The Lord hath brought me hitherto
By His surpassing favor;
His mercies ev’ry morn were new,
His kindness did not waver.
God hitherto hath been my Guide,
Hath pleasures hitherto supplied,
And hitherto hath helped me.
This beautiful song was written by Aemilie Juliane, the countess of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt, born in 1637.
All these centuries later, we too should join in this song of praise if our lives are rooted in Jesus Christ. It was God who led us thus far, caring for us, protecting us, and giving us victory against Satan’s attacks. He alone deserves the honor! Only once we fully recognize God’s glory and His love through Christ Jesus can we become truly grateful people.
Gratitude is something we learn and in which we can grow, for instance, by walking daily in the ways of God. In a world filled with unrest, conflict, and war, the future may seem dark at times. Nonetheless, we can face it with confidence, resting in His wonderful promise, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). Even with storm clouds looming, we can be assured that Jesus, our Redeemer, is with us. If we follow Him faithfully, victory will be ours.
If you, dear reader, are not yet following the Savior, take this opportunity and accept the living Son of God! Let Him enlighten you so that you can become a light for others! Make good use of the time given to you, for our lives pass faster than we think, just as this year has gone by in the blink of an eye. Seek the Lord while He can be found!
The prophet Jeremiah employed an apt metaphor: “Even the stork in the heavens knows her appointed times; and the turtledove, the swift, and the swallow observe the time of their coming. But My people do not know the judgment of the Lord” (Jeremiah 8:7). The birds follow the instincts God gave them, gathering in flocks and flying south in autumn before returning in spring. But how about us? Many people refuse to listen to God’s voice. God speaks to each individual, and not just once; His Word says that He calls everyone, two or three times, to be saved from sin. Unfortunately, many people repress and ignore this call.
Perhaps God is speaking to you right now. Think of the birds: they know their time and heed God’s call to arrive safely at their destination. Learn from them and listen to God’s voice. He will save you. God calls to all, “Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion” (Hebrews 3:15). We live in the end times. All true children of God are becoming more and more aware of this. How long before the door of grace is closed?
We do not know what the new year will bring, but we do not need to know. What we need to know is whether we are ready to meet our Lord and Master when He returns. Even if we are already saved, there is a question we need to ask ourselves: Do we have oil in our lamps, or are we like Matthew 25’s “foolish virgins” who missed the wedding feast because their lamps went out? We can each only answer for ourselves. Therefore, “walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15–16).
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