This study was taught at our Sunday morning service by Sim Forder, one of our pastors, on the 3rd January 2021. You can listen to the audio on this web page or save it for later listening.

In this study we looked back at what we can be thankful for from 2020, and importantly what we might have learnt from it.

The great thing, if one can, is to stop regarding all the unpleasant things as interruptions of one’s ‘own,’ or ‘real’ life. The truth is of course that what one calls the interruptions are precisely one’s real life — the life God is sending one day by day.

CS Lewis

As we look ahead to 2021, will our relationship with God be a priority this year? As we meet together in person again, will we make the most of it? And as our calendars fill up again, what will we do?

Will we choose the right things, in the right quantity? Or will entertainment and socialising take priority over our spiritual health, our church family and serving God? Will we spend any of our new-found time in the first months of this year in God’s Word and prayer? Or will we spend it all on social media, Netflix or watching Escape to the country?

We will all need to make choices. And not making a choice to spend more time with the Lord this year is still making a choice – the default is no!

Does this sound like hard work? Well, our lives are already hard work! Yet, listen to what Jesus said:

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.

Matthew 11:28-30