(January 13, 2025) Angeline Selvakumari encourages…

I pray that this year you will discover that God cares for you and remembers you, your family and the good work you do for Him. And that the Bible assures us that our God is a promise keeper. For example, He promised Jacob that ‘I will not leave you or forsake you until I have done what I promised you’ (Genesis 28:15).

God’s Timing
When God makes a promise to you, He is faithful to fulfil it— in His perfect time. Now His timing may unfold in a day, a week, a month, a year or even across generations! However, His promise will always come to pass; remain steadfast in prayer, claiming it in faith until it comes to fruition.

Often, desperate circumstances require fervent and earnest prayers. Throughout the Bible, we find countless examples of individuals who, in their most trying moments, turned to God in desperation—  and He responded by remembering them.

When I say ‘that God remembered’ doesn’t imply He ever forgets. Instead, it signifies that when we pray with faith and persistence, heaven moves in response to our cries— at when God considers the best time.

God’s Nature
Consider the story of Hannah who was deeply grieved by her inability to have a child. In her anguish, she declared, ‘I am a woman who is deeply troubled’ (1Samuel 1:15). But after pouring out her heart in prayer, her countenance changed… ‘her face was no longer sad’ because she believed that God would answer her (v18). True to His nature ‘… the Lord remembered her’ and she was blessed with a child (v19).

Another powerful example is Hezekiah. When God instructed him to prepare for his death, Hezekiah prayed a desperate prayer: ‘Remember now, O Lord, I pray, how I have walked before you in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what was good in your sight’ (2Kings 20:3). His heartfelt plea moved God and his lifetime was extended (v6).

The Bible is filled with testimonies of how desperate prayers have touched the heart of God and prompted divine intervention. Every time people prayed, God remembered.

God’s Intervention
I don’t know how many of you have cried out in past years, saying, ‘Lord, remember me in your loving kindness. Lord, have mercy on me. Please, look at me, pay attention to my situation.’

Ezekiel 12:28 tells of the time our sovereign Lord declared to troubled Israelites, ‘None of my words will be delayed any longer; whatever I say will be fulfilled.’ It is my heartfelt prayer that in 2025 God will remember you and fulfill His plans for your life, your family and your ministry.

Here are a few important principles we must hold on to and follow:

1. Remember Your Deliverer!
Psalm 77:2 encourages us to reflect on miracles and blessings that God performed in our lives when we were distressed: ‘I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds’ (v11-12).

A vivid example of this is found in Joshua 4 where the Israelites, under Joshua’s leadership, crossed the River Jordan. God commanded them to do something significant to remember His mighty acts, instructing  each tribe to take a stone from the riverbed. These stones were to serve as a memorial of God’s faithfulness.

The Lord said: ‘When your children ask in time to come, “What do these stones mean to you?” Then you shall tell them, “The waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord”’ (Joshua 4:6-7).

What memorials do you have from 2024 or even earlier years? If the Israelites had not faced the challenge of crossing the River Jordan, they wouldn’t have had memorials to pass down to the next generation.

Similarly, God sometimes allows us to face overwhelming challenges, like the roaring, fast-flowing Jordan river. These challenges are not only meant to build our faith but also to serve as testimonies of what God can do— for us and for generations to come.

2. Remember Your Creator!
Ecclesiastes 12:1 is often viewed as specifically addressing young people— ‘Remember your Creator in the days of your youth.’ However, it goes beyond just youth, calling us to remember Him throughout the entirety of our lives.

All too often, we prioritise creation over the Creator. As the Bible warns: ‘They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshipped and served created things rather than the Creator’ (Romans 1:25).

Without realising it we often give undue importance to material things rather than to the One who made them. Scripture reminds us: ‘Seek first His kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you’ (Matthew 6:33NKJB).

Never forget the source! God is the author and finisher of our faith. He created everything and remains in complete control of our lives. Every event in our lives comes with a divine purpose. Trust in the Creator, for He works all things together for good.

Take the story of Joseph as an example. Jacob’s beloved son, born to him in old age, was cherished so deeply that his brothers grew jealous. Joseph was a dreamer, receiving promises and prophecies from God that one day his family would bow before him. However, God knew this destiny could not unfold where Joseph was. A journey was necessary.

Jacob, protective as he was, would never have allowed Joseph to go as far as Egypt, where God’s plan awaited. So, Joseph had to walk a difficult path: the pit, the prison, and finally the palace. Despite the trials, including false accusations of assault and imprisonment, God remained in control of every situation.

Dear friends, perhaps life has been unfair to you. You may have faced painful experiences, unjust treatment, humiliation, or betrayal— much like Joseph. But remember, your Creator is in control.

