S – “My dear brothers and sisters, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger”

 James 1:19 CSB

O – All of us can make this part of our life – Listen more and intentionally, speak after processing and contemplating the other person’s communication and recognize all of us growing to give grace to others.

A – What would our lives look like in 2025 if we did this well?  There is much to be gained in developing all three character traits.  We need to listen and hear what others say in their words and actions.  We need to think before speaking and process the entire situation.  We need to communicate genuinely our feelings.  Anger is not unhealthy when it causes a response that protects and helps move people to a better place.  Yet, it can easily become unhealthy.  It must be governed by wisdom.

R – Heavenly Father, we honor and revere you. Thank you for a new year to draw closer to you and live well with others.  We invite your Holy Spirit to lead us into new beginnings and walk with courage to the purposes you have for us.  Let’s go!

S – They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. ⁵ Night will be no more; people will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, because the Lord God will give them light, and they will reign forever and ever. 

Revelation 22:4–5 CSB

O – Commentary:

They will have a privileged place before the throne for they will see His face. The implication is that they are under the Lord’s good favor and in His “inner circle.” This intimacy is also indicated by the fact that His name will be on their foreheads (cf. 2:17; 3:12; 7:3; 14:1). Their freedom to be in the presence of God indicates that they will then be in their glorified bodies (cf. 1 John 3:2).

“Revelation,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – This is the intimacy with God that we desire.  We want to know Him and for Him to know us.  We will see him face to face.  The God who created everything, who knows no limits will be in relationship with us.  No more obstacles – us and God.  

R – Heavenly Father, we look forward to the day when we can stand with you face to face.  Our desire is to walk on earth in a way that honors you, demonstrates your love for others and makes us more like you.  We invite you to help us do that each day  in 2025.

S – And anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire

 Revelation 20:15 CSB

O – Commentary:

Following the great white throne judgment death and hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death, the final destination of the wicked. The doctrine of eternal punishment has always been a problem to Christians who enjoy the grace of God and salvation in Christ. The Bible is clear, however, that the punishment of the wicked is eternal. This is confirmed in verse 10, where the beast and the false prophet are still in the lake of fire after the thousand years of Christ’s millennial reign. Though the wicked dead will receive resurrection bodies, they will be quite unlike the resurrection bodies of the saints. The former people will continue to be sinful but will be indestructible and will exist forever in the lake of fire.

  “Revelation,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – It is imperative that anyone who hasn’t recognized Jesus Christ as their savior to do so before they day.  Without identifying who God is and desiring a relationship with him, people will spend eternity separate from him.  A prayer of acknowledging who He is, repenting of your sins and desiring to walk with him today is the first steps to salvation.

R – Heavenly Father, we desire to be in relationship with you now and for eternity.  I pray that anyone who reads this who hasn’t taken these steps towards you, would do so now.  

S – The Lord values those who fear him, those who put their hope in his faithful love

Psalms 147:11 CSB

O – “Values” – râtsâh, to be pleased with; spec. to satisfy a debt:— (be) accept (-able), accomplish, set affection, approve, consent with, delight (self)… reconcile self.

The New Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew and Greek Words 

A – The Lord is pleased and reconciles us back to him when we revere and show awe in him.  He satisfied our debt of sin through Jesus on the cross.  We can walk in hope because he displayed his love for us before we demonstrated our love for him.

R – Heavenly Father, we stand in awe and reverence of you.  Thank you for paying the price for our sins on the cross.  We desire to know you more today.  Help us to see the expression of your delight in us in our relationship.

S – I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing to my God as long as I live

Ps 146:2 CSB

O –  “Praise” – hâlal,  to be clear; to shine; hence, to make a show, to boast; and thus to be (clamorously) foolish; to rave; caus. to celebrate; also to stultify:— (make) boast (self), celebrate, commend, (deal, make), fool (-ish, -ly), glory, give [light], 

The New Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew and Greek Words 

A – Does our lives “praise” God?  Is it clear who the God that we serve is?  Do we shine in His love?  Do we boast of what He has done for us?  Do we celebrate his goodness and mercy?  Do we give Him glory in praise, spend time with Him and invite Him to be part of our daily lives?  “All my life” is not just the duration of our time on earth.  It is also the comprehensive 360-degree view of everything that makes up our lives.  All of it should point to a life with God.

R – Heavenly Father, we praise and glorify your name.  Help our entire lives to point to you.  Please help us to celebrate all the good you have done in us.  You alone are worthy of this honor.

