Begin the Year With Courage
As we begin a new year, let us approach it with courage, serving in newness of spirit and living in a great spirit, ready for great occasions.
Mary Wilder Tileston preaches about starting the year with courage and faith, trusting in the Lord's presence and promise to never fail or forsake us. She emphasizes the importance of serving with a renewed spirit, seeking new life, strength, and happiness from God. Tileston encourages facing the new year with high resolution, patience, obedience, and cheerful subjection, just as Jesus did in Nazareth, being prepared for any opportunity that may arise.
Text
Be strong and of good courage ... fear not, nor be dismayed; for the Lord God, even my God, will be with thee; He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
1 CHRONICLES 28:20
That we should serve in newness of spirit.
ROMANS 7:6
HELP us, 0 Lord! behold we enter
Upon another year today;
In Thee our hopes and thoughts now centre,
Renew our courage for the way;
New life, new strength, new happiness,
We ask of Thee; oh, hear, and bless !
JOHANN RIST
THE year begins; and all its pages are as blank as the silent years of the life of Jesus Christ. Let us begin it with high resolution; then let us take all its limitations, all its hindrances, its disappointments, its narrow and common-place conditions, and meet them as the Master did in Nazareth, with patience, with obedience, putting ourselves in cheerful subjection, serving our apprenticeship. Who knows what opportunity may come to us this year? Let us live in a great spirit, then we shall be ready for a great occasion.
GEORGE HODGES
Walk cheerfully and freely in God's service.
ST. TERESA
Sermon Outline
- Begin the Year with Courage
- New Year, New Opportunities
- Walking Cheerfully in God's Service
- Meeting Life's Limitations with Patience and Obedience
- Living in a Great Spirit
Key Quotes
“Be strong and of good courage ... fear not, nor be dismayed; for the Lord God, even my God, will be with thee; He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” — Mary Wilder Tileston
“Let us begin it with high resolution; then let us take all its limitations, all its hindrances, its disappointments, its narrow and common-place conditions, and meet them as the Master did in Nazareth, with patience, with obedience, putting ourselves in cheerful subjection, serving our apprenticeship.” — Mary Wilder Tileston
“Walk cheerfully and freely in God's service.” — Mary Wilder Tileston
Application Points
- We should approach the new year with high resolution and a sense of hope and expectation.
- We can meet life's limitations by putting ourselves in cheerful subjection to God's will and serving our apprenticeship in faith.
- We can walk cheerfully in God's service by living in obedience to God's will and serving Him with a sense of joy and freedom.