When I was a kid, I would sit in school and calculate how old I would be in the year 2000. Over and over, I would run the math--subtract 1965 from 2000. Thirty-five years old in the year 2000. As I kid, it seemed so distant, so far off. Yet, in two weeks, we will step into the next year, the next decade, the next century, the next millennium.

For some, it is a fearful time. Fear of the unknown. Fears about the end of the world. Y2K. Apocalypse. Economic meltdown. The book of Revelation coming to life.

For others, it's just another year.

What does the future hold? What's going happen next year, next decade, next century? Whatever happens, are you ready? Is it even possible to be ready? Do we need to prepare for the days ahead? Throughout the Bible, there are stories of those who prepared. But there are also stories of those who simply trusted in God's provision.

Joseph prepared (Genesis 41). He stored food for seven years based on a dream he had. Noah prepared (Genesis 6). He built an ark for the coming flood. These men, who were led by the Spirit of God, made preparations for the coming disasters.

Yet, there were also those who made no preparations. The children of Israel wandered around the desert with no food or water. But each day, God provided bread from heaven (Exodus 16). It was God's daily provision for his children. He provided quail when they wanted meat (Numbers 11). And when they were thirsty, he gave them water from a rock (Numbers 20:11).

And then there was Elijah. When he was alone and stranded in cave, God used ravens to bring him food (1 Kings 17:4-6). God provided for him miraculously.

So what about us? Do we grab our dog and shotgun, and head the hills? I don't think so. God is sovereign, and he is still on the throne. This time in history has not taken God by surprise. Angels are not scrambling around in heaven trying to get the computers updated. No. There is peace in heaven.

So where we do we start? How do we know what to do? The key is prayer. Take time to seek God and find out what he wants you to do. We prayed about our trip to Europe knowing that we'd be here for the change of the year. And, we felt God's peace about being here. We are excited about the opportunity to spend our winter holidays in Europe.

For Joseph, Noah and Elijah, these men were exactly where God wanted them. They did not do these things out of fear, but out of obedience to God's instructions. I encourage you to listen to your heart. Listen to God speaking through your heart. Don't listen to fear when making decisions about how to prepare for the future. When you listen to fear, then fear has become your master. Listen to God, and let him be your master. He will never lead you astray.

I close with the following passage from Matthew 6. Read it, and let Jesus speak peace into your life and your future:

"I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own (vs 25-34).

Blessings!

Russell

P.S. I've been sending these weekly messages non-stop for years now, and I've decided to take a two-week sabbatical. My family and I are headed to Switzerland to spend the holidays in a small, remote village buried deep in the Swiss Alps. We are excited and ready to have a nice, relaxing vacation. So, I won't be able to read or respond to your emails for a few weeks. I look forward to hearing from you after the first of the year. May you have a joyous, peaceful holiday season!

o-----------------------------------------------
|  Russell Pond     <><
|  Season of Peace
|  email:  ponder@season.org
|  web:    http://www.season.org

© Russell Pond 1999
Reprinted with permission