Over the past three Saturdays, we’ve been looking at Christmas message from the prophets God sent to Israel. As of today, Christmas and even Boxing Day 2025 is behind us. We may, however, be so busy trying to save a bit of money with the Boxing Day sales that it may totally slip our minds that the New Year is just around the corner.
What will 2026 bring?
I don’t think anyone but God can answer that question. The better question is this: What message does God want to give us at the beginning of the upcoming New Year?
Once again, we look to the Old Testament prophets for the answers in this two-part series to tide us through to 2026…
Our lesson today comes from 2 Kings 6. The king of Aram is: “…enraged over this matter because every war plan he puts together is somehow made known to the King of Israel.” (Vs. 11a NASB) This, of course, is because God reveals it to Elisha, and Elisha in turn informs the king. Needless to say, the king of Aram wants this stopped: “‘Go and see where [Elisha] is, so that I may send men and take him.’ And it was told to him, saying, ‘Behold, he is in Dothan. So he sent horses and chariots and a substantial army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city.'” (Vs. 13-14 NASB).
Imagine waking up one morning to see that you are completely surrounded by the enemy! Would you be afraid? I would be. And so was Elisha’s servant: “This is hopeless, my master! What are we to do?” (Vs. 15b NASB)!
Elisha’s famous response follows: “And he said, ‘Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are greater than those who are with them.’” (Vs. 16 NASB)!
If ever there is a powerful lesson for a New Year, this is it! Whatever will arise in the New Year will likely look to us like we are surrounded by enemy forces! Maybe there is a cancer diagnosis. Maybe we’ve lost our job. Maybe our town was washed out — or burned out! — by flood or fire, leaving us with — nothing! The circumstances we will find ourselves in will be so vast, nothing else will be visible to us! This is the moment that we have to take a stand in faith and answer like Elisha of old: “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are greater than those who are with them.“!
We could end this devotional right here with the best tool possible for entering the New Year. However, the story itself does not end here! In fact, I’ve only quoted half of Elisha’s response to his servant! He goes on to say, “Lord, please, open his eyes so that he may see.” (Vs. 17a NASB).
I am certain that many of you out there are prayer warriors. You raise people and their situations before the throne of grace and ask God to intervene. You may even ask God to increase the faith of the one you’re praying for. How often, however, do we ask God to “open his eyes so that he may see”?
Let’s remember that God answered Elisha’s prayer! “And the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” (Vs. 17b NASB)
God understands how difficult it is for us to take stands of faith, and He will allow us to see the signs of His mercy and grace! He did it for Elisha’s companion, He’ll do it for you!
As we face our own situations as well as pray for the situations of others this New Year, let’s remember to not just pray for more faith, but to God to open our spiritual eyes, that we may see the way He sees!
Again, we could stop right here with a doubly-powerful New year’s message; but the story does not stop here either!
You see, just seeing the Lord’s army didn’t stop the army of Aram! They came to Elisha and surrounded him anyway!
At this stage, I might waver a bit in my faith! Sure, God revealed healing; but the cancer keeps spreading! Sure God promised provision, but the bills keep piling up! Sure, God promises to restore what the elements have stolen from us, but the fires and floods keep coming! Is it any wonder that so many of us slip in our faith.
Not Elisha; and herein lies perhaps the most powerful New Year’s message for us today. You see, it isn’t enough that Elisha saw God’s army. He was also expected to participate in the victory! The Bible records: “And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed to the Lord and said, ‘Please strike this people with blindness.’ So He struck them with blindness in accordance with the word of Elisha.” (Vs. 18 NASB)! Sometimes it isn’t enough for us to simply believe! Sometimes God expects us to participate in His miracles! Remember, faith without action is dead (See James 2:17)! We must put our faith into action! We must join in the battle! (And isn’t it interesting that God opened the eyes of the servant, while He closed the eyes of the enemy!)
And that is the message God wants each of you to take into the New Year: No matter what comes upon us, God is greater; and if we ask Him, He will reveal Himself to us! And sometimes, sometimes God wants us to join in the battle! He wants us to take our stand of faith and put it into action!
Let’s resolve to do just this in the upcoming New Year!
God bless each of you, and — I know it’s a few days early, but — HAPPY NEW YEAR! Oh, and please join us next Saturday for yet another New Year’s lesson from the Prophets: The Power of Praise: New Years Lessons from the Prophets, Part 2!
In His love,
Lyn
Lynona Gordon Chaffart
Author, Moderator, Acting Director, Answers2Prayer Ministries
