This morning, we

gather together on the brink of the new year. 

With the turning of each year comes a sense of hope and renewal.  This past year contained so many huge life

changes for so many people.  The upcoming

year will be one of adjusting to these changes for sure.  Often people make new year resolutions

committing improve some area of their lives.

This morning, we’re

going to look at something that affects every single area of our lives.  It contains the power to radically transform

everything about who we are as well as the world around us without anything changing

at all.  It has enough influence over our

lives to tell us how to respond to situations and to guide the path of our

lives. 

Companies spend

billions of dollars annually to more effectively gain control over this part of

our lives.  News sources across the

entire spectrum choose to report certain facts, but they then go on to spend

far more airtime guiding and directing this part of our lives used to interpret

those facts.

What is this thing

about us that is so valuable and impressionable?  It’s our perception.

Perception defined

is the ability to become aware of something and understand it through the

senses.  Perception is what magicians and

illusionists take advantage of to amaze and wow us wondering how they do what

they do.  Perception is the reality

behind that old adage that things are not always what they appear.  Perception is what the serpent used in the

garden when he asked Eve, “Did God really say…?”  Perception is still how our enemy can so

easily deceive us today.

Perception is what

we use to interpret everything about our lives and how we choose to respond to

those things.  If my perception is set,

then my thoughts, attitudes, and actions will all follow the lead of my perception.  Perception was created within us by God so

that we would use good judgment and to make wise decisions.

Perception is what

causes us to have the exact same circumstances and either choose to be joyful

and content as we count our many blessings or disgruntled and bitter as we

focus on the things that we do not have.

Perception exists in

our lives to be used by the Holy Spirit to guide and direct us into the

fullness of life.  Yes, it can be

perverted by our own flesh, the enemy, and the influence of others, but it was

created to be a good thing. 

As we enter the new

year, one commitment that we all need to make is the commitment to be totally

under the influence of God.  We need to

be committed to perceive what God is up to in whatever circumstances we find ourselves

in the upcoming year.  God makes us these

awesome promises!

Isaiah 43:1-5a;16-19

1 But now, this is

what the Lord says—

    he who created you, Jacob,

    he who formed you, Israel:

“Do not fear, for I

have redeemed you;

    I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

2 When you pass

through the waters,

    I will be with you;

and when you pass

through the rivers,

    they will not sweep over you.

When you walk

through the fire,

    you will not be burned;

    the flames will not set you ablaze.

3 For I am the Lord

your God,

    the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;

I give Egypt for

your ransom,

    Cush and Seba in your stead.

4 Since you are

precious and honored in my sight,

    and because I love you,

I will give people

in exchange for you,

    nations in exchange for your life.

5 Do not be afraid,

for I am with you;

Now if our upcoming

year were to contain all of these things, perception would be everything.  Perception would either say that we had the

worst year ever as our homes were flooded, then destroyed by fire.  We’d be afraid of what could possibly happen

next.  Perception would either say that

or choose to praise God for the best year yet as He delivered us from both the

flood and fire and kept us safe because of His great love.  What do I have to fear?

Perception either

sees disaster or deliveranc