God GOES BEFORE US

The LORD himself . . . will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:8

While visiting in the Philippines, my wife and I spent some time on Corrigedor Island. We toured some old tunnels that were dug there at General MacArthur’s headquarters during World War II.

I wasn’t sure how stable those tunnels were, but our guide assured us they were safe. He had been there before, and he was going to walk ahead of us. With a flashlight in one hand and a walking stick in the other, we made it safely through.

That tour was just a simple illustration of what God invites us to do as we begin a new year. We don’t know what’s ahead. We can’t look into the future. But God can! God assures us that he knows what’s ahead. The entire year is spread out before the Lord. He knows our future. And the same God who knows all about the year ahead promises to go with us every step of the way.

God himself will be our guide, and he will guide us through. He knows the challenges that will face us, the obstacles that are before us. He invites us simply to follow him. And to help us on our way, God offers us the light of his Word. As the psalmist puts it, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path" (Psalm 119:105).

All we have to do is keep our eyes on the Lord, listen to what he says, and follow him.

PRAYER

Lord, help us to keep our eyes on you, and teach us how to listen as you call us to follow you. Give us your wisdom and grace, we pray. For Jesus’ sake, Amen.

神帅领我们

「耶和华必在你前面行；他必与你同在，必不撇下你，也不丢弃你。」 申31:8

我和妻子在菲律宾旅游期间，一起在克里基多岛逗留了一段时间。我们游览了一些古旧的地道，这些地道是第二次世界大战时期，在麦克阿瑟将军的总部挖掘的。

我不敢肯定那些地道是否稳妥，但导游向我们保证，这些地道是安全的。他曾经到过这个地方，而他会在前面带路。我们一手拿着电筒，一手拿着手杖，安全地走过了那条地道。

这个旅程简单地说明了，神希望我们如何开始新的一年。我们不知道前程如何，也不能预知未来，但神却可以！神向我们保证，祂知道前面如何，前面的一年已摆在主的面前，祂知道我们的未来如何。这位对未来一年了如指掌的神，亦应许每一步与我们同行。

神会亲自作我们的向导，引领我们的脚步。祂知道我们将会面对的挑战和困难，祂邀请我们跟随祂，而为了能够沿途帮助我们，祂赐给我们路上的光，就是祂的话语，正如诗人所说：「你的话是我脚前的灯，是我路上的光」（讨篇 119:105）。

我们只需定睛仰望主，聆听祂的说话，并且跟随祂。

祷告

主啊，求祢帮助我们定睛仰望祢，求祢教导我们如何聆听祢的呼召来跟随祢，求祢赐我们智慧和恩典。奉耶稣的名求，阿们。

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