THIS YEAR, MY HEART TRUSTS
A DECLARATION OF FAITH FOR THE NEW SEASON
Psalm 28:7
INTRODUCTION
Church, I want to take you back to the wilderness of Beersheba. Picture a desperate mother and her dying son. Hagar sits beneath a shrub, weeping because she does not want to watch Ishmael die. She has run out of water. She has run out of hope. She has run out of options. The boy cries out in thirst, and death circles them like a vulture waiting for its prey.
But then God shows up.
Genesis 21:17-19 tells us God heard the voice of the boy. The Angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said, "What troubles you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is." Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. The same wilderness that threatened their lives became the place of divine provision. The same desert that looked like a graveyard became a place of promise. Before the encounter, Hagar saw only death. After the encounter, she saw provision, purpose, and promise.
This is where many of you are standing right now. You have walked through a season that has left you depleted, discouraged, and doubting. You have cried out until your voice grew hoarse. You have looked at your situation and seen only impossibility. But I declare to you today that God is about to open your eyes to see what has been there all along. He is about to transform your wilderness into a place of wonder. He is about to turn your mourning into dancing.
Psalm 28:7 gives us the anchor for this new season: "The Lord is my strength and my shield. My heart trusts in Him, and He helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise Him." David wrote these words from a place of triumph, not theory. He knew what trusting God looked like when enemies surrounded him. He knew what faith felt like when circumstances screamed defeat. He knew that when your heart trusts in the Lord, transformation follows.
Today, we declare together: This year, my heart trusts. Not because everything makes sense. Not because the path is clear. Not because the battle is over. But because the God who opened Hagar's eyes to see the well is the same God who watches over you today.
A. I WILL EMBRACE THE NEW (HOPE AND RENEWAL)
Isaiah 43:19 asks us a piercing question: "Behold, I am doing a new thing. Now it springs forth. Do you not perceive it?" God is not asking if the new thing is happening. The new thing is already springing forth. He is asking if you have the spiritual eyes to perceive it.
Many believers miss their miracles because they keep looking for God to repeat old patterns. You want God to bless you the way He blessed you five years ago. You want God to move the way He moved in your parents' generation. But God says, "I am doing a NEW thing." Stop looking in the rearview mirror when God is doing something fresh right in front of you.
Consider the story of Naaman in 2 Kings 5. The Syrian commander had leprosy and wanted healing. He came to Elisha expecting a spectacular show. He expected the prophet to come out, wave his hand, call on the name of the Lord, and make the leprosy disappear. Instead, Elisha sent a messenger telling him to go dip seven times in the Jordan River. Naaman almost missed his miracle because God's method did not match his expectations. When he finally humbled himself and embraced the new, unusual way God was working, his flesh became like that of a young boy.
Here is what embracing the new requires:
• Release your grip on the past. Philippians 3:13-14 commands us: "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Paul does not say ignore the lessons of the past. He says Forget the failures, the disappointments, and the limitations of yesterday. Your past does not define your future when God is doing a new thing.
• Train your eyes to recognize fresh movements of God. Isaiah 42:9 declares, "See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare. Before they spring into being I announce them to you." God tells you about the new before it fully manifests. He gives you prophetic glimpses. He drops hints in your spirit. He stirs your heart with holy restlessness. When you feel that divine discontent with where you are, when you sense God is shifting something inside you, embrace it. Do not resist the new wine because you are comfortable with old wineskins.
• Step into unfamiliar territory with faith. Joshua 3:4 tells the Israelites they have never gone this way before. When God leads you into new territory, you will not have a roadmap from past experience. You will not have someone else's testimony to lean on. You need fresh faith for fresh territory. The Israelites had to follow the ark of the covenant into the flooding Jordan River before the waters parted. They had to get their feet wet before they saw the miracle.
I prophesy to you right now: You are standing at the edge of your Jordan River. God is calling you to step into water that looks too deep, too dangerous, too unpredictable. But the moment your foot touches that water, God will make a way. He will do the new thing He promised. Embrace it.
B. I WILL SEEK HIM FIRST (PRIORITIES)
Matthew 6:33 gives us the master key to Kingdom living: "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."
Notice the order.
• First, the Kingdom. Then the provision.
• First, the relationship. Then the resources.
• First, the vertical. Then the horizontal.
The problem with many believers is that they seek God's hand before they seek His face. They want the blessing without the relationship. They want the breakthrough without the intimacy. They want God to show up in their crisis, but they do not want Him to interfere with their calendar.
David understood the secret. Psalm 63:1 reveals his heart: "O God, You are my God. Earnestly I seek You. My soul thirsts for You. My flesh faints for You, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water."
David wrote this while hiding in the wilderness of Judah, running from his own son Absalom. He had lost his throne. He had lost his palace. He had lost his comfort. But notice what he sought in the wilderness. Not restoration to the throne. Not revenge against his enemies. Not even safety for his life. He sought God Himself.
