Expectations for the New Year

by | Updated February 18th, 2023

Expectation is everything. The lame man in Acts 3 received much more than he was expecting. Ephesians 3:20 tells us that God is able to do “exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.” We often receive what we expect and beyond. Let’s expect the Lord to do great things for us and our ministries in the coming new year!

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God’s Manifest Goodness

“Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come” (Hebrews 9:11). He hid Moses in the cleft of the rock and caused all His goodness and glory to pass by him. Let’s believe God for no less in our lives and ministries this coming year.

“The Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly” (Psalms 84:11). “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17).

“O fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing” (Psalm 34:9-10). Let’s seek the Lord like never before and expect His manifest goodness. “The Lord will again rejoice over you for good” (Deuteronomy 30:9).

A Harvest

“Be glad then, you children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God; for He has given you the former rain faithfully, and He will cause the rain to come down for you – the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month” (Joel 2:23).

The former rain is that which germinates the seed and the latter rain brings in the harvest. God is giving us a promise that when we plant, the germination of the seeds and the harvest of what we plant will come to pass in the same month, nearly simultaneously. Praise the Lord!

In the surrounding context of this verse God is referring to removing our enemy far off from us (Joel 2:20), restoring to His people all that the enemy has stolen from our lives and ministries (Joel 2:25) and the last days outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Joel 2:28-32).

The fruit of all our labor is going to be brought to fruition in the same month. “So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase” (1 Corinthians 3:7). “Say not, There are still four months and then comes the harvest? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest” (John 4:35).

The Decimation of Our Enemies

God is going to place your enemies under your feet. “The God of peace will crush Satan under your feet” (Romans 16:20). As those grafted into the vine (Romans 11:17), the promised blessing of Israel applies to us, “The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face” (Deuteronomy 28:7). Here are a few scriptures for victory for the new year:

“Your hand shall be lifted against your adversaries, And all your enemies shall be cut off” (Micah 5:9).

“The Lord your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you” (Deuteronomy 20:4).

“Let God arise, Let His enemies be scattered; Let those also who hate Him flee before Him” (Psalms 68:1-3).

“Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace” (Exodus 14:13-14).

“No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their vindication is from Me, declares the Lord” (Isaiah 54:17).

“Fear not, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them” (2 Kings 6:16).

Let’s believe God for great things in the new year!

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