How to have the happiest New Year yet

The countdown was exiting and thrilling once again, but the celebration is over and out for another year. The fireworks lit up the skies for a little while, but the fun will be remembered for a long time to come. Like clockwork, one year concluded successfully and without missing a beat a new one commenced straight away.

The old passed away into history whilst the new was preparing to write its own. The tired one finally went to bed after a long hard year as the fresh one got up on the dot and went straight to work. The end of one meant the beginning of another.

At the stroke of midnight the big hand on the Big Bens of the world reached out and touched the small hand of their small sisters. The long awaited signal went out all over the earth. It's "New Year" message was once again heard loud and clear. People everywhere followed suit and greeted each other with a "Happy New Year."

"Happy New Year" is for many, a time where family feuds and sibling rivalry are momentarily put on hold and artificially laid aside and where even complete strangers can be mistaken for close friends.

"Happy New Year" for most, however, is nothing more than a "commercial break" in the ongoing drama of their lives; a breather to go and get a bite to eat and something to drink before they return to the fantasy world of their mere existence.

"Happy New Year" for the majority is just wishful thinking; a child play; something nice to say, hoping beyond hope that someone or something up there somewhere, somehow may look down upon earthlings with favor this year.

So the question on the lips of many sincere seekers must surely be, is it at all possible to have a "Happy New Year?"

Or is this simply a figment of someone's overstretched imagination; a cruel game; an urban legend; a clever hoax that does the internet rounds every year.

Also given the trouble the world is in right now, what hope is there for us to have a complete new year, never mind a happy one!

And if it is actually possible to have a "Happy New Year", WHO can make it happen, and HOW does one go about it?

Thankfully we don't have to go too far to find the answer, because our text above not only assures us that it is possible to have a "Happy New Year" but also directs us to GOD who can really make it happen.

This is not surprising because the Bible tells us that by HIM all things were created (Col 1:16), in HIM all things consist (Col 1:17), with HIM all things are possible, (Mark 10:27) and through HIM all things can be done (Phil 4:13).

Therefore we can confidently say, that, by God's grace it is possible, not only to enjoy a "Happy New Year" but also to experience the happiest new year ever as we first meet with and meditate on Him who "crowns the year with His goodness" (Psalm 65:11a), making and taking time to:

1. Rethink the old theory of what the world calls a "New Year Resolution" - a worn-out concept built mostly on a faulty foundation of having to, once again, "prove your personhood and improve your imperfection" and based mainly on "fear and failure", and revise it with a fresh revelation of "the grace, mercy and peace of God", available so freely and abundantly to all of His children, all year round, so that instead of finding fault with and fixing your old self, you focus on and closely follow the Ancient of Days;

2. Reflect on the past twelve months of your life with a thankful heart and a thoughtful mind, and review the highs and the lows with the right spirit of self-examination not self-condemnation nor self-congratulations;

3. Remember how the Lord Jesus worked in you, to build you up, and through you, to bring others to Himself, and rejoice over the support of your network of friends, the open doors of ministry, the Gospel presentations, the saved souls and the spiritual growth;

4. Repent of any sins of omission and commission seriously and sincerely, and Refocus your vision on what really makes a difference on earth and matters dearly in eternity;

5. Renew your desire to "observe the great commission" (Matt 28:18-20), and Refresh your dedication to "obey the great commandments" (Mk 12:30-31);

6.Remove all toxic-behavior, time-wasting and energy-draining habits of accusation, blame, confusion, dramas and excuses as far as possible from your life, and replace it with a living style that is positive, proactive and productive in a manner that is genuine , generous and gentleman like;

7. Recharge the resilience in the battery of your soul esteem to the level where you truly believe, think and feel that you can do it, and Resume your earthly journey towards your eternal rewards with grace, mercy and peace.

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. (Eph 3:20-21)

Lebanese by birth, the Rev. Peter Rahme has lived in Australia since 1970. He is the founder and senior pastor at Inner West Baptist Church, Homebush West, a western suburb of Sydney, NSW.