A REFLECTION FOR THE START OF THE NEW YEAR

WHAT ARE YOU HOPING FOR IN 2017? WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO?

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“Anyone who doesn’t have high blood pressure these days simply isn’t paying attention.”
I came across a list of the Top !0 ways in which the world might be going to end. Major earthquake, giant meteor, ridiculously sized volcano, an ice age, global plagues, nuclear war, or an uprising of super-intelligent kittens that rise up in rebellion against their human owners and take over the world. But as well as these ever-present dangers there is plenty to be worried about as we go into 2017. Donald Trump actually becoming President of USA. All the uncertainties which Brexit is bringing. The crisis in NHS. For some people the problem of getting to work tomorrow with a Tube strike.
Here is one of the shortest Psalms to help us face the New Year. PSALM 131
1 My heart is not proud, O Lord,
my eyes are not haughty;
I do not concern myself with great matters
or things too wonderful for me.
2 But I have stilled and quieted my soul;
like a weaned child with its mother,
like a weaned child is my soul within me.
3 O Israel, put your hope in the Lord
both now and forevermore. (NIV)

Psalm 131 is a Psalm of Ascents – a Psalm to bring us into God’s presence in worship.
VERSE 1
1 My heart is not proud, O Lord, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. NIV

1 Lord, my heart is not proud; my eyes are not haughty. I don’t concern myself with matters too great or too awesome for me to grasp. NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
“A man has to know his limitations” – that great theologian Harry Callahan in the film Magnum Force
We need Humility “I know my place”
St. Augustine listed “the three greatest virtues of Christianity: humility, humility, and humility.”

George Washington Carver, the scientist who developed hundreds of useful products from the peanut: “When I was young, I said to God, ‘God, tell me the mystery of the universe.’ But God answered, ‘That knowledge is reserved for me alone.’ So I said, ‘God, tell me the mystery of the peanut.’ Then God said, ‘Well, George, that’s more nearly your size.’
We need to see our place in the cosmic scheme of things and learn not to worry about the things we can’t do anything about.
1 God, I’m not trying to rule the roost, I don’t want to be king of the mountain. I haven’t meddled where I have no business or fantasized grandiose plans. MESSAGE

VERSE 2
2 But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me. NIV

2 Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself, ike a weaned child who no longer cries for its mother’s milk. Yes, like a weaned child is my soul within me. NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
We need Simplicity – the simple faith of a child, an infant, like a toddler trusts its parents.
“God works in mysterious ways his wonders to perform, he plants his feet upon the waves and rides upon the storm.”
We need Quietness – learning to be still before God
Phil 4:13 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

2 I’ve kept my feet on the ground, I’ve cultivated a quiet heart. Like a baby content in its mother’s arms, my soul is a baby content. MESSAGE
VERSE 3

3 O Israel, put your hope in the Lord both now and forevermore. NIV
3 O Israel, put your hope in the Lord — now and always. NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

Faith – putting our hope in God
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see/
Focus on God not on ourselves or on our problems
A missionary to Africa had this to say about trust: “I can show you the graves of missionaries who died what we would call premature deaths. If my trust were in God’s protection, my trust would have crumbled long ago. My trust is in God, in the belief that He is in control and that whatever happens will happen for His glory.”
Romans 8:28 (NIV) And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
3 Wait, Israel, for God. Wait with hope. Hope now; hope always! MESSAGE

So as we go into 2017 Here is God’s message for us.
1 My heart is not proud, O Lord, my eyes are not haughty;
I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me.
2 But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother,
like a weaned child is my soul within me.
3 O Israel, put your hope in the Lord both now and forevermore. (NIV)