When you seek Him first, everything else finds its proper place:
• Your anxiety gets displaced by His peace. When you seek Him first thing in the morning, you do not start your day carrying yesterday's burdens. You start your day carrying His presence. Philippians 4:6-7 promises that when you pray about everything, the peace of God that transcends understanding will guard your heart and mind.
• Your priorities get rearranged by His wisdom. Proverbs 3:5-6 instructs us to trust in the Lord with all our heart and lean not on our own understanding. In all our ways acknowledge Him, and He will make our paths straight. When you bring your plans before Him first, He corrects what needs correction and confirms what needs confirmation.
• Your faith gets rewarded with His favor. Hebrews 11:6 makes this clear: "Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him."
God rewards seekers. Not perfect people. Not people who have everything figured out. But people who pursue Him with all their heart.
Let me give you a practical picture. In Luke 10, Jesus visits the home of Mary and Martha. Martha gets distracted with preparations and serving. She gets frustrated that Mary sits at Jesus' feet listening to His teaching. Martha complains to Jesus. But Jesus responds, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed, or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."
Both sisters loved Jesus. Both sisters wanted to honor Him. But only one sister understood priorities. Mary chose to sit at His feet first. Martha chose to work for Him first. Jesus commended the one who chose relationship over activity.
This year, make the daily choice to seek Him first.
• Before you check your phone, check in with Him.
• Before you scroll through social media, search the Scriptures.
• Before you plan your day, pray over your day.
Watch what happens when you put Him first. Everything you are chasing will start chasing you.
C. I WILL ABIDE IN HIS PRESENCE (INTIMACY)
John 15:5 contains one of the most important statements Jesus ever made: "I am the vine. You are the branches. If you abide in Me, and I in you, you will bear much fruit. Apart from Me you do not do anything."
The keyword is abide. Not visit. Not drop by occasionally. Not show up when you need something. Abide means to live, to dwell, to make your home.
Too many believers have a hotel relationship with God instead of a home relationship. They check in when they need a place to sleep, they check out when something better comes along. But God is calling you to a permanent dwelling place.
Psalm 91:1 speaks of dwelling in the secret place of the Most High and abiding under the shadow of the Almighty. This is not about Sunday morning attendance. This is about Monday through Saturday abiding.
Brother Lawrence was a 17th-century monk who wrote "The Practice of the Presence of God." He worked in the monastery kitchen, washing dishes and cooking meals. He said that he felt as close to God washing pots and pans as he did when taking communion. How? He practised abiding. He learned to maintain constant awareness of God's presence, whether he prayed formal prayers or scrubbed dirty dishes.
When you abide in His presence, three things happen:
• You bear fruit naturally. Galatians 5:22-23 lists the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Notice these are fruit, not work. Fruit grows naturally when the branch stays connected to the vine. You do not strain to produce love. You abide in the God who is love, and love flows through you. You do not manufacture peace. You stay connected to the Prince of Peace, and peace becomes your atmosphere.
• You experience fullness of joy. Psalm 16:11 declares, "You make known to me the path of life. In Your presence is fullness of joy. At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore."
Joy is not found in circumstances changing. Joy is found in His presence. When you learn to abide, you carry joy into situations that would normally steal it. You walk into the valley of the shadow of death with a table prepared for you in the presence of your enemies.
• You receive divine guidance. Exodus 33:14-15 records the conversation between Moses and God. God promises, "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." Moses responds, "If Your presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here."
Moses understood something profound. Better to stay where you are with God's presence than to advance without it. The Israelites had the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night because they needed constant awareness of God's presence to navigate the wilderness.
I want to tell you about a shepherd in Psalm 23. David writes from personal experience as a shepherd. He knows that sheep need constant attention. They need the shepherd to lead them to green pastures and still waters. They need the shepherd to guide them through dark valleys. They need the shepherd to protect them from predators. But most importantly, they need the shepherd's presence. Psalm 23:4 says, "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me."
Notice David does not say, "I will fear no evil, for You will deliver me from the valley." He says, "I will fear no evil, for You are WITH me." The comfort is not the absence of the valley. The comfort is the presence of the Shepherd in the valley.
This year, learn to abide. Build your life around His presence. Do not just pray when you need something. Pray because you need Him. Do not just read the Word to check off a spiritual box. Read the Word to hear His voice. Do not just go to church out of habit. Go to church hungry for His presence. When you abide in Him, everything changes.
D. I WILL WALK IN LOVE (COMMUNITY)
Colossians 3:12-14 paints a beautiful picture of Christian community: "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."
Notice Paul tells us to PUT ON love. Love is an active choice, not a passive feeling. You wake up every morning and decide to put on love the same way you put on clothes. You do not wait until you feel loving. You do not wait until people deserve your love. You put on love because God commanded it.
