:20) Jesus said “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Whatever the circumstance, Jesus is with you.

So we say with the psalmist, “Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.” If God has given you breath, then make time during each day of 2025 to praise the LORD. For He is good.

New American Standard Bible (NASB)
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