There is something powerful about starting anew when the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Day.
For many, it signifies a fresh start—a chance to transform our lives into better versions of ourselves. Perhaps it looks like a new PR in your workout regime or carved out space to intentionally learn a new skill. Maybe it requires sacrifice so you can better your finances or relationships.
And while all of these are significant things to move us in the right direction, as believers, we must hold fast to the unchanging truth that God is always doing a new thing, regardless of the date on the calendar.
So how can we embrace and partner with what God is doing in our lives each day of this new year?
God Meets You Where You Are
There is something so exhilarating about witnessing the hand of God moving in your life. When you see Him open doors only He can open and answer prayers only He has witnessed, it can change even the hardest heart to one beating with steady faith. (At that point, how can you go back to anything less?)
Life Changing Glove Compartment Prayers
Years ago, when I was courting my wife, Trina, I had come to a crossroad. After spending much time with her, it was time to decide if she was the one I would marry. As I contemplated one of the most important decisions of my life, I went out and bought a beautiful engagement ring. (While my question remained partly unanswered, I wanted to be ready when the moment was right.)
In order to hide the ring, I decided to keep it safe in the glove compartment of my 1968 Dodge Dart. After locking it, I prayed aloud, “Lord, if she is the one and the timing is right, have her ask me why my glove compartment is locked.” (At this point, I assumed I had decades of safety!)
The following day, I was scheduled to preach at a church in Washington, D.C. After picking Trina up, we began our journey, and a few moments later, she informed me that she lost her glasses. In an attempt to search for them, she reached for the glove box and discovered it wouldn’t open. She looked at me and asked, “Why is your glove compartment locked?” Well wouldnt you know, the Lord works in mysterious ways! Immediately, I pulled over to the side of New Hampshire Ave. and proposed to the woman who has been my wife for over forty years.
What I learned that day is that God moves in supernatural ways that are relevant to where you are. And when He does, He demonstrates that He is alive and well, and all-mighty power is in His hands.
Have you experienced that in your own life? If not, maybe you are lacking one key action for God’s breakthrough.
The Key to Unlocking God’s Supernatural Power In Your Life
Throughout scripture, we see the people of God miraculously experience God moving on their behalf. Did God love them more? No. I believe they understood the key to unlocking the power of God in their lives. Yet, many within the church are frustrated because they have reached a point in their faith where they aren’t witnessing the miraculous.
Let’s take a look at the twelve disciples in their discouragement.
“And when He came to the disciples, He saw a great multitude around them, and scribes disputing with them. Immediately, when they saw Him, all the people were greatly amazed, and running to Him, greeted Him. And He asked the scribes, ‘What are you discussing with them?’ Then one of the crowd answered and said, ‘Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not.’”
Mark 9:14-18, NKJV
Do you ever wonder why the disciples couldn’t heal the man’s son? After all, they hung around Jesus each and every day, were exposed to his miracles, and were even sent out in pairs to perform signs and wonders themselves (Mark 6), yet here, they were coming up short.
What changed?
Many of you are facing circumstances in your own life that you cannot change. This can be frustrating because, as far as you know, you’ve been doing everything you should do (pray, study God’s word, repent, etc.) and things remain the same.
Jesus responds in Mark 9:19-23:
“He answered him and said, ‘O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me.’ Then they brought him to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth. So He asked his father, ‘How long has this been happening to him?’ And he said, ‘From childhood. And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us. If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.’”
Take heed to the last verse in this passage. Jesus didn’t give specific directions, indicate a certain amount of money we should give, or list the spiritual requirements we should participate in. He declared that if we desire to see God move on our behalf, we must believe.
What Does It Mean to Believe?
There are many things we may believe in as we trust in things we can see.
We believe it will rain because an app notifies us that it will.
We believe our bank account has a certain amount of money because our statement says so.
We believe our partner loves us because they show us they do each day.
But what does belief mean when it comes to God?
Belief is the capacity to exercise confidence and absolute trust in the Lord—even when we can’t see Him with our eyes. While this may seem agreeable in black and white, it truly stems from a place much bigger than a simple declaration.
Believing in the power and faithfulness of God is not simply putting credence in the existence of Jesus; it’s believing that He also has the power to step into the domain of your life and bring the supernatural power of God on your behalf.
When Our Actions Stunt the Power of God
We serve a God who is more powerful and mighty than anything else in this world; however, He will not force us to experience His goodness. Sometimes, our mere humanness stunts the power God wants to make known in our lives.
Mark 6:5-6, in the New King James Version, touches on this. It says,
“Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching.”
There were moments in Jesus’s ministry when He couldn’t perform miracles. During His time on earth, He was God wrapped in human form, and His ability was limited due to the village’s unbelief.
Matthew 13:54-58 says,
“When He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, ‘Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?’ So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, ‘A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house.’ Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.”
In another instance, Jesus was staying in Bethlehem, His hometown, and was met with disbelief that He could be anything other than an ordinary carpenter’s son. Due to their lack of confidence in Jesus being the Messiah (because He was one of their own), Jesus was unable to do the supernatural.
Belief releases the presence and power of God.
Living a Life of Belief
It’s easy to say you believe in God, but quite different to live from a place where it resonates from the core of your being.
When your bank account is nearly drained, but you live from a place of belief, you can set your table knowing Jehovah Jireh will provide the feast you need.
When your relationship with family has crumbled, but you believe in the God of restoration, you can breathe easy knowing Jehovah Shalom will rebuild.
When you receive a disheartening medical diagnosis, but you know Jehovah Rapha is your healer, you can have confidence that His will be done.
Living from a place of steadfast belief is knowing that God may not come in the way you expected, but somehow, He will bring a breakthrough!
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
Hebrews 11:6, NKJV
Saints, we serve a God who has the power to turn your dire circumstances around. The very thing the devil is using to weigh you down will change in this new year. As we learn to rely on God’s strength and power and look beyond our circumstances, we can be confident in knowing that our God has the power to change things!
Do you dare to believe?
For more on belief in God, check out Pastor John K. Jenkins, Sr.’s sermon, The Key to Experiencing the Move of God.
