I pray that this new year will bring you many blessings. And as you are blessed, be sure to give thanks to the One who is responsible for every good gift, God, the Father of lights. Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation, or shifting shadow. (James 1:17)(NASB)
Here is a devotional from Genesis 1 by Dr. N. A. Woychuk which reminds us of God's good gifts to us.
God's Good Gifts
Everything that God makes and provides is good.
It is interesting to note how God Himself was satisfied with His creation. Seven times the meaningful observation is recorded, "And God saw that it was good." Can it be that all of creation, prior to sin's damage, evidenced itself in a joyous adoration of God? The Lord specializes only in "good things."
The heavens are a point from the pen of His perfection;
The world is a rosebud from the bower of His beauty;
The sun is a spark from the light of His wisdom.
--Sir William Jones
"Creation was Adam's library; God bade him read the interesting volumes of His works, which were designed to make known the Divine character" (L. Richmond)
All too little do we read and study "the interesting volumes of His works," which are filled with His thoughtful care. Think of the air that we breathe today. How seldom do we utter praise for it. Yet, without the atmosphere there would be no rain, no sound, no music, no plant life, no flight of bird, no human life. The world would be one vast grave.
Think of the essential beauty of a flower, which so impressively proclaims the excellencies of God. "There is not the least flower but seems to hold up its head, and to look pleasantly, in the secret sense of the goodness of its heavenly Maker."
The Lord delights to give good gifts to His children. "No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly" (Psalm 84:11). "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights..."(James 1:17).
May this beneficence of our heavenly Father stir in our hearts a sincere desire to own and accept His greatest gift, even the Savior Jesus Christ.
"The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23)
Singing His Praises,
Joey Culpepper