Claiming the Promise
January holds special family memories for me of camping holidays at the beach—surf, sand, sun and heaps of fun—even if some days we were stuck in the tent because of rain. Our family looked forward to this time to relax, unwind and prepare for the coming year.
As I’ve grown older, I’ve always loved having the extra time in January to reflect, pray, dream and reimagine what the year ahead will look like, both in my own relationship with Jesus and for my ministry in The Salvation Army.
As we organise our calendars and make plans for 2024, let’s reimagine and look for the new things that God wants to do in and through us.
Together we live out the good news of Jesus Christ so that everyone can experience hope, wholeness and ongoing transformation—the fullness of life as God intended. This is a huge vision, but we have a greater God.
In Isaiah 43:18–19, the prophet Isaiah gave a message of hope to the Israelites who were living in slavery. Despite their past mistakes and failure to trust him, God reminded them of the many ways he had provided for them through many generations. God challenged them not to forget the great things he had done for them in the past, and he promised to do greater things in their future. He promised to bring life through the coming of the Messiah and Saviour Jesus Christ.
The Bible says, ‘Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.’
So let’s claim this promise for 2024 and look for the new things that God will do in and through our movement this year.
We have a mission and message of the good news of Jesus Christ to share in very practical ways. All of us together have the privilege of living out and sharing this good news as we show compassion and care for people and share the message of love, hope, wholeness and transformation in Jesus.
Commissioner Julie Campbell
Territorial President of Women’s Ministries
Isaiah 43:18-19
Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland (NIV).
Kaua e mahara ki ngā mea ō mua; ko ngā mea onamata kaua e whakaaroa. Tēnei ahau te mahi nei i te mea hou; ākuanei te tupu ai; e kore rānei e mōhiotia e koutou? Ka oti i ahau he ara i te koraha, he awa i te tītōhea (PT).
Dou kakua ni vakananuma na ka makawa, se vakasama na ka eliu: raica, ka’u na cakava na ka vou; ena tubu ga oqo dou na sega beka ni kila? Io, ka’u na cakava na sala e loma ni lekutu, kei na uciwai e na vanua talasiga (FOV).
Ab beeti hui ghatnaawo ka vichaar karna mat karo, na baato par mun lagao. Dekho, may ek nayee baat karta hu wo abhi saamne hogi, kya tum us se anjaan rahoge? May jungle me ek raasta banaunga aur desh me nadia bahaunga (Fiji/Hindi).
Oua te mou manatu ki he ngaahi ‘uluaki me‘a, pea ko e ngaahi me‘a mu‘a ‘oua te mou tokanga ki ai. Vakai ‘oku ou ngaue ki ha me‘a fo‘ou; na‘a mo ena ‘oku fisiki mai; ‘ikai ‘oku mou ‘ilo ki ai? ‘A, te u ‘ai ha hala ‘i he fonua maomaonganoa, ‘ani vaitafe ‘i he lala (TMB).
Aua tou te manatua mea na muamua, aua foi le mafaufau i mea anamua. Faauta, ou te faia se mea e faatoa iloa, e tupu ae nei lava; tou te le iloa ea? E moni, ou te faia se ala i le vao lafulafua, ma vaitafe i le nuu naumati (SOV).
