LIVING IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD JANUARY 1, 2026

 

LIVING IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD         JANUARY 1, 2026

 

Old year farewells and Happy New Year Blessings to all God’s precious Saints around the world,

 

Remember the anxiety of the world 26 years ago as we were heading into Y2K, the year 2000?

Nothing major happened and so we wiped the sweat off our brows and now here we are heading into another New Year. It is only new to us as God has known everything that will happen this year from before the foundation of the world. What a mighty, powerful, all knowing and loving God we have.

So should we be anxious about 2026?

 

Yes and no. Yes, if we are not on the same page as God. No, if we are willing, this year, to more fully commit ourselves, individually and collectively to doing all we can to help God’s kingdom to come on earth as it is in Heaven. There is no time to look back and grieve over lost opportunities to respond to God’s call. God is not so concerned about what happened in 2025 or all the past years. He is much more interested in what we will do to bring forth His Kingdom in 2026.

 

"Standing at the portal of the opening year" is the first line of a well-known Christian hymn, often sung at New Year's, written by Frances Ridley Havergal, offering words of comfort and encouragement about God's presence and promises for the new year, emphasizing faith, strength, and divine support. The hymn speaks of going "Onward, then, and fear not" into the unknown future, trusting in God's everlasting covenant. 

    • Comfort in Fear: "Words of comfort meet us, Hushing every fear".

    • God's Promise: "'I, the Lord, am with thee, Be thou not afraid; I will help and strengthen'".

    • Faithful Guidance: "Yea, I will uphold thee with My own right hand".

    • Refrain: "Onward, then, and fear not, Children of the day; For His word shall never, Never pass away". 

    • Written by Frances Ridley Havergal (1836-1889), it's a popular hymn for New Year's services, expressing hope and reliance on God for the challenges and opportunities ahead. The lyrics draw from biblical themes, particularly promises of God's presence and strength, as seen in passages like Isaiah 41. Use it as your guide all year.

    • A new daily devotional guide is available on the Conference of Restoration Elders (CRE)  website at eldersconference.org. It is entitled, “Zion Beckons Us On In 2026.”It is for January 1-June 30, 2026.It may be posted on other websites as well and is not sponsored by any group. You can also contact me on a separate email if you need a copy. We encourage everyone to use it each day to help us stay "in the Kingdom" and "living in the Kingdom of God."

      

      Heed the call of ZION in 2026.Take it personally. JESUS DOES.

      Paul Gage

 

 

Standing At the Portal

Standing at the portal             Of the opening year, 

Words of comfort meet us,     Hushing every fear;

Spoken thru the silence          By our Savior’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.

 

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

 

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

 

He will never fail us,                 He will not forsake;

His eternal covenant                 He will never break.

Resting on the promise,           What have we to fear?

God is all sufficient                  For the coming year.

 

Refrain