Happy New Year from the God of Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow. As we step into the new year, we naturally reflect on the past and make plans for the future. Often, the past has too much influence on shaping what lies ahead. The closer we get to Christ, the more we see our future as being shaped by the sins of our past.
Security for Yesterday
Isaiah 43:25, “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.”
One of the biggest challenges for Christ followers raised in modern culture is understanding God’s forgiveness. We are naturally inclined toward a quid pro quo view of transactions. Surely God must demand payment for His gift. I can’t possibly repay Him fully, but I feel I should at least try to repay Him partially.
God desires to have a relationship with you. He created you for that reason. When we couldn’t bridge the gap between us, He took on the task of reconciliation.
Ephesians 1:7, “In Him, we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.”
That is not to say that we might experience the natural by-product of our sin while here on earth. However, that is not Him punishing us for our actions; it is we who face the natural consequences of that sin. God, through Christ’s resurrection, has bridged the great distance between our past and His future.
Psalm 103:12, “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”
We have to accept that forgiveness. It feels unnatural for us as humans to believe it’s fair to receive such a gift without strings attached.
Through Christ, the line of communication between God and man is always open unless broken by man himself. We are, as it were, always in the presence of our Father in Heaven. Through His Holy Spirit, God is with us always and everywhere. – John Andreas Widtsoe
Security for Today
Matthew 28:20, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
The starting point is today, this very moment. God is the God of moments. Every time you feel that you might be backsliding, remember God is the God of moments. Reset, and start again. Ask for strength and forgiveness to live this moment for Him. If we live each moment, the future will take care of itself.
Exodus 14:14, “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
We shouldn’t pray for a lighter load to carry but a stronger back to endure! Then the world will see that God is with us, empowering us to live in a way that reflects his love and power. –Brother Yun
The small choices you make today influence the options available for the major decisions you’ll encounter later. Almost every future event in your life can be linked to the small choices you’ve made in the past.
Security for Tomorrow
Joshua 1:9, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
You were made for great things. God has woven into every part of you to fulfill His purpose in your life. Your role is to obey His will in achieving that purpose.
As you approach 2026, your goal should be to seek and pursue God’s will in your life. It’s easy to assume that God desires what you want, but that is only true if your priority is serving Him. God’s measure of success isn’t based on worldly achievements or wealth, but instead on peace, obedience, faithfulness, and being aligned with Him. These qualities are eternal.
If your plan is His plan, then success is assured.
Deuteronomy 31:8, “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
I see Paul as a role model for living. Not just because he’s passionate about sharing the gospel, but in how he lived his everyday life. It’s easy for me to depend on my past as a guide for my future. This way of thinking assumes there’s a fixed trait or unchanging characteristic in who I was that determines who I can become. It’s the old nature-versus-nurture debate. But look at Paul as an example.
When life turns up the heat and hardship defines our existence, do we see it as punishment or an opportunity to grow?
Is today, this week, or this year overwhelming? Do you feel trapped, searching for a way out? We all face storms. Some are caused by our choices, while others are thrust upon us. The winds rage, the rains wash away what we cherish, and darkness presses in. Worst of all, it seems like the storm will never end. That is Satan’s lie. He wants us to believe there’s no way forward.
A Clarity Map is a powerful visual representation of personal success principles that can produce tangible results quickly when combined with focused and consistent action. Paraphrased from 
If today were your last day on earth, how would you live it? Reflect on life’s meaning, priorities, and what truly matters most. Most of us don’t get that kind of warning. But if we did, would we choose differently? I don’t mean to sound morbid—but it’s a powerful question worth asking.
Happy Birthday to me. Yesterday, I turned seventy-five—three-quarters of a century lived. It’s hard to believe. Deep inside me still lives that sixteen-year-old small-town farm boy wondering how we got here. The truth is, it didn’t happen all at once. It was a journey of countless tiny steps—millions, billions, maybe even trillions of small decisions, each shaping the road ahead.
The answer I didn’t expect was created because it wasn’t within my design.
Matthew 5:7, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”
An opinion is only a state of mind; it does not predict the future. Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines opinion as “a view, judgment, or appraisal formed in the mind about a particular matter.” We too often give too much credence to someone’s opinion, including our own. Many of the disagreements I hear are formed when opinions differ.