“You crown the year with Your goodness.” Psalm 65:11 NKJV.
In every situation and season of life, you should expect the goodness of God.
My thoughts and comments today are about “crowned with goodness.”
I love Christmas, yet I loved it even more when our grandchildren were young. I loved their gifts, inexpensive and wrapped as only a child does, but given with excitement and generosity. In my memory and heart, I can still hear their eager voices, “Poppa, Poppa, open my present.” Children best exemplify Jesus’ teaching, “Remember the words of our Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 20:35b NKJV. Hardly able to wait for your unwrapping, a child brings a gift you receive with joy, not because of the nature of the gift, but because of their delight in giving it. I think this New Year should be received from God like that.
I am expectant of the goodness awaiting me and our family – and you and your family – in the New Year because God is enthusiastic about all He intends to provide. God’s character and intent is confirmed by the Psalmist, “The Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.” Psalm 84:11 NKJV. Whatever seemed withheld previously was only out of His kindness, superior wisdom, and sovereign purpose for your greater good. What a great promise in which to give thanks to conclude this year and with which to begin a new one.
The annual change of calendar calls for appropriate reflection and preparation of heart. Too easily, the facts of His blessings and provision of the preceding year may be taken for granted and your faith for the approaching year diminished. James, the brother of Jesus, affirmed, “Whatever is good and perfect comes to us from God above, Who . . never changes. In His goodness He chose to make us His own children by giving us His true Word. And we out of all creation became His choice possession.” James 1:17-18 NLT. Tracing every good thing in your life this last year leads to one source alone, God’s goodness.
In the context of an agricultural nation, David sang of Jehovah, “You crown the year with Your goodness, and your paths drip with abundance.” Psalm 65:11 NKJV. David declared God’s favor in all the nation’s seasons: planting, growing, and harvesting. His song describes, “The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered with grain; they shout for joy, they also sing.” Read Vs. 9-13. Whatever season you are now in, God is sovereign and faithful, and you can see His goodness there.
In this industrial and technological society, your expectation should be the same as it was for David and Israel. The same timeless and eternal God will crown your year with His goodness. In every situation and season of life, you can and should expect and proclaim the goodness of God over your health, marriage, family, finances, occupation, relationships, and Godly pursuits. See Psalm 27:13 NKJV.
David responds with jubilant praise, “Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul. And forget not all His benefits . . Who crowns you with loving-kindness and tender mercies; Who satisfies your mouth with good things.” Psalm 103:1-5 Psalm 103:1-5NKJV. Four times in Psalm 107, David’s heart overflows, “Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men.” Psalm 107:8 NKJV. And I say, “Amen!”
My prayer for you today is that you expect and receive a new season of God’s goodness.