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A New Year's Eve Devotion - The Hands of God

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A New Year's Eve Devotion - The Hands of God

A view of the sunrise from the window of an apartment building
My own hand laid the foundations of the earth, and my right hand spread out the heavens. ~Isaiah 48:13 NIV

What I woke up to this morning. I quickly sprang from my bed, okay, sofa where I have been sleeping for a while now, and grabbed my phone quickly to capture the vision in front of me. Half hour later, I am still snapping pix and vids. If only my camera could see what I could see. One of the best things about living in this space is the marvellous sunrise and moons I get to experience.

REFLECT & PRAY

The vision inspired me write a poem reflecting what the image of God's hand was saying to me:

THE HANDS OF GOD:
Crimson Curtain, Sunrise Framed
A view of the sunrise from the window of an apartment building

Through crimson curtains God kissed my eyes,
A glowing dawn begins to spread.
The city rests still and serene,
While crimson skies ignite the scene.

A balcony, aged but full of grace,
Embraces the glow in its weathered space.
Below, a waking town appears,
Its shops and streets, calm pioneers.

The silhouette of towers stand,
Guardians beneath my painted skies.
Splashes of hues, so bold, divine,
The day unfolds, its sacred plans.

Inside, the warmth of home takes hold,
Curtains tied with ribbons fold.
The glow of life, both near and far,
A morning gift—God unfolds.

Vision Beyond the Frame
A view of the sunrise from the window of an apartment building

The concrete ledge, the towers tall,
A fortress built to hem it all.
Yet even here, where walls confine,
The sky erupts in hues divine.

My eyes they met a world half-blocked,
A city bound, its edges locked.
But vision soars where sight are blocked,
Beyond the frame, beyond the lot.

Curtains part with crimson grace,
Revealing more than time and place.
For in the light, the truth is clear—
What’s seems hidden, God’s plans are clear.

Let towers rise and windows bind,
The soul sees further, unconfined.
No wall can hide the dawn of day,
Its light will always find its way.

DEVOTIONAL

A view of the sunrise from the window of an apartment building

“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows His handiwork.” Psalm 19:1


Moments later, I contemplated a daily to-do list to start off the new year. Second on my list was devotion and reflection. It was as if God was already guiding me. But what exactly are devotionals anyway? Thought I knew what they were, I did not have a clear definition for it—A religious publication and/or practice for encouraging spiritual reflection and growth. My devotional led me straight to an image of a sunset with the title “The Hand of God." Coincidence? I think not. It discussed how back in 1939, King George VI sought to encourage his people during wartime by quoting a stanza from a poem his mother held near and dear. Here is a copy of that poem the stanza in boldface:


THE GATE OF THE YEAR by Minnie Louise Haskins

A view of the sunrise from the window of an apartment building

'God Knows'

And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year:
"Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown".
And he replied:
"Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God.
That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way".
So I went forth, and finding the Hand of God, trod gladly into the night.
And He led me towards the hills and the breaking of day in the lone East.

So heart be still:
What need our little life
Our human life to know,
If God hath comprehension?
In all the dizzy strife
Of things both high and low,
God hideth His intention.

God knows. His will
Is best. The stretch of years
Which wind ahead, so dim
To our imperfect vision,
Are clear to God. Our fears
Are premature; In Him,
All time hath full provision.

Then rest: until
God moves to lift the veil
From our impatient eyes,
When, as the sweeter features
Of Life's stern face we hail,
Fair beyond all surmise
God's thought around His creatures
Our mind shall fill.


REFLECT & PRAY

Whatever you are faced with today, remember, God knows best. To borrow from my devotional author: "As you consider the new year,
 
• What situations or relationships could you entrust to God?
• How does the image of His hand speak to you?"

Those questions resonated deeply in my soul. As you can see, God's hands spoke to me loud and clear– and this was confirmation of their testimony. God wants us to glorify Him with our work; not to make a name for ourselves but to pay homage to Him and entrust our situations to Him.

A view of the sunrise from the window of an apartment building
“Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves...." Genesis 11:4 NIV

So often we set ourselves up against monumental goals that block God's vision for our lives; and in our efforts to achieve them, we make ourselves martyrs. As I "Go out into the darkness," I shall symbolically put my "hand into the hand of God. [And it] shall be to [me] better than light, and safer than a known way." I do not know what the new year will bring, but just as the building stand blocking part of my view, I am trusting God to "'guide and uphold' me in the anxious days ahead" (Devotional).

PRAYER

A view of the sunrise from the window of an apartment building
“Great and marvellous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways," Rev 15:3 NIV

Abba Father, I am in awe of you and your majestic hands. Thank you for revealing your most magnificent self to me in these sacred moments—a silent communication between you and me. I adore you and put my trust in your capable hands to lead me and guide me through the darkness. Help me to not take on monumental projects to make a name for myself, but to humble myself and allow you to use me in whatever ways you choose. I trust in your plan for my life according to your words, you “plans to prosper [me] and not to harm [me], plans to give [me] hope and a future" Jeremiah 29:11 NIV. With that I know for sure that no one or nothing can block your plans for my life. Amen!

Spatial view of the sunrise from the window of an apartment building
"He has made everything beautiful in its time..." Eccl 3:11 NIV

Happy New Year to you and yours!!
Andrene Gregory

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Location: Toronto, ON, Canada

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