Joseph once asked the cupbearer to remember him, hoping for deliverance. Yet it was God, not man, who orchestrated his rise. No man has the power to open doors that God has closed—  or close doors that God has opened. Trust in God’s perfect timing, for He makes all things beautiful in His time (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

In every situation, remember your Creator. He is your encourager and the one who brings His plans to fulfillment. Trust in Him completely— He fashions our future! Jeremiah 29:11 promises: ‘“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”’

Joseph must have felt hopeless in the pit, abandoned by his brothers. He might have thought, ‘There’s no future for me.’ Imagine his despair as he sat in prison, falsely accused of attempting to assault the wife of a prominent man in Egypt. The possibility of rescue seemed impossible.

Yet, in the midst of Joseph’s trials, God was at work. Through unexpected circumstances, God used Pharaoh to elevate Joseph and lift his head high. But this transformation didn’t happen overnight. Through it all, Joseph learned to trust in God completely.

God is still the same today. This year, He can bring the right people into your life to lift you up and restore your hope. No matter how dire your situation seems or how impossible the path forward appears, trust in your miracle-working Creator. He can do far more than you can ask or imagine.

3. Remember Your Provider!
You may say to yourself, ‘“My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” But remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth’ (Deuteronomy 8:17–18).

These scriptures serve as a profound reminder that all we have— strength, power, wisdom and success— come from God. They warn us against pride, cautioning us not to boast about our abilities or forget the One who provides for us.

God understands that sometimes our intentions and actions don’t align. That’s why this warning goes beyond mere words to include the thoughts of our hearts.

As you step into this year, let it be your prayer that God remains your provider in every circumstance. Remember, the same Lord who fed 5,000 people with five loaves and two fish is more than sufficient to meet your needs.

Perhaps you’re starting this year with significant challenges— uncertain about how to manage your household or provide for your family. God sustained the widow of Zarephath (1Kings 17:8-24)! Let His reassurance echo in your heart: ‘I am your provider. Do not be afraid or dismayed. If I could sustain the widow and her son with a little flour and oil throughout a famine, I can provide for you as well.’

4. Remember Your Sabbath!
The Sabbath is often a controversial topic. While I acknowledge that Saturday is the seventh day, New Testament Christians traditionally celebrate Sunday— the day of the Lord’s resurrection— as our holy day. In certain Middle Eastern countries, Friday is observed.

My point is simple: whether you celebrate on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, remember to keep it holy. As scripture says, ‘Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy’(Exodus 20:11). This command is about prioritising God on that day. Spend more time with Him, dedicating the day to worship and reflection.

Some interpret ‘resting on the Sabbath’ as an excuse to sleep in or take a relaxing drive instead of attending church. But, dear friends, I urge you with humility: what belongs to God, give it to Him. ‘Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s’ (Matthew 22:21). One day of the week belongs to God— don’t rob Him of it.

Unfortunately, many of us have reversed our priorities. We give God the leftover moments, coming to Him only after our work or personal obligations. We justify this with reasons such as—

• ‘I’ve to work; otherwise, who will pay my bills?’
• ‘I need to attend classes on Sundays to pass my exams.’
• ‘I’ve a match to play; God gave me the strength to perform professionally.’

While these reasons may seem valid, we must ask ourselves: Who are we glorifying in these choices? The Bible says, ‘Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God’ (1Corinthians 10:31). Are we truly glorifying Him? This is the critical question.

5. Remember Your Short-fallings!
The Bible gives us a solemn warning: ‘Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first’ (Revelation 2:5).

Let’s pause to evaluate our lives. Where have we fallen short? What do we need to start again doing God’s works? God is gently calling us back to Him, especially now.

Come to Him. He is waiting with open arms filled with love and hope. Even when we feel unworthy of His love, mercy, or favour, remember this: Jesus died on the cross knowing we need His grace. Without Him, we can do nothing. He is ready to forgive our sins, take our broken pieces, and create something new. The real question is: Are we willing to surrender our brokenness to Him and let Him make something beautiful?

Have a productive and fruitful year in the Lord. May you touch the lives of many with His love and continue to shine the light of Jesus, making a difference in the world around you.

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Pastor Angeline Selvakumari is Honourary Editor–in–Chief Echo of His Call, India’s Spiritual Newspaper, and Dr S Sam Selva Raj’s daughter. In furthering Echo of His Call ministries, established 1969, Dr Sam broadcasts 5–minute YouTube messages in English, Tamil, Hindi and Telugu daily, trusting the Lord to provide for the costs. Link: sam@echoofhiscall.org 
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