Crossing Over – no such thing
As the 1st of January 2022 draws near, we are once again confronted with people speaking of crossing over into the new year. As if 2021 is a place with a specific set of circumstances attached to it and 2022 is a different place where we will find different circumstances.
This is just not true. Consider this.
Your bank balance on December 31st will be the same on January 1st. Your marriage will not change from one day to the next just because 2021 changes into 2022. Your employment status will be the same. Your health will be the same. You will be the same.
You cannot leave things behind in 2021. It will just be there again the next day – even though the clock ticked past midnight and the calendar flipped to 2022. In short, there is no magic in a calendar changing from one year to the next. Nothing but the date changes. There is no power in crossing over.
We should put our hope in that which is real and not in mentalists, magicians, spiritualists or pastors who prey on our desperation to influence the events and circumstances in an unknown new year.
Having had my rant, I want to propose two things that can help make 2022 different and better for you. Two things YOU can do. Can you guess what they are?
Your choice
You get to choose! In the new year, you do not have to make the same mistakes you made last year. You do not have to respond in the same ineffective ways to old problems. You do not have to lose your temper again.
You can choose!
So, choose well!
I plan to post a lot of content this year on this blog that will help you make better choices. And I hope you will subscribe to it and my other social media channels, follow along and contribute to it. But be that as it may, this year, when you get to a familiar situation where you struggled in the past or face a brand-new challenge, choose well. The choice is yours! If you do not know what to do, ask for help. Ask for advice. Or read. Find the information you need.
2022 can be a better year because you respond to things better. Your choice! Choose well!
Whatever you ask
My maternal grandmother had a profound impact on my life and ministry. She stayed with us during my childhood and caused prayer to become a central part of my life through her example. We often prayed together from 23:00 on December 31st, past midnight into the new year until 02:00 or 03:00. She mentioned every one of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Everyone who lived in our street and everyone in our church. Basically, every person she knew personally, knew about or of whom she had heard or maybe just seen on TV.
I often struggled to stay awake, but there were so many special moments in that time of prayer that it became a lasting memory. And it shaped my prayer life.
The start of a new year has always been a time of prayer in my life, and I want you to join me this time around. Four prayers are burning in my heart, and I think that it may be a great opportunity for us to pray together.
Did you know that Moses wrote a couple of songs? And that one became Psalm 90 making it the oldest psalm? We think he wrote this one when he lost Miriam and Aaron and/or when he messed up by impatiently striking the rock for water in an act of disobedience. As a result, it is a bit of a lament, but the last four verses give words to prayers that will impact 2022 in a significant way.
Please note that these four verses record Moses’ prayers, not God’s promises. We are asking because Jesus repeatedly invited us to ask!
You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.
(Joh 15:16 NLT)
However, I think you will find that Moses’ words written so long ago, may echo your heart’s cry at the end of 2021. When I read them a couple of weeks ago the words just leapt off the page. It was one of those special moments and I cannot wait to pray these words with you.
Satisfy us each morning with your unfailing love, so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives.
Give us gladness in proportion to our former misery! Replace the evil years with good.
Let us, your servants, see you work again; let our children see your glory
And may the Lord our God show us his approval and make our efforts successful. Yes, make our efforts successful!
(Psa 90:14-17 NLT)
Invitation
Would you like to pray these four prayers with me? I would love it if you would join me online on Sunday, 2 January at 10:00 am (CAT).
Here is what you do. Click on this link. It will take you to the place on YouTube where the live event will happen on Sunday. Now click on “Reminder”. YouTube will now remind you just before the event and the event will be easy to find on the day.
(If you are reading this after 2 January 2022, you can follow the same link to the video. It is never, ever too late to pray!)
I am doing this in response to a prompting of the Holy Spirit. I hope you will join me in response to a similar prompt. However, let me be clear. I am making no vague and generalized promises on God’s behalf. My faith is in our loving heavenly Father who personifies benevolence. His Word says it is beneficial for us to gather in His name (even online). And Jesus repeatedly invites us to ask in His name.
We do what He gives us to do. And we let Him do His thing without our help or interference. It is an allocation of responsibilities that greatly favours you and me.
There is great excitement in my heart about this event. Please join us. And please add your thoughts in the comments as we gather in His name.
Here is the video of the live prayer event:
reonlouw.blog 
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