Good Morning Baby New Year

FACE TO FACE

Good Morning Baby New Year

Virginia Hughes

Good morning, baby new year. You sweet, tiny child up so early and arriving full of demands:

What’s my name?

Where’s my food?

What are my resolutions?

What new goals have we set?

Are we going to read through the Bible this year? Are we, huh-huh-huh?

Oof, you are so loud and needy. Stinky too, but oh so cute! There, there; it is going to be ok. No need to cry little one. Here we are to love and hold you, calm and mold you. We have planned for you, and we are ready. We will listen and walk and thereby know how to care for your every need. While we listen and walk, we will sing and pray on our way, knowing worship is our very best work.

WE WILL LISTEN

Jesus said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” (Matthew 11:15)

Welcome the new year with a decision to listen to Scripture every day. The active word of God resonates in a fresh way when we listen. God spoke to his chosen leaders and prophets. Jesus spoke to his followers and listening crowds. When he couldn’t preach, Paul sent letters meant to be read aloud to the churches. Spoken words land differently from words read silently. Especially for those who read a lot and tend to skip a little here and there due to distractions and familiarity. Scripture reaches us in meaningful ways when read aloud. And to accomplish this, read passages aloud to yourself and to each other, or listen to recordings. Listen in the blissful quiet of an early morning or the restful evening at the end of the day. Tune into Scripture recordings while you walk, which brings us to the next plan for the new year, walking.

WE WILL WALK

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)

We walk in Christ’s teachings by obeying his words. And I am also writing about actual physical walking here. Unless you have been ordered not to, walking is good, right? We hear it all the time. It’s good for you. Get up and walk.

After surgeries, patients are raised up onto aching limbs to walk blearily back and forth in order to increase oxygen and blood flow and to prevent pneumonia. It feels like the worst thing ever. Stitches groan, the brain begs, “Stop moving!” One wants to rebel. How can I be expected to walk when I was just rolled off the operating table? There is no energy to muster. One does not feel human. A food fast the night before surgery, and not yet allowed the first sip of the enticing liquid diet, leaves one woozy and in pain. Have you not observed my incision from stem to stern, oh well-meaning helper of mine?

The response to excuses may be a patient nod or a firm retort; and both feel relentless:

Feel a little weak, do you? So does everyone.

Get up! Up, up, up you go unless you are at the very end of your life. Only then may you “Rest In Peace.” And even then, dear believer, when you breathe your last on this side of heaven, welcome to eternity shining bright with the glory of God and shimmering with joyful purpose.

But why, oh why must we walk when it feels better to stay put and rest our aching bones and joints? Because walking works. It brings our physical body to recovery and heals us. Just as when we listen to Scripture, we learn and grow closer to God, we must walk a little every day to grow strong and help others. Be strengthened and be able to do more in spite of yourself.

Get up! Up, up, up you go unless you are at the very end of your life. Only then may you “Rest In Peace.”

For the rule followers, there are walking rules. One rule being about strides: a right step then the left step together equals a stride. While walking, shorter, quicker steps are recommended over stepping out long and taking too long of a stride. Taking too long of a stride, or “overstepping,” makes one prone to injury.

As babies we liked the motion of walking and can learn to enjoy it again. Walk with a buddy and have fellowship that way. Or walk alone and listen to scripture soaking into your thoughts. Let God’s word complete a good work in you.

WE WILL WORSHIP

My mouth is filled with your praise, and with your glory all the day. (Psalm 71:8)

We expect low points in the new year. and we will praise the Lord. We expect high points in the new year. and we will praise the Lord. Fernando Ortega’s song, “Give Me Jesus,” is excellent inspiration for starting and ending our days with Jesus.

In the mornin’ when I rise, In the mornin’ when I rise, In the morning’ when I rise, give me Jesus . . .

This kind of devotion to our Lord leads to clearer understanding and unexpected encounters.

Consider Anna in the temple who, “never left the temple, but worshipped night and day, fasting and praying.” From Luke chapter two, verses 37 and 38, we learn Anna was an elderly widow, anywhere from 84 to 104 years old, who chose to listen, walk and worship for the majority of her life. Her many years of sacrifice and service were worth it all when she beheld the Messiah, for whom she had waited so long. Anna was ready when Mary and Joseph brought baby Jesus to the temple to satisfy the Old Testament law to make the purification offering and to present Jesus as their firstborn before God. Anna saw them and immediately recognized Jesus as the long-awaited Savior and thanked God.

Anna gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. Good news is meant to be shared, and Anna shared it with everyone who was anticipating the Messiah.

The Redeemer had come, the prophecies were being fulfilled, and Anna was blessed to see it happen. She walked among others in the temple who did not see it coming. Who did not recognize the prophecy fulfilled? Her life overflowed with favor and grace. May our hearts practice a steady devotion of worship like Anna’s this year and may we encounter Christ.

As for our Baby new year, waking us up at all hours, whether it be early in the morning, or late in the night, we have a plan to listen to God’s word, to walk in the light and worship continually. Welcome Baby 2022—are we ever ready for you.