Text: Genesis 8:18-21
Memory verse:
“Then Noah built an altar to the Lord, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭8‬:‭20‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

The 365 days journey of year 2023 ended yesterday. Irrespective of your story, you are alive today by God’s mercies and not your merits.
Likewise, the scripture says, “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.” ‭‭(Gen‬ ‭6‬:‭8‬)‬‬. He and his eight family members escaped the flood that destroyed the earth and was kept in the ark for 370 days. Afterwards, Genesis 8:1 says, “And God remembered Noah.” He was delivered and safely brought to the new world.
Now, the fact that God remembered Noah is not a surprise nor is it a miracle but an act of God’s great grace and mercy. However, it’s a miracle, something extraordinary, for Noah to remember God. It’s been twelve months of silence and relating with only his family and the animals.
“Then Noah built an altar to the Lord, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.” ‭‭(Gen‬ ‭8‬:‭20‬).
As Noah disembarked from the ark, the first thing he did was to build an altar to the Lord. He remembered God. He recognized God who had graciously spared their lives, and he gave Him attention before any other thing. He didn’t rush into planting a vineyard or building a house. He didn’t forget God in the womb of the morning. He didn’t forget, the One who kept him safe during the flood, after the flood was over. He started his new beginning with God.
The scripture is full of people who were blessed but eventually forgot God’s goodness. They developed spiritual amnesia! Adam and Eve were greatly blessed but they soon forgot God’s goodness and sinned against Him. What about Solomon,& king Saul, king Uzziah and others, who turned against God after being blessed! It’s sad that despite being often graciously remembered by God, we often grievously forget Him. It’s easy to remember God in the midst of the rising flood and to forget Him after the flood.
Friends, stop spiritual amnesia and remember that God’s grace singled you out of millions of people to see this new year. You weren’t preserved because you traveled by air or were so careful, but God kept you. Just as He has remembered you, you also need to remember His goodness. Therefore, dedicate the earliest and the best hours and days of the new year for His praise. What a way to start the year!

Praise points
1. Father, thank You for bringing me to the year 2024 by Your grace and mercy, in Jesus’ name.
2. Father, take the praise for remembering my family and not allowing the floods of the year 2023 to swallow us up, in Jesus’ name.

Today’s declarations
1. In 2024, I will not remember God in the rising flood and forget Him in the receding flood.
2. God’s mercies brought me to the year 2024 and not my merits, and I will be preserved through the year by God’s mercies.