A Very Noah New Year
"Now it came about in the six hundred and first year, in the first month, on the first of the month, the water was dried up from the earth. Then Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and behold, the surface of the ground was dried up. (Genesis 8:13 NASB)"
As I sit here on New Year's Eve, it strikes me that Noah's plight, the flood and the ark, ended on "the first month, on the first of the month". It's our New Year's Day. Noah was offered by God a fresh start, a new beginning, a clean slate to start over again. And isn't that what New Year's is all about?
It's a time to renew, a time to start over again. New Year's is a time to make new commitments and dedicate ourselves to doing things differently.
And what did Noah do with his New Year's? Well first he released all of the animals that had been cooped up on the ark back onto the land. I wonder, are there things that you have been holding onto, keeping inside and refusing to let go of? Perhaps this New Year's we need to let go of things that have held us back; to release the strangle hold we have on things or to get those pent up, bottled-up emotions out.
Next, Noah built an altar before the Lord; a reminder of God's goodness and faithfulness in saving Noah, his family and all the animals. Perhaps this New Year's, you and I need to look back at last year and reflect on the things God has done for us. Perhaps we need to remember how God was there for us and take a few minutes to just say, 'Thank you.'
Father God, help us to remember that even in the midst of darkness and tragedy, you are with us. You are faithful and you promise that you will "never leave" and "never forsake" us. Help us let go of those things which have been locked away inside our hearts and truly make this year different than the last.
Created 5 months ago
