Words for Courageous Living

January 1st

How Many Days in the New Year ??

One giant step now in the new year. And speaking of days – I look into this new year and see the days that will be. How many? You are probably thinking – "Well, 365, of course." But I would like to suggest to you that there will be only 4.

Stepping into a new year in a few days is sort of exciting, huh? This bundle that God will place before us will certainly have an assortment of days. Naturally for some there will be more days than for others – for, after all, we can only extract one day at a time. And as we approach these days "that will be" we approach them with our own thoughts. But, as the train moves so does the light from the locomotive. One day at a time. But what about the 4 days that I have mentioned?

I list them even by name. One of the days will be a DAY OF OPPORTUNITY. We will soon be saying, "Happy New Year" and if it is to be happy one must take advantage of opportunities. Happy New Year? Well, the Bible says, "If you want to be happy, be kind to the poor." (Prov. 14:21) Serving our fellow man...or in terms of the Bible, "our neighbor". There will days of opportunity – it may not knock twice!!

Then there is Day Two. I call it DAY OF DARKNESS. Yep! Call me spiritual meteorologist – Dr. Neal. These days have morning, noon and night divisions. For example time of "sorrow", "chastening", "correction", "trials", "difficulties" –need I go on? God is going to prove you in the days that will be. For we are told in Exodus 15:25, "There He proved them." There will be this day for every one reading these lines. Now, I don't like crisis, but I have learned that what can come out of them is not only good but for my benefit!

Day Three next year will be a DAY OF JOY. Now, those are my kind of days!. However, I do not know how many I will have...but chances are there will be a lot of them, because some days I will make so. I say that in light of an old poem that is entitled, "Get a transfer". It goes like this. If you are on the gloomy, grouchy line – – get a transfer Jesus said regarding obeying the commands, "I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." (John 15:11)

Then, there is Day Four coming up. I call it DAY OF DECISION. You live in a world of decisions. Already (if you are reading this – and you must be to see this) you have made a decision to read this article. But in the days that will be decision after decision will be yours. There will be some days that you will have to make a really hard decision. At that time and on that day you must pray for the mind of Christ in the decision. For after completing next year and extracting all the days for one to say, "This has been the Lord's doings and it is marvelous in our eyes." will come only after praying and living "Thy will be done".

So, for us in opening the new bag of days our attitude and our prayer must be, "This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind last year and reaching forth unto those things which are before in a new year I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling in Christ Jesus." Amen.


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