We observe numerous festivals, designating certain days as special and others as inauspicious. The number thirteen is commonly regarded as unlucky. Our timekeeping is based on the movements of the Earth and planets, as well as the positions of the sun, moon, and stars. It is crucial to acknowledge the brevity of our lives, during which we often eschew days on the calendar due to the fear of misfortune. How many days, then, remain for us to relish this existence? Within this fleeting lifetime, we allocate a significant portion to anxiety and trepidation, yearning to escape. To transcend this tumultuous state, it is imperative to comprehend the ways of the Creator. Through this understanding, we can revel in every fleeting moment on this earthly planet as if it were a glimpse of paradise.
If someone asks us, “Hey, anything special today?” we would say “Yes” if it’s our birthday or anniversary, otherwise, we’d say “Nothing special.” We usually celebrate certain festivals based on our religion and consider them as special days. For instance, we celebrate New Year’s Day on the first day of January every year. Did God make the first day of January different from all the other days?
How Do We Get The New Year?
The duration taken by the Earth to complete one full revolution is known as a year. Specifically, the Earth requires 365.25 days to accomplish a single orbit around the Sun. Within the Gregorian calendar, a standard year consists of 365 days, divided into 12 months. However, a leap year encompasses 366 days and recurs every four years. During a leap year, the month of February extends to 29 days. Therefore, the year 2024 will feature 29 days in the month of February. Consequently, our celebration of the New Year acknowledges the providential power that sustains the celestial bodies in their orbits and enables the Earth to complete its annual trajectory around the Sun. This observance is a testament to the supremacy of God and the triumphant journey of our planet, facilitated by the controlling force of God. Do we duly acknowledge the formidable demonstration of the power of God during our New Year festivities?
The heavens declare the glory of God;
Psalm 19:1 (NIV)
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Renewal Of Our Spirit On Daily Basis
We must understand that the 1st of January is simply another day, without any inherent distinction. If we grasp the extent of God’s control over the universe, we would choose to celebrate each day instead of singling out one as special. We have designated New Year’s Day as significant, seeking blessings from God exclusively on this particular day. Those who are uninterested in troubling God, or who feel troubled by Him, come on January 1st to seek blessings for the entire year.
If God were to fulfil all our needs in one go on January 1st, how would we receive them? We cannot experience a year’s worth of sunshine on the first day, nor can we stockpile a year’s supply of oxygen. Similarly, we cannot store enough water for the entire year. It is God who provides these essentials each day. Notwithstanding that, we must rely on God to secure our salvation and attain eternal life. Our salvation is an ongoing journey, requiring daily renewal. It is not limited to special occasions; we need Him every single day.
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
2 Corinthians 4:16 (NIV)
Do We Consider Auspicious Days?
God, who enables the Earth to complete its cycle, bestows upon us the gift of various seasons, heat, and light from the Sun, rain from the clouds, and wind for our survival. With His unlimited provision, every day becomes special as He grants us new grace each day. However mankind, with its limited knowledge, considers only a few days as auspicious and disregards the rest as inauspicious. Those with divine knowledge calculate the movements of the planets, as well as the positions of the sun, moon, and stars, in order to avoid inauspicious days. The full moon and the new moon hold great significance for them, as they perform various rituals to protect themselves from misfortunes.
We contemplate the boundless power and wisdom of God, which orchestrates the seamless movement of each planet along its trajectory and safeguards all existence. Despite this, we find ourselves vulnerable to misfortune. If we were to truly comprehend His methods, we could wholeheartedly rely on Him for all things, without becoming consumed by seeking guidance from priests and fortune tellers. God cautions us against attempting to fathom His ways through avenues other than direct communion with Him.
When someone tells you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? Consult God’s instruction and the testimony of warning. If anyone does not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.
Isaiah 8:19-20 (NIV)
If we place complete reliance on God, He will govern the movements of the planets as well as the positions of the Sun, moon, and stars to our advantage at all times. There is no necessity for us to calculate their movements in order to construct calendars for determining auspicious times.
Numbering Our Days
This earthly life is fleeting, its duration unknown. According to Moses in one of his Psalms, we are urged to seek wisdom in numbering our days. How often do we petition God for such wisdom? We commemorate birthdays and anniversaries, expressing gratitude for the additional year granted. Yet, with each birthday, we unknowingly diminish our total lifespan. If we were aware of this, we would use our time more judiciously, recognizing that even our lifespan is transitory and each birthday signifies a reduction. Many fail to grasp the brevity of life, assuming that with each passing year, God extends their time, disregarding the inevitable end. Consequently, some continue to resist acknowledging their ageing, clinging to their youth even at sixty.
Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?
Job 12:12 (NIV)
Do Not Worry About Tomorrow
Every New Year, we are confronted with numerous fears and uncertainties, pondering the course of the days ahead. In his epistle to the Romans, the apostle Paul delineated two distinct categories of people.
One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind.
Romans 14:5 (NIV)
In the verse above, the individual who regards every day as equal is someone who comprehends and embraces the ways of God. God bestows upon us new grace each day and guides us in a personalized manner. For someone who nurtures a personal bond with God, all days are uniform, alleviating the need for concern as God tends to them.
Many individuals lack this type of connection with God, leading them to either lament over the past or fear the future. With this attitude, they will struggle to live in the present and instead be preoccupied with concerns about the past and the future. Jesus specifically addresses this demographic with His solemn advice.
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:34 (NIV)
Jesus specifically asks to dwell in the present, leaving behind the past and the future. He explains that each day brings its own challenges, and he does not promise a life devoid of troubles. However, he assures us that to overcome the difficulties we encounter, he will provide us with new grace and a fresh anointing every day, and he will create a path for us to emerge from them. He guarantees us that the troubles we face are not unique to us, but are common to all humanity.
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)
A Perfect Resolution
Despite the above clarity, we often believe that our troubles are specifically tailored for us, sent by God as a form of punishment or warning. May God grant us the wisdom to comprehend the reality of life this year, and to draw strength and wisdom from His word to navigate each day. The psalmist understood this and made a wise decision. As we make numerous resolutions for the New Year, we struggle to uphold them for even a month because they are often founded on self-righteousness and revolve around our personal lives and interests. This is why we struggle to maintain them. However, if we follow David’s example in making resolutions, by involving God in our decisions, even if we falter in keeping our resolutions, our God remains with us every day to empower us to uphold His Living Word.
Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.
Psalms 119:105-106 (NIV)
I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow your righteous laws.
The psalmist emphasizes the fundamental truth that, without God, we are susceptible to stumbling, as He is the one who establishes our steps. Walking is a daily occurrence, not reserved for special occasions.
The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him;
Psalm 37:23 (NIV)
It is crucial to recall that we are unable to even take a step without Him, and we require His grace every single moment. Jessie Dixon eloquently conveyed this sentiment in a song, acknowledging God’s continuous support.
The Jordan Valley 
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