The Year 2020 may be a year filled with unexpected challenges and difficulties, but in spite of these, the Word of God says, “Let joy be your continual feast. Make your life a prayer. And in the midst of everything be always giving thanks, for this is God’s perfect plan for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 TPT). If He says so, then, there must be a redemptive benefit behind if we do so.

Many may have gone through weightier tests than others, but His Word remains the same. Pressure may have pushed us from every corner, but His indwelling presence keeps us strong and undefeated. It is He Who promised that He ALWAYS causes us to triumph in Christ and and that we shall see the fulfillment of His promises that are “Yes and Amen” to those who believe.

“But we have this precious treasure [the good news about salvation] in [unworthy] earthen vessels [of human frailty], so that the grandeur and surpassing greatness of the power will be [shown to be] from God [His sufficiency] and not from ourselves. We are pressured in every way [hedged in], but not crushed; perplexed [unsure of finding a way out], but not driven to despair;  hunted down and persecuted, but not deserted [to stand alone]; struck down, but never destroyed;  always carrying around in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the [resurrection] life of Jesus also may be shown in our body.” (2 Corinthians 4:7-10 AMP)

When God our Father gave His only Begotten Son Jesus because of His great love for you and me, His Name was called Emmanuel, God with us. When He is with us, when the Creator of the heavens and the earth is with us, when the Greater One is with us, don’t you think it will put our hearts to rest? When we rightly perceive His greatness, His goodness, and that He takes pleasure in being with us, such revelatory truth should make all the mountains around us be made like molehills.

When He is with us, surely He is for us. How can He be wanting to be with us and be against us? No way! When we know this truth that God is for us, who dare be against us? But then again, unless the reality of this truth captivates us, resonates within us and consumes every fiber of our beings, we deprive ourselves from experiencing that He is pro you and me. Our confidence on the finished work of Jesus Christ makes us steadfast to come boldly into His presence without guilt and condemnation. His Blood cleansed us and made us new creations in Him, where He finds us perpetually pure and blameless. Therefore, our heart’s conviction and full reliance on Him and all that He has done shall be richly rewarded.

Jesus Christ made the way for us to become His earthen vessels filled with the richest measure of His divine presence. He made the way for us to become His temples with Christ IN us, the hope of glory, in the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. “No one can say that ‘Jesus is Lord’, except by the Holy Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 12:3) Jesus said, “The Holy Spirit will take of (receive, draw upon) what is Mine and will reveal (declare, disclose, transmit) it to you.” (John 16:14 AMP). Jesus sent us the Holy Spirit to abide IN US forever. He is the exceeding greatness of power at work in us. Thus, Greater is He Who is IN us than that is in the world.

This is the GOOD NEWS! In Christ alone we are set up to experience that God is with us, for us and in us.

“For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves [merely] as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake.  For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give us the Light of the knowledge of the glory and majesty of God [clearly revealed] in the face of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 4:5-6 AMP)

This is the very reason why we can hope for a greater 2021. The Lord our God is in our midst and He is mighty to save. He holds us tightly in His hands so nothing and no one can snatch us away from Him and His presence. We are the apple of His eye. We are the object of His affection. We are His treasured possessions. And not one promise of His is void of power. What He says, He does! Our only response is, “Be it done to me according to Your Word, Lord.”

He promised ….

“I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]” (Hebrews 13:5 AMPC)

…… and His promises are constantly and consistently fueled by His love.

When we come to know how much He loves us, our confident expectation of good shall arise from deep within our hearts and face the coming year with faith, boldness and assurance because He is with us, for us and in us.

HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!!! Expect a greater 2021 because we have an AWESOME, GREAT and GOOD, GOOD GOD Who is unfailing and committed to our good.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the year 2020. In spite of what is going on around us, You still cause our eyes to see countless things to be thankful for. Thank You, Jesus, that You came in the flesh to redeem us. There is no greater reason to celebrate as we welcome 2021 than having You with us, for us and in us, as our Lord, our Savior, our King, our Deliverer, our Good Shepherd, our Prince of Peace and our God of Hope. Thank You, Holy Spirit, for always guiding us with Your eye as we walk out what You have revealed to us in Christ. A VICTORIOUS life is what is in store for us because of what Jesus has WON for us. It indeed is year 2021 (Twenty Twenty WON) in Jesus’ Name! Amen!