Give God thanks for His goodness, faithfulness and for bringing you through to another year.
This was the message conveyed at the Church Of The Nazarene in Westmoreland, St James, when Minister Sandra Babb addressed the gathering for the Old Year’s Day morning service.
During a sermon filled with stories of God’s goodness, mercy, faithfulness and love, Babb urged her listeners to thank God for allowing them to see 365 days of 2017.
In the message, titled Grateful And Giving Thanks, she told them while there were days when things did not go as planned, or days when they felt they were not going to make it, God proved His faithfulness despite their financial, physical and emotional challenges.
She referenced David who gave God thanks in all situations – even when Saul wanted to kill him, and when he was forced to hide in caves and feign madness to save his life.
She asked the congregation: “Remember that situation that almost took my sanity, your sanity, but our God was ever faithful? He stabilised every blood vessel in our bodies, regulated every heartbeat, and kept us here.
“Can you remember that situation that had you holding your chest like it would burst open and you just kept on praying to God to don’t let you die? Well, we are grateful this December 31, because He has been faithful.
“Because of His faithfulness towards us, we will praise Him. We will give him thanks. We will continue to say ‘Hallelujah anyhow’! Never let your problems get you down. When life’s troubles come your way, hold your head up high and say, ‘Hallelujah anyhow’.”
Babb said many had made it through because of fervent prayer and the defence God provided in times of trouble.
“Some situations were rough; others were tough. We had to do some serious soul-searching and make some serious decisions, but we are still here. With God’s help we have survived 2017.
“We can be grateful because when everything seems uncertain, we can always bank on Jesus. God will never leave us or forsake us. He will be with us to the very end,” she stressed.
Suggesting her listeners jog their memories, Babb asked: “Is everyone who started 2017 with you still with you? Are your friendships and relationships still like they were at the beginning of the year?
“Throughout the course of the year, we had to drop people from our lives and severed ties with others. We even had to make some serious decisions when the Government implemented the NSRL [National Social Responsibility Levy]. We had to decide what we would buy and what we would leave out, but we made the necessary decisions and adjusted to suit. One thing we can say and be grateful for is that God remained constant in our lives.”
She said they were not alone in giving thanks, as Miriam danced and thanked God for saving the Israelites after they crossed the Red Sea (Exodus 15:20-21); David gave thanks to God after winning his battle against the Philistines (II Samuel 22: 1-51); and one of the ten lepers whom Jesus healed returned to thank Him (Luke 17:11-19).
“Let us make it count in 2018. Trials will come; persecution will come. Famine or distress may come; but whatever comes our way, let us have the assurance that in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. Give Him all the honour, glory and praise,” Babb concluded. (CH)