Jesus made this the identifying mark of His disciples in John 13:35: "By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another." Not by your theology. Not by your spiritual gifts. Not by the size of your church building. By your love.
Walking in love requires three commitments:
• Love the people God has placed in your life. You do not get to pick your family. You do not get to choose everyone in your church. God strategically places people in your life who will challenge you, sharpen you, and grow you.
Proverbs 27:17 says, "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another."
The sharpening process creates friction. The friction produces heat. But the end result is a sharper, more effective tool for God's purposes.
• Forgive quickly and completely.
Ephesians 4:32 commands, "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."
Notice the standard. Not "forgive when they apologize." Not "forgive when you feel like it." Forgive just as God forgave you. How did God forgive you? Completely. Immediately. Unconditionally. While you were still a sinner, Christ died for you (Romans 5:8).
• Serve without seeking recognition.
In Mark 10:45, Jesus declares, "The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many."
If Jesus, the King of Kings, came to serve, how much more should we serve one another? 1 Peter 4:10 instructs us: "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms."
Let me share a story that illustrates this principle. In the early church described in Acts 2:44-47, believers had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. They broke bread together in their homes and ate with glad and sincere hearts. They praised God and enjoyed the favor of all the people. The Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
What made this community attractive to outsiders? Their love. They did not just preach about love. They practised it. When someone lost their job, the community provided. When someone got sick, the community cared. When someone faced persecution, the community stood together. The world watched and said, "Look how they love one another."
You are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus. When you walk in love, you become an epistle read by all men (2 Corinthians 3:2-3). Your life preaches louder than your words. Your love demonstrates the reality of your faith.
E. I WILL CHOOSE COURAGE (BOLD FAITH)
Joshua 1:9 records God's command to Joshua as he prepared to lead Israel into the Promised Land: "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Notice God does not say, "Be strong and courageous if you feel like it." He commands it. Courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is obedience in the presence of fear.
Joshua had every reason to be afraid. Moses, the great leader, had died. Joshua now had to fill shoes that seemed too big. He faced fortified cities and giant warriors. He led a generation that had never seen the miracles their parents witnessed in Egypt. But God did not focus on the obstacles. God focused on His presence. "The Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."
Throughout Scripture, we see God's pattern. Whenever He calls someone to a new assignment, He addresses their fear:
• When God called Moses at the burning bush, Moses gave excuse after excuse. "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh?" God responded, "I will be with you" (Exodus 3:11-12).
• When God called Jeremiah to be a prophet, Jeremiah said, "I do not know how to speak. I am too young." God responded, "Do not say, 'I am too young.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you" (Jeremiah 1:6-8).
• When the angel appeared to Mary to announce she would give birth to Jesus, Mary was troubled. The angel said, "Do not be afraid, Mary. You have found favor with God" (Luke 1:30).
Do you see the pattern? God does not remove the scary assignment. He removes the fear by assuring His presence.
Here is how you walk in courage this year:
• Speak truth when fear tells you to stay silent.
Proverbs 29:25 warns, "Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe."
When God calls you to speak up for righteousness, obey Him regardless of who opposes you. Daniel refused to stop praying even when it meant the lion's den. The three Hebrew boys refused to bow, even when it meant the fiery furnace. They chose courage over comfort.
• Step out when fear tells you to stay put.
In Matthew 14:28-29, Peter saw Jesus walking on water and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water."
Jesus said, "Come." Peter got out of the boat and walked on water. He started sinking when he focused on the wind instead of Jesus, but at least he got out of the boat. The other eleven disciples never experienced the miracle because they never took the risk.
• Trust God when circumstances look impossible. Psalm 56:3 gives us the key: "When I am afraid, I put my trust in You." David does not say, "I am never afraid." He says, "When I am afraid, I trust." Fear knocks on the door. Faith answers. Every time.
In Mark 5:35-36, Jairus received devastating news. His daughter had died. People told him, "Your daughter is dead. Why bother the teacher anymore?" But Jesus overheard them and said to Jairus, "Do not be afraid. Just believe." Jairus had to make a choice. Would he believe the report of death, or would he believe the word of Jesus? He chose to believe Jesus. He walked through the crowd of mourners. He ignored the ridicule. He held onto faith when everything screamed hopelessness. And Jesus raised his daughter from the dead.
Somebody needs to hear this right now. The report looks bad. The diagnosis looks terminal. The relationship looks dead. The dream looks buried. But Jesus is saying to you, "Do not be afraid. Just believe." Choose courage. Choose faith. Choose to trust God's word over your circumstances.
CONCLUSION
Church, we have journeyed through five declarations today. Five commitments that will transform your year if you make them from your heart:
I will embrace the new. God is doing something fresh in your life. Stop looking back at what was and start looking forward to what is coming. He is opening doors you did not know existed. He is making ways where there were no ways. Like Hagar in the wilderness, God is opening your eyes to see the provision that has been there all along.