S – The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and great in faithful love. 

9 The Lord is good to everyone; his compassion rests on all he has made

Psalms 145:8–9 CSB

O – Commentary:

David then wrote of the marvelous nature of God, affirming that He is gracious and compassionate (cf. 111:4), slow to anger, and full of loyal love (the identical statement, in Heb., is given in Ex. 34:6; Neh. 9:17; Pss. 86:15; 103:8; Joel 2:13; Jonah 4:2

 “Psalms,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – The Old Testament states and reaffirms God’s nature throughout the years.  His character of patience and mercy draws us to him as we recognize our character.  The good and bad in our own lives meet his unchanging love.  We are transformed to be more like him.

R – Heavenly Father, we love you.  Help our character to align with yours.  Thank you for your grace and mercy as we grow closer to you.

S – Three things are stately in their stride; four are stately in their walk: ³⁰ a lion, which is mightiest among beasts and doesn’t retreat before anything; ³¹ a strutting rooster; a goat; and a king at the head of his army

Proverbs 30:29–31 CSB

O – Those that appear noble in their bearing and walk. These include the lion, from whom people and other animals retreat because of its strength, the strutting rooster (lit., “girded at the loins”), a male goat with its arrogant appearance, and a king who may strut with pride as he is seemingly invincible with his army in his presence. In God’s order of things, some creatures are small and in humble positions and others are more prominent

“Proverbs,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

Heavenly Father, we worship you as the one, true God.  Help our attitude to be humble and confident in you.  We do not need to walk in fear. We can be resolved in the gifts, talents and abilities you have blessed us with.

S – Answer me quickly, Lord; my spirit fails. Don’t hide your face from me, or I will be like those 

going down to the Pit. ⁸ Let me experience your faithful love in the morning, for I trust in you. 

Reveal to me the way I should go because I appeal to you.

Psalms 143:7–8 CSB

O – We are engaged in a spiritual journey in physical bodies.  We get impatient and we wonder how it will end.  We seek God’s intervention and presence in these times.  This is the crucible where faith grows.  Out of these moments comes renewed purpose and direction.

A – This is how we grow in God.  Some challenges and failures produce growth and faith.  The key is in these times to stay close to God and continue to believe in his love and character.

R – Heavenly Father, we love today.  We invite you to intervene on our behalf in all our challenges.  We are physically limited to solving them.  Yet, you are unlimited.  Nothing stops you from accomplishing your will and purpose in us.

S – So he answered me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by strength or by might, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord of Armies

Zechariah 4:6 CSB

O – Commentary:

…The angel prepared for this conclusion by relating the vision to Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah (cf. Hag. 1:1, 12, 14; 2:21). The angel suggested that he would finish the temple (Zech. 4:9) through the abundant supply of the Spirit of God. Thus the oil for the lamp is associated with the Holy Spirit. By His enabling the temple would be completed (v. 6) and every obstacle (mighty mountain, v. 7) to rebuilding would be removed. Military strength (might) and human manpower (power) could not accomplish the task, but Spirit-empowered workers under the direction and leadership of Zerubbabel would do so.

“Zechariah,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – We can look at our might and power and think we have abundance or lack.  In the end, the Holy Spirit makes the difference for the believer.  When we invite the Holy Spirit to empower both, plus our own gifts and talents, God’s purpose will be accomplished in a way that honors Him.

R – Heavenly Father, we surrender and worship you.  We invite the Holy Spirit to lead and equip us to accomplish your purposes today.  We are limited in our own gifts and talents.  You will empower us.

S – But my eyes look to you, Lord, my Lord. I seek refuge in you; do not let me die.^, 

⁹ Protect me from the trap they have set for me, and from the snares of evildoers.

Psalms 141:8–9 CSB 

O – We can look to God:

To be a place of refuge:  châçâh, to flee for protection; to confide in:— have hope, make refuge, (put) trust

To protect us:   shâmar,  to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; gen. to protect, attend to,

The New Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew and Greek Words 

A – In God’s unlimited power, He is also intimate enough to know our need for protection and relationship.  Confiding in him our hearts pain and joy create a genuine hope and faith in Him.  When He moves to protect and attend to us, we are safe.  We can see that physically but the peace and contentment in our hearts gives us the strength to keep taking steps forward.

R – Heavenly Father, you are holy, just and unlimited in your character and abilities.  Meet us where we are at in our journey.  Minister your peace and contentment to us.  Let us feel your protection and presence as we abide in you.  We desire that level of intimacy today.