Psalm 40:1-3 I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.

Sometimes it is good to look back briefly so you can cherish where you are and take delight in knowing that God will guard your steps in the future. Give thanks as the year closes and the New Year begins to unfold.  Choose a song, a chorus, a psalm – one that has become meaningful to you and make it your anthem for the days ahead. Let it be a hymn of praise to your God. The Lord inhabits the praises of his people so when everything else fails, sing to him.

One night not long ago I had a brief and unpleasant dream and came awake immediately. I started to pray in tongues dismissing the dream and rebuking Satan in the name of Jesus. All of a sudden the words of a song came to me: “Calvary covers it all, my past with its sin and stain; my guilt and despair Jesus took on him there, and Calvary covers it all.” I sang myself to sleep and did not wake up until 7:30 a.m.

Do not entertain any thoughts or dreams of darkness and foreboding. They may occur but there is no reason to lay out a welcome mat and serve tea! Dismiss them and sing to God. After all you serve a God who knows the end from the beginning. Ask him to undertake for the future.  “There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, who rides across the heavens to help you and on the clouds in his majesty. The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.” (Deuteronomy 33:26-27). [Feel free to research “Jeshurun” briefly it confers the meaning: the upright or the blessed.]