This season of Advent affirms God’s presence with his people, both now and in the upcoming future. Our hope in His appearing, through the person of Jesus Christ, encourages us to personify joy, hope, peace, and love towards others. The ministry of grace has established our Kingdom assignment. Jesus’s presence has empowered us to facilitate presence for others (Ephesians 1:1-10).

In the book of Joshua the history of the Children of Israel redeeming the promised land of Canaan is recorded. Within that saga is hidden an unexpected character from whom we can all be inspired to be resolute in redeeming the promises of the Lord.

In the marketplace, the term “redeem” is often associated with a coupon or voucher indicating that a retailer is giving the consumer an opportunity to receive a discount on a particular item or service.

Our Year End Resolution to be doers of the Word cannot be accomplished without the grace of God operating in our lives. To some degree God’s grace is already at work, for no one can accept Christ as Savior without it (Eph. 2:8).

Our resolution to be doers of the Word cannot be fulfilled without the grace of God. The Word, Faith, Wisdom and Grace are all a part of the blessing of walking with Christ. But we must learn to receive and apply them.

A life lived with wisdom is a blessed life. But those who would be blessed must be resolute (firm determination) in heart to listen and accomplish by God’s grace the works of wisdom.

Before we look ahead to the NEXT NEW THING, let’s determine with resolute hearts to look back, take a firm hold of the truths we have been given and put the Word to work.

Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah faced terrible things in Babylon, yet we are given very little indication that they lived in fear. Even though they were surrounded on all sides by people of different beliefs whom they couldn’t trust and were under constant threat and intimidation, they walked with faith, courage and hope in their God when facing Babylon.

Daniel served under four world leaders in Babylon and continued to remain faithful to the Lord. He survived the overthrow of Babylon by the Persians and Medes and was given a high-ranking position of leadership within the new government.

We have come to know that King Nebuchadnezzar was the most powerful ruler in the earth, and this position was granted to him by God. Although Nebuchadnezzar was aware of this and acknowledged it, he persisted in a prideful heart until he was humbled by the hand of God and lost his mind for seven years (Dan. 4:28-33). It’s always better to be humbled by the Word of the Lord rather than the hand of the Lord.