“But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for He that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.”  Hebrews 11:6

As I reflect back on 2015, I can say it was an incredible year in the spirit. On the other hand – in the natural – it was a challenging year. I will not even attempt to enumerate all the struggles of 2015, but I can say with certainty; “thanks be to God who always causes us to triumph in Christ…” 2 Corinthians 2:14.

In 2 Timothy 4:7, Paul stated, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” For some of us, this describes 2015. In spite of our circumstances, we held on to our faith, and we trusted and obeyed God. We fought the good fight of faith (1 Timothy 6:12); we finished our assignment – the thing(s) God directed us to do; we kept the faith. This was the scripture the Holy Spirit spoke to me when I was looking back on 2015. He said, “This was your 2015.” I was a little taken aback because my understanding, and probably yours too, of this scripture was that Paul was saying he was finished here on earth and was ready to die for the gospel’s sake. However, the Teacher explained to me that every reward is not on the heavenly side. Though Paul’s reward for fighting a good fight, finishing his course and keeping the faith was his “crown of righteousness” (2 Timothy 4:8); my reward, or your reward, could be answers to prayer petitions, or it could be “eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9.

If 2015 was a tough year for you, but you stayed the course and you remained faithful; you can expect God to reward you for your faithfulness to Him. Hebrews 11:6 lets us know that “He is a rewarder!”

If your faith wavered last year, let 2016 be the year that you set your mind and your heart to be faithful to God, who always remains faithful to us, and who rewards us for our faithfulness.

Happy New Year! I pray that 2016 opens a floodgate of peace, love and blessings in your lives.