Psalm 121
At the beginning of 2023 I take the opportunity to pronounce God’s richest benedictions upon the people of God throughout the Northeast Region and beyond. Beyond the shadow of a doubt all kinds of dreadful things are going to transpire in this year 2023, like that which happens every year, but may you never forget or doubt for one moment that you are blessed and there is nothing the devil or anyone else can do about it. Please keep in mind, it is irrevocably set and determined that the Eternal One has already declared “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee . . “(Gen. 12:3). The prophet Balaam came to this insightful illumination when called upon to curse the already blessed people of God constraining him to declare “How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? Or how shall I defy, whom the Lord hath not defied?” (Num. 23:8). Therefore, it remains our unshakeable understanding from the Holy Writ, “That which God has blessed, no man can curse.” I declare there is a seal of blessing, an inerasable seal of blessing stamped on us that can never be erased, regardless to what may befall or beset us in 2023.
In his masterful paraphrase of the Bible, Eugene Peterson puts it this way – “I look to the mountains; does my strength come from the mountains? No, my strength comes from God, who made heaven and earth and mountains. He won’t let you stumble; your Guardian God won’t fall asleep. Not on your life! Israel’s Guardian will never doze or sleep. God’s your Guardian, right at your side to protect you – shielding you from sunstroke, sheltering you from moonstroke. God guards you from every evil, he guards your very life. He guards you when you leave and when you return, he guards you now, he guards you always” (Psalm 121, The Message). Church, what a blessed consolation! He is our Guardian God. He won’t fall asleep. Not on your life! He protects, shields, shelters, and guards – Now and always! This we take with us into 2023.
I just wanted to remind you at the beginning of this another mysterious year that you are so blessed, that He will never leave or forsake you, that in spite of all you are destined to go through – He has you covered! Never forget the promise “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, For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior . . .” (Isa. 43:2,3). With great force the prophet also reassures the people of God by stating “No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me, declares the Lord” (Isa. 54:17 Niv).
It is not that we won’t have injury, illness, accident, distress, pain, trials, tribulations, misfortunes and stress in 2023. These things will come but what we do know is that they will not have evil power over us. They will not be able to destroy us or separate us from God’s purposes in us (Rom. 8:38,39). The undeniable fact remains that we are already blessed – appointed to go through and overcome – Now and always!
Leroy V. Greenaway
Presiding Bishop – Northeast Region
