One second and 2013 gives way to 2014. Each person greeting the New Year with hope - hope for happiness, peace, prosperity, health, achievement. So many dreams and wishes are placed at the door of the New Year.
Strangely, the New Year cannot provide any of these things for us. It is just one second in time - and life goes on - as it did last year and the year before. 2014 will be no different from 2013 - joys and sorrows, health and illness, life and death, smooth sailing and storms are all part of the journey of life.
What will make the difference is our attitude to the circumstances of our lives. We see health, happiness and prosperity as gifts from God, but we fail to see illness, sorrow and failure as gifts from God as well.
Paul says, "I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:11-13). What was Paul's secret?
He revealed his secret earlier in the text: "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ...Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:4-7).
Later in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 he says, "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus".
Paul's secret was thankfulness to God in every situation of his life - the good and the bad. Ann Voskamp, a Canadian author tells about her discovery of this secret and her gratitude journal in her book, One Thousand Gifts.
So let us enter into 2014 with gratitude to God for ALL His gifts - large and small, those desired and those which seem to us to be undesirable.
To assist in your journey of gratitude in 2014:
Visit Ann Voskamp's website http://www.aholyexperience.com and get hold of a copy of her book One Thousand Gifts to discover more ways to make 2014 a life of abundant life and gratitude.
Listen to a this beautiful song by Matt Redman: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mqd8MoiCbcI
May your 2014 be filled with gratitude in every circumstance of life. May you know that God is in control and all things that come to us are gift. May His grace find you wherever you are right now.
