From: paul gage
FASTING, PRAYING, STUDYING AND LIVING IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD
DECEMBER 30, 2021
Hello Dear Saints,
Here we are approaching the New Year 2022. A Happy and blessed New Year to each Saint as well as all people on the Earth. The word "portal" has been heard a great deal for a few years as it applies to college athletics. A portal is simply a doorway, gate, or some other type of entrance from one area to another. Each door in a building is just a way to go from one room to another. You don't even need a door as just the opening is the portal or way of entering. In athletics, a portal is a procedure whereby an athlete can transfer from one school to another without penalties or obligations. If an athlete is not getting to play much at one school they can enter the portal and go to another school without any real hassle.
At this time each year, we talk about entering into the portal which takes us into the next year. This can be a nervous, fearful, or anxious experience. One person might be fearful of what the new year might bring. The next person might be eager when thinking about new or different opportunities. Everyone will go through that portal on December 31 when the clock where they live moves from 12 midnight to one second after 12 midnight. s the earth rotates, it takes every one of us into the new year whether we want to go or not. So we can approach each new year in many ways, but the best way is to go through the portal with God.
Many people take a lot of time making a list of New Year Resolutions. That is things they want to change, drop, gain, and so forth. this is all well and good IF we have the determination to cause our resolutions to become realities. For some time now, we have been talking about the spiritual disciplines, especially of fasting, praying and studying. If we were to ask any number of people what their "plans" are for fasting, praying and studying in the New Year we would likely get as many answers as the number of people we asked, which is ok. My methods may not be the same as someone else, but if each one makes sure their plan works then it is successful.
There is a hymn in some of our hymnals entitled "Standing At The Portal." Here are the verses
1. Standing at the portal Of the opening year,
Words of comfort meet us, Hushing every fear;
Spoken through the silence By our Father's voice,
Tender, strong and faithful, making us rejoice.
[Refrain:]
Onward, then, and fear not, Children of the day;
For His word shall never, Never pass away.
2. "I, the Lord, am with thee, Be thou not afraid;
I will help and strengthen, Be thou not dismayed.
Yea, I will uphold thee With My own right hand;
Thou art called and chosen `In My sight to stand." [Refrain:]
3. For the year before us, O what rich supplies!
For the poor and needy Living streams shall rise;
For the sad and sinful Shall His grace abound;
For the faint and feeble Perfect strength be found. [Refrain:]
4. He will never fail us, He will not forsake;
His eternal covenant He will never break.
Resting on His promise. What have we to fear?
God is all-sufficient For the coming year. [Refrain:]
There is another portal that we are all aware of and that is the portal going from life in the flesh to death and life in the spirit. Alma in chapter 19:28-47, in his fatherly counsel to his wayward son, Corianton explains this portal of life to death to life as well as is found in the Scriptures. This is a much more important portal than just going from one room to the next or one year to the next and we have all had the experience of losing someone we know though that portal. After all, it is God's portal. He designed it and He controls it. It is not to be feared though we grieve greatly when someone we know is called home. Read verse four of the hymn again and always remember the last two lines, "Resting on His promise, What have we to fear? God is all-sufficient for 2022 and every day of every year.
God bless and keep you
Paul Gage
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