I will seek Him first. Everything in your life finds its proper place when you prioritize His presence. The Kingdom comes first. The relationship comes before the resources. When you put Him first, He adds everything else you need. Your morning sets the tone for your entire day. Seek Him before you seek anything else.
I will abide in His presence. Stop visiting God and start dwelling with Him. You are a branch connected to the vine. When you abide, you bear fruit naturally. Joy flows. Peace reigns. Direction comes. Make your home in His presence and watch everything change.
I will walk in love. Love is the proof of your discipleship. Love is the power that changes communities. Love is the practice that makes you more like Jesus. Put on love every day. Forgive quickly. Serve freely. Build relationships that reflect the heart of God.
I will choose courage. Fear will knock on your door. Obstacles will rise before you. Doubts will whisper in your ear. But you have a command from God: Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged. God goes with you wherever you go.
Remember Hagar and Ishmael dying in the wilderness. They saw no hope. They saw no future. They saw no way out. But God opened their eyes. The well was there all along. They just needed divine revelation to see it. God is opening your eyes right now. The provision is already in place. The breakthrough is already prepared. The miracle is already in motion. You just need to see it with eyes of faith.
Psalm 28:7 declares, "The Lord is my strength and my shield. My heart trusts in Him, and He helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise Him." This year, your heart trusts. Not because everything makes sense. Not because you have all the answers. Not because the journey looks easy. Your heart trusts because God is faithful. Your heart trusts because His promises never fail. Your heart trusts because He has never let you down before, and He will not start now.
ALTAR CALL
Now I am going to ask you to do something. If you are ready to make this declaration, if you are ready to step into this year with bold faith, if you are ready to trust God with your whole heart, I want you to stand to your feet right where you are.
This is not just an emotional moment. This is a defining moment. You are making a choice today that will shape your entire year. You are drawing a line in the sand and declaring, "This year, my heart trusts."
Some of you have been sitting on the sidelines of faith for too long. You have been playing it safe. You have been holding back. You have been waiting for perfect conditions before you fully commit to God. But God is saying today, "Now is the time. This is your moment. Step out. Step up. Step forward."
Others of you have been wounded by past disappointments. You trusted God before and the answer did not come the way you expected. You prayed and the miracle seemed delayed. You believed and the breakthrough looked different than you imagined. But I want to remind you of Romans 8:28: "God works all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose." God did not fail you. His timing is perfect. His ways are higher. His plans are better.
Still others of you are facing impossible situations right now. Your marriage looks beyond repair. Your finances look hopeless. Your health looks terminal. Your prodigal child looks too far gone. But I declare to you in the name of Jesus: Nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:37). The same God who opened Hagar's eyes to see the well will open your eyes to see His provision. The same God who made a way through the Red Sea will make a way through your situation. The same God who raised Lazarus from the dead will breathe life into your dead situation.
If you are standing, I want you to say this with me out loud:
"This year, my heart trusts in the Lord. I will embrace the new thing God is doing. I will seek Him first in everything. I will abide in His presence daily. I will walk in love toward everyone. I will choose courage over fear. I believe God's promises over my circumstances. I trust His word more than my feelings. I declare that the Lord is my strength and my shield. My heart trusts in Him, and He helps me. In Jesus' name, amen."
Now lift your hands toward heaven. Receive fresh anointing for this season. Receive fresh strength for the journey ahead. Receive fresh vision to see what God is doing. The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead lives in you (Romans 8:11). You are not walking this year in your own strength. You are walking in resurrection power.
For those who have never surrendered your life to Jesus Christ, today is your day of salvation. The Bible says in Romans 10:9, "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." You do not have to clean up your life first. You do not have to get everything together. Come as you are. Jesus receives sinners. He died on the cross for your sins. He rose from the grave to give you new life. If you want to receive Him today, I am going to pray with you right now.
"Jesus, I confess I am a sinner. I believe You died on the cross for my sins. I believe You rose from the dead. I turn from my old life and surrender to You. Come into my heart. Save me. Change me. Make me new. I give You my life from this day forward. In Jesus' name, amen."
If you prayed that prayer, you are born again. You are a new creation. Old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new (2 Corinthians 5:17). Welcome to the family of God.
Church, this year is going to be different. This year, your heart trusts. This year, God opens your eyes to see what has been there all along. This year, you walk in the fullness of everything God has promised. Go in faith. Go in courage. Go in the power of the Holy Spirit. And may the Lord bless you and keep you. May His face shine upon you and give you peace. In the mighty name of Jesus, amen.
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Blessings,
Pastor JM Raja Lawrence
Andaman & Nicobar Islands
email: lawrencejmr@gmail.com
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