Expect,
discern, receive
by Jim Uttley
Happy New Year 2007! It’s
been said that when one greets friends for the first time
in the New Year one should always say “Happy New
Year.” It doesn’ t matter if it’s January
1 or 31. So, to our readers, “Happy New Year!”
It is our hope and prayer that this year, we will break
the mold of the past and develop a new expectation for
what God can and will do in us and in our world.
A recent article spoke of entering into the New Year with
a sense of expectancy, discernment, and receptiveness.
It said that we could look to the future with expectancy,
keeping a discerning eye on what is good and right, and
being open to receive and accept what Creator God has
for us this year.
Be expectant
Sometimes when we look at a situation that’s bleak
and appears hopeless, it’ s almost
impossible to have a spirit of expectancy that any good
will come out of such circumstances. When we look at the
condition of many of our Aboriginal people across North
America, it’s easy for any sense of expectancy to
quickly evaporate.
However, there is cause to be expectant that things will
begin to turn around in this land that often appears God
forsaken. But we must break off the fatalistic belief
that things will never get better and that the land is
destined to be as it always has been. We need a spirit
of expectancy!
Do you believe that God is moving? Do you believe that
He is active, alive, and at work in our world today? Sometimes
we get so busy it’s possible that we might miss
God and what He is doing.
The psalmist writes in Psalm 105,
Did you know that God often wants us to partner with Him
in accomplishing miracles in our world? Sometimes He will
let us know in advance that something dramatic is going
to happen so we will prepare ourselves. And sometimes
He works without any advance notice. We need to be expectant.
Be Discerning
While it’s good to be expectant of good things to
come, we must be discerning of right from wrong. The enemies
of God don’t want to see His purposes accomplished
in our lives and on this earth.
The Scriptures say that we are to be wise as serpents
and harmless as doves.
We ought to be able to tell the difference. Serpents may
be wise, but they are also dangerous. Their wisdom is
not harmless. It can often be lethal.
We need to be vigilant against those who seek to destroy
instead of build the Kingdom of God.
Be accepting of others
From time to time, we get letters from readers who disagree
with something we published. On occasion, it’s something
that goes against their view or interpretation of what
should be reported in INDIAN LIFE.
We make every attempt to be balanced in our coverage of
what God is doing throughout Native North America.
When we read or hear a report of how God is working in
a particular place or with a certain group of people,
we need to be open to what the Spirit of God is doing.
Seeing what is good, we need to be receptive of what’s
good. It’s so easy to close our eyes and ears to
what’s happening because it doesn’t fit into
our own particular view. We need to be open to the thoughts
and ideas of others.
Yes, it’s true that we need to be very careful to
discern what’s of God and what isn’t. We also
need to be discerning of when and where God is moving.
We believe that God is active in our world today, and
not always in ways that we feel comfortable with. Even
though we don’t understand what’s happening,
we need to be willing to accept that the purposes of the
Eternal One are being worked out.
As our wish to you for 2007, we leave you with these words:
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true,
whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything
is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things”
(Philippians 4:8).
If we all purpose to do this in 2007, be assured that
we will be far different than we were in 2006. For by
following these biblical principles, we will be changed.
And when we are changed, our people will be changed. As
our people are changed, so will our nation be changed
as well.
So again, Happy New Year and God’s best for 2007!
