For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has
overcome the world—our faith. 1 John 2:4 (NKJV)

The beginning of a new year often times brings fresh hope. Hope of a fresh start, hope of a new beginning, hope of change. Too many times that hope is short lived and we find ourselves in the same old trap of discouragement and despair not long into the new year. How many times have we made new year’s resolutions with much enthusiasm only to see it wane after a few weeks. Hope deferred makes the heart sick and causes us to loose faith. If 2012 is indeed a year of overcoming then we are going to have to lay hold of it by faith as the above scripture declares. We overcome by our faith. Many have been in such intense battles that they are struggling in their faith. The enemy would like nothing better than to defeat us on the verge of victory. Perhaps, that is the reason the battle has been so intense for many. Jesus said that if we only had faith of a mustard seed we could see a mountain move and that nothing would be impossible. Jesus used this analogy to demonstrate that something seemingly so small and insignificant as a mustard seed could produce something great. How about you? Has your faith waned to a tiny speck? Do you see yourself as having too little faith? Let me encourage you that even if your faith is as small as tiny mustard seed it can grow into something great. Let’s lay hold of 2012 by faith and make it the “Year of the Overcomer.”

Patrick Penn