A WORD FOR TODAY 1 JANUARY 2021

A WORD FOR TODAY

GOD'S BLESSINGS ARE ASSURED IN THE NEW YEAR

_"The Lord bless you and keep you: The Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you: The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace."(Numbers 6:24-26)_

_Today is a beautiful day, because it is the first day of the brand new year 2021and God has made it possible for us to be alive to witness it. Today also the universal Church celebrates the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God (deriving from the Greek word- Theotokos and later translated into Latin as Dei Genitrix). This is a title given to her around the fourth century and used prominently in the Eastern Orthodox Church._

_*Our Mother Mary is the Mother of Jesus who is God the Son and as she took care of Jesus from conception to when He became mature, she is presented to us as the one who will also guide us in the journey of life for this new year.*_

God's blessings are assured and He does not fail to fulfil His promises to His children. The beautiful prayer of blessings we find in the first reading from the book of numbers is what the Lord is pouring out upon us in this new year: _*The Lord bless you and keep you. Amen. The Lord let His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. Amen. The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. Amen.*_

_We are adopted sons and daughters of God and He is constantly taking care of us and will not allow us to be destroyed by the forces of evil. He blessed our Mother Mary and chose her for the task of being the Mother of Jesus, if we fly to her protection, we shall find refuge and we shall receive blessings from the Lord who has favoured her to be a channel of blessings to those who have recourse to her._

_*The year 2021 is here and we do not know yet what it will bring, however, in God's name we bless ourselves and bless this year and we make a decree that it shall bring us good and not disaster, peace and not war, increase in faith and not lukewarmness, appointment and not failure and disappointment, prosperity and upliftment, patient endurance and steadfastness in moments of trial, temptations and difficulties.*_

_Our Mother Mary is a model for us, because she experienced joy and sorrow in doing God's will and she never gave up, but remained obedient to God until the end of her life. We will learn from her as we journey and navigate through the things that will come our way in this year. Make your resolutions and back them up with actions, seek her maternal care and intercessions and you will surely overcome whatever comes your way in this new year._

_*God is blessing you today and the blessings are assured. They are not fake, but real, just apply your faith to it and it will manifest in due time in your life. We must also strive to be a blessing to others as the year progresses. God has everything you need and with Him by your side you have nothing to worry. He has given us the Mother His Son to be our Mother also, stay close to her in this New Year and you will surely succeed. Learn from her prayer of meditation and praise as we have recorded in the gospel reading and in Luke 1:46-56 and you will surely overcome. Last year may have been challenging and gloomy, but be hopeful as we begin this new year, God has given it to us as a gift and in His name we shall succeed and overcome. He will give us victory and our testimony shall move the unbelievers to come to believe in Jesus Christ as the Saviour of the world.*_

_Good morning dearest one. Smile😊as you begin your day and do have beautiful, joyful and blessed New Year. May God lead you and may things fall into the right place for you always. Amen. *And may the Almighty God bless you: the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.*_

*Meditation:* Numbers 6:22-27/Psalm 67:2-8/Galatians 4:4-7/Luke 2:16-21

*Watch-Word:* O God, be gracious and bless us.

*Walk with God in this new year and your blessings will be assured. He alone can help you to succeed*

(Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. New Year 2021 Friday 1st January)