Devotional for the New Year

GODS WORD
Isaiah 43:1; John 10:3

DEVOTIONAL BY
Major Annne Westmoreland
Territorial Secretary for Spiritual Development

“I HAVE CALLED YOU BY YOUR NAME”

“I have called you by name, you are mine.” Isaiah 43:1b

During this season, stories of real-life heroes are many. From all walks of life, we have experienced people coming alongside us to help others in need. In many cases, the heroes remain unnamed.

This past week I came across a story of someone stepping up in an unexpected way, and the unnamed status in this case caused me to pause. A man had accidentally left his bag with quite valuable Christmas gifts on the train during his way home from visiting with family. Another man, who happened to be without a home, and who had been riding the train back and forth on Christmas, saw the bag and brought it to a friend of his. He encouraged his friend to make a social media post to identify the owner, and as the bag was happily returned, news reporters picked up the story, yet one man remained unnamed.

You guessed it: the man who found the bag made the headline, “Homeless man finds forgotten gifts,” but whereas the other two were named, he wasn’t. Given, it may have been his choice, yet it still caused me to reflect. The man was identified by a label, “homeless,” and perhaps by preconceived notions that made the story newsworthy and gave the reader a sense of knowing the hero without knowing his name.

Labels - maybe you have received them, perhaps you have placed them, but the truth is that labels never define us, and often they hinder knowing or being known by others. Scripture tells us that we are called by name by our God who fully knows and fully loves us.

But now, this is what the Lord says, He who is your Creator, Jacob, and He who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine!” Isaiah 43:1

To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep listen to his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. John 10:3

On this last day of the year, as we are about to enter a new year with new possibilities, may we shed any labels that have been placed on us by others, or by ourselves, and may we listen to His voice, as He calls us by name. And may we see each other through the lens of His eyes, not hidden behind labels. May we look others in the eyes, and may we see the person created in the image of God.

A new year is an opportunity for new beginnings, and we are reminded that as we receive His love, His salvation, His transformation, we each have a new name given to us, our name written in the book of life.

Father, as I enter this new year,
I do so, fully known and fully loved.
Help me to listen to your voice and to
respond as you call me by name.
As I encounter others, may I see the person,
fully known and fully loved, called by name by you. Amen.

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OUR CORPORATE PRAYER
Our Father, on this last day of 2025, we thank You for Your provision and protection throughout the year. We look forward to 2026 because we know You will carry us through another year. We pray that You will keep us focused on the things that matter most to Your Kingdom, not the kingdoms of this world or any kingdom we have built.

We look to You alone for wisdom, and to Your Son for love, mercy, grace, and salvation. We trust in Your Spirit—Your precious Holy Spirit—to guide us into all truth. Thank You for 2025. We eagerly anticipate all we will be able to do in 2026 because of You, our triune God. We pray this in the matchless name of Jesus the Christ, amen and amen.