In Exodus 12:2 God commanded that the Israeli (religious) New Year begin at Passover month. Since Passover was an annual celebration they would begin every New Year by remembering God’s provision and deliverance from Egyptian bondage. This would lead to their following Him from day to day on the journey to their new homeland. As long as they kept their eyes on Him and followed His way they walked in blessing; it was only when they set their eyes on other ways that they got into trouble! We too should begin the New Year remembering His Salvation and Deliverance, purposing to follow Him each day; and as they found fresh blessing (manna) each day, so we will find fresh blessings day by day as with the Apostle, “forgetting those things which are behind…”(it is not that we do not remember or recall those old things anymore, whether sinful habits and ways, or religious traditions and activities, but we neglect them and refuse to crave them anymore) “…and reaching forward to those things which are ahead (we) press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” Philippians 3:13 -14.
Happy New Year
Selected by Rose Hill Author unknown
At the opening of this New Year,
I banish care and doubt and fear.
And clasping God’s hand I say,
I will walk with Him from day to day.
Believing this New Year shall bring,
Fresh blessings from my God and King.
The old I’ll leave without a tear,
The new I’ll hail without a fear.
Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson Co. used by permission.