Colossians 2:6-7 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

Excerpts from Ezekiel 36:   This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because they ravaged and crushed you from every side so that you became the possession of the rest of the nations and the object of people’s malicious talk and slander…This is what the Sovereign Lord says: In my burning zeal I have spoken against the rest of the nations,….I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.  And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. Then you will live in the land I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God.  I will save you from all your uncleanness. I will call for the grain and make it plentiful and will not bring famine upon you.  I will increase the fruit of the trees and the crops of the field, so that you will no longer suffer disgrace among the nations because of famine. Then you will remember your evil ways and wicked deeds, and you will loathe yourselves for your sins and detestable practices. I want you to know that I am not doing this for your sake, declares the Sovereign Lord. Be ashamed and disgraced for your conduct, people of Israel!

The Sovereign Lord has seen and heard our every thought, word, tears, and actions over the past twelve months.  He knows intimately what we have gone through and has felt every pain.  As we reflect on what the year has been we are thankful that we have made it to the end.  God wants us to not just be thankful but to be overflowing with thankfulness to Him for what He has carried us through.  You see we did not do it by ourselves only by the grace of God.

As we look ahead to the New Year we often wonder how we will cope with the stresses that it will bring. The prophets of gloom and doom have predicted a horrible year ahead.

BUT!!! The God who carried us through the past year is ready to intervene into our circumstances and make a drastic change.  The entire chapter of Ezekiel 36, tells us that the Sovereign Lord knows our state of being crushed and pressed on every side and that we are the scorn, slander and ridicule of those around us.  He knows that we have been scattered and harassed. As a nation and as people, we are feeling the consequences of our sins.   God has said Enough!

Firstly, God says he is concerned with us and will look upon us with favour. We have been faithless but He is still faithful.  We have not held up His name and others have cursed him because of us but He is going to prove himself Holy before them.

Secondly, He will restore our nation: our mountains will be filled with greenery and fruit, the land will be plowed and sown, the fruit trees, crops and grain will increase, the famine will not affect us and the towns and ruins will be rebuilt.  The people and animals in the land will become fruitful and more numerous and the land will become more prosperous than ever. O Lord, how long, Come quickly Lord!! This restoration cannot come from human decision as we do not have the capability to do it ourselves.  It is only Divine intervention that can restore our nations and economies as God’s economy is not in a recession.  So let us turn to God Almighty who is the Creator of heaven and earth who gives all good gifts. 

Thirdly, God is not doing this for our sake as we have continued in our slackness.  God is doing it for His name sake for He is Holy and will not tolerate our evil doing.  Forgive us Lord for taking your name as a byword.  “Our Father, Hallowed be Your Name Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”.  Let us turn from our slackness. 

Fourthly, God says he will cleanse from all impurities and idols. O Lord we are a people of unclean lips and hearts (Isaiah 6:5). We are filled with sin.  We need to lay down every idol at Jesus’ feet.  We need to be overflowing with thankfulness that God does not treat us as we deserve but is merciful, faithful and just and willing to forgive us.  God says He will change our hearts of stone (hardness, selfishness, me, myself and I mentality) to hearts of flesh (empathy, compassion, God –centred).  He will put His Spirit in us so that we can keep His decrees and His laws.  Only when we keep these will we be able to live above our current disgrace and prosper in the land that God has given us. 

Fifthly, given the mercy of God that prevents us from being consumed, we need to repent of our wickedness and evil practices.  God wants us to forget our past and former ways and press on ahead to new heights in HIM.  Only when we do this and overflow with thankfulness will we be able to reap the full benefits of prosperity that the Lord has in store for us as a nation and as individuals.

PRAYER

Lord I come to you at the end of myself unable to lift myself out of the state I am in. Forgive me and my nation for disgracing your name.  I need for your favour and forgiveness to restore me and my nation to purity, holiness and focus on you.  Come today Lord and remove everything in me that is not like you and make me and my nation whole again. I am overflowing with thankfulness that you give me second, third and so many chances to start over.  In the name of Jesus AMEN.