If you’re anything like Laurie and me, then with the arrival of each new year you no doubt have that special sense of anticipation. We’ve been gifted by God with 365 brand-new, untarnished days to love Him, love others, and be faithful and fruitful in all He has called us to do and be.
Of course, some new years seem to dawn more brightly than others, depending upon what we’ve faced over the past year, and what we perceive lies before us in the months ahead. As for 2022, I think most of us would agree that the ongoing pandemic, a challenging economy, and some unsettling cultural shifts have left us all a little shell-shocked and uncertain about how to position ourselves in faith for the year ahead.
But here is where God’s grace and mercy make all the difference. Regardless of what lies before us, as God’s children we can look forward with hope to the future. In fact, Proverbs 4:18 assures us that, through Christ’s finished work on our behalf, the path ahead “is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.”
Now let’s be clear: God’s promises don’t negate the trials and hardships that come our way, or the uncertainty that can cloud our horizon. When we are personally facing the stress of such things as unemployment, financial duress, illness, and even difficult issues in our communities and nation — let’s face it, the way can seem dark, and doubts can assail us. In those times Jesus has an incredible word of hope for us: “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
What it really boils down to is embracing a tenacious faith that refuses to let go of the plans God declares that He has for us and of the “hope and future” He promises (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV). The writer of Hebrews calls it endurance, counseling us to lay aside every distraction and “run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith...” (Hebrews 12:1-2).
"...when God's mantle rests on your shoulders, then nothing and no one can stop you!" — Samuel Rodriguez
In his new book, Persevere with Power, our good friend, Pastor Samuel Rodriguez, reveals the treasure God promises us as we endure, press on, and persevere in whatever circumstances we find ourselves. Using the powerful example of the Old Testament prophet Elisha, Pastor Sam shows how God calls each of us to lay hold of the proverbial plow and work the ground He has placed before us, trusting Him to keep us on the course of His purpose for our lives. And just as Elisha’s faithfulness led him to receive the mantle of his mentor, Elijah, along with a double portion of Elijah’s prophetic anointing, in the same way God will reward our own perseverance with the mantle of His anointing and promotion over our lives and destinies.
It all begins by diving into the mercy and grace God has poured into our lives through His Son, Jesus, and walking with Holy Spirit-empowered confidence in the pathway He places before us — “push the plow,” as Pastor Sam calls it, alluding to the story of Elisha in 1 Kings 19. “If you are willing to do this,” writes Pastor Sam, “to push your plow spiritually, then you can know that God’s mantle of anointing and power is waiting for you. And when God’s mantle rests on your shoulders, then nothing and no one can stop you!”
So what does that look like in practical terms as we leave behind the challenges of the past and face this new year God has given us? For that answer we can turn to the apostle Paul as an example. For each of us to “push the plow” and position ourselves for the anointing God has for us means one thing: letting go of the past and fully surrendering our future to the lordship of Jesus.
You see, like each of us, the great New Testament apostle had plenty of potential baggage from his past that could have held him back: regrets, past failures, disappointments, and the efforts of others to hurt and destroy him. But what was Paul’s posture in all of this? “One thing I do,” he said; “forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14).
Just like the apostle Paul, each of us has an “upward call” to which God beckons us through Christ. And successfully answering that call begins with making Jesus our ultimate “prize” in this life. “In order to move forward in our God-given purpose and grow in our faith,” writes Pastor Sam, “we must focus exclusively on Jesus. We must immerse ourselves in God’s Word and become attuned to the voice of the Holy Spirit. All priorities must begin and end with our relationship with the Lord.”
As we step into this new year, Laurie and I have committed anew to do just that: to lay down the past, to look with hope and faith to the future, and — most importantly — to love Jesus with fresh passion and purpose. Friend, will you join us in this pursuit to “fix our eyes on Jesus” (Hebrews 12:2) and make Him the center of our attention? As always, we deeply value your prayer and partnership as we invite untold millions across the earth to love Jesus through the life-changing programming we produce and broadcast on over thirty global TBN networks.
Thank you for your commitment to stand with us as we take God’s love to the nations. And may the year ahead be joyous and fruitful as you commit to loving Jesus and sharing Him with others.
Our love to you,
Matt and Laurie
