2020.... LESSON LEARNED!!!

This past year 2020 - has been an extremely difficult year for the whole world. We have never seen one like this one. With a global pandemic going on, many lives have been lost, and the whole world has been turned "upside down".

More than 1900 times in the Bible it says, “Thus says the Lord” (500 times in the Pentateuch [the first five books of the Bible] – and 1200 times in the prophets).

It is clear that the Bible IS what God says it is --- HIS WORD -- the final authority on all subjects.

ISAIAH 55:6-8 states, "Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways."

Proverbs 19:21 states, “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails”

Psalms 33:10-11 shares with us that, “The Lord foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.”

Through it all, I have learned some lessons. Let me share them with you now:

1. Expect the Unexpected. BE FLEXIBLE

Jesus taught us to pray, “Thy Kingdom come … thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven…”. Know that life happens and things that we do not understand will occur. God, however, is still in charge of all.

2. Don't Trust Anything or Anyone other than God —- VERIFY Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” Let God's Word be your "fact checker".

3. Trust only in God and His Word — DEPENDABLE SOURCES

Ps. 119:89 “Your word, O Lord, is eternal. It stands firm in th heavens.”

Ps. 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”

4. What you See is NOT what you get - SPIRITUAL VISION - Look below the surface - Read between the lines

II Cor. 4: 16-18 “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

5. Try the “spirits” - see if they are from God — DISCERNMENT

I John 4:1 says, "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to dsee whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world."

6. Freedoms are not Free — you can lose them. - Don’t Take for Granted

Somebody paid the price for your freedom --- Christ paid the ultimate price for your spiritual freedom --- Don't assume anything --- Cherish your freedoms -- don't give them up --- Fight the good fight of faith! 7. Our security is in HIM alone. - SECURITY

I John 4:4 says, "You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, bnercause the one who is in you is greater thatn the one who is in the world."

The gospel song “In Christ Alone” states, “In Christ alone I place my trust, and find my glory in the power of the Cross – In every victory, let it be said of me, My source of strength, my source of hope is Christ alone.”

8. God is still “on the throne” - HE REIGNS - HE is very aware and alert and sees ALL 9. God Answers Prayer.

– I John 5:14-15 clearly states, "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us -- whatever we ask -- we know that we have what we asked of him."

Only the prayer full of faith, based on His Word, which is in alignment with His will (His Word is His will) will be answered for sure. 10. God Cannot and Will Not Fail you! Never!

This is our anchor — for all times! An old gospel tune, written in 1906, states, "Hold to God's Unchanging Hand.....Build your hopes on things eternal .... Hold to God's Unchanging Hand."

2020 was a rough year! What lessons have you learned from this year of experience?

I pray you are blessed as we go into a New Year -- and perhaps a New Era of God's Grace.

Share with me your comments!