The year 2024 was the “Year of the Dragon” … as you can see here on the opening page of my 2024 watercolor calendar:
The year 2024 roared in like a dragon, with a dragon-like fever taking vicious hold of someone whom I care about very much! The dragon-like fever raged week after week after week, and it felt as if the Great Dragon (Satan) was trying to snatch away from me someone whom I loved very dearly!
After many doctors’ appointments and lab work, it was finally determined that the dragon-like fever was due to a very rare auto-immune disease … a disease which ironically had adopted a red dragon as its logo!
2024 – the Year of the Dragon!
Yes, indeed it was!
And so now we stand at the doorway to a new year. And as I open up my new 2025 watercolor calendar, I’m taken aback to see on the opening page that this new year of 2025 is the Year of the Snake! (yet another name for Satan!)
No matter what … God is in control of this new year!
Whether the Year of the Dragon or the Year of the Snake … no matter how Satan tries to claim each year as his own, God ultimately is in charge of everything that happens!
“Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on his heads. His tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth.
“And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven.
“The great dragon was hurled down – that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
“Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: ‘Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb [Jesus] … Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them!’
“‘But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.'”
– Revelation 12:3-12
So here we stand at the entrance to the Year of the Snake – 2025. But … there is no need to fear. Because, if we are a follower of Jesus Christ …
“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you [God Himself!] is greater than the one who is in the world [the snake – Satan].” – 1 John 4:4
“And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. … If God is for us, who can be against us. … We are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” – Romans 8:28, 31, 37
God takes what the enemy means for evil … and he turns it for good! (Genesis 50:20)
This quote on our background photo for today has been on my mind a lot as we enter this new year of 2025. (this quote is from one of my favorite childhood movies: Anne of Green Gables) –
“Tomorrow is always fresh with no mistakes in it.”
This new year of 2025 is a brand-new fresh start to serve God with everything we have!
Whether the Year of the Dragon or the Year of the Snake, we have no need to fear. Because God himself will be with us! God will cover us! God will protect us! God will take care of us!
“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” – Isaiah 41:10
Thank you God that we can walk boldly with confidence into this new year of 2025, knowing that you are with us every step along the way! … and that you are in total, complete control of everything!
Thank you God for the comfort of knowing that you will strengthen us through this new year!
Thank you God for the comfort of knowing that you will help us through this new year!
Thank you God for the comfort of knowing that you will uphold us, no matter what!
