Remembering God’s Goodness – Trusting His Care in the Year Ahead (Deuteronomy 11)

Introduction to sermon on God’s Goodness and Care: Hello friends, it’s my joy to bring you God’s Word today. Well, we are at the beginning of the first month of this year, so I just wonder what January will bring for you. I’m sure many of you went back already to the past year, looking back on what happened in your life—the good things and the not-so-pleasant things.

We came to December and you probably celebrated Christmas, if not with a lot of money, at least with the beauty of the message of the birth of Christ our Lord. And then you probably looked forward to something beautiful, something better, something more meaningful, happening in your life this year. 

As we have now started the first month of this year, I would like to share a message in keeping with the theme of the New Year. My message today is taken from the book of Deuteronomy, chapter 11. If I were to put a title to my message, it would be “Remembering God’s Goodness and Trusting His Care.” Yes, remembering God’s goodness, going back to the past year to remember God’s goodness, and trusting His care for you in the year ahead.

In 1980, the popular Swedish group ABBA recorded a song called Happy New Year, and they spoke of a time—or a hope—where we could have a world where every neighbor is a friend. Also, some years ago, another singer by the name of Johnny Logan recorded a song called What’s Another Year (for someone who has lost everything that he owned)? So maybe you’re also thinking like Johnny Logan today, “What’s another year for me? I’ve had so many challenges over the past year.”

But let’s go on with God’s Word, and I want to encourage you with the Word of God today. You know, every year, the United Nations has a specific theme for that particular year. In case you did not know what the theme for 2024 was, it was the International Year of Camelids, which has something to do with the family that the camels belong to, I believe. In 2025, the United Nations designated many things for the year. 

One was the International Year of Peace and Trust. It was also the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation, and we all know how important glaciers are for the environment of our world. It was also the Year of Cooperatives, and for all the scientists out there, one of the themes for 2025 was the Year of Quantum Science and Technology. And ladies out there who are probably entrepreneurs, here’s some good news for you: 2026 has been designated the Year of the Woman Farmer. So that’s something you can think about for 2026.

Right now, in this first month, first of all, let’s reflect and look back at what God has been to us in the past year, and then let’s look forward to the months that are ahead of us so that we can experience His goodness and care over our lives. As I mentioned earlier, I’m going to speak to you today from the book of Deuteronomy, chapter 11, and there are 3 thoughts I want to bring to you from this particular passage.

You know, this was the time when Moses was preparing the people to enter the Promised Land. It was actually part of his farewell message to the people he had led for 40 years. Moses knew that he would not be entering the Promised Land, so he was giving them kind of a farewell message. In this message there was a repetition of a lot of the things, including the law, that God had given His people. So we must keep that in the back of our minds as we look at Deuteronomy chapter 11 today. So,here is the first thought I want to leave with you:

1. Remember God’s Goodness in your life with gratitude.

Let’s look for a moment at Deuteronomy 11, verse 2:

“Remember today that your children were not the ones who saw and experienced the discipline of the Lord your God: his majesty, his mighty hand, his outstretched arm;”

Here the Lord tells His people through Moses that they were the ones who saw the glory of God, the power of God. It was not their children. So He was giving them a challenge by saying, “You are the ones who saw what I did for you out there in the wilderness.” It was a reminder of God’s majesty, His might, His miracles, and also His discipline. It showed that God had been faithful to them right through that journey.

Deuteronomy 11, verse 7 says: “But it was your own eyes that saw all these great things the Lord has done.” God was reminding them that they were the ones who had seen the mighty miracles of God with their own eyes. So today, as you look back, are you able to see the way God has walked with you through life’s journey in the past year? Are you able to lift up your heart with thanksgiving to God for His goodness, His miracles, His answers to all your prayers, and for carrying you through the past year by holding your hand?

You know, as we look at the book of Deuteronomy, in some of the chapters, God tells them about some of the amazing things He had done for them. He brought them food from the skies. He brought them water fountains out of rocks. He made sure that their clothes did not wear off. Just imagine—if our clothes would never wear off. We wouldn’t have to go to a shopping store ever again to buy clothes. That’s what happened to them.

Even their feet did not swell up, although they walked 40 years in that wilderness. You know, sometimes when our feet swell up, the doctor wants so many tests done to check our cholesterol, our blood, maybe our kidneys, and so forth. But there was no swelling on their feet.

So God was telling them, “Do not forget. Remember with gratitude all that I have done for you.”

As we look back on the past year, while we have been blessed by God, I know that some of you have faced serious challenges in your lives—challenges that maybe came unexpectedly upon you, challenges that you never expected. But even in the midst of those challenges that you went through, and maybe the pain you are still carrying right now, let God guide you through that pain. Let God lead and comfort you through that pain to give you a blessed year.

Psalm 65:11 says: “You crown the year with a bountiful harvest; even the hard pathways overflow with abundance.” (NLT)

What does that scripture say? It says that God will crown the year with a bountiful harvest. But it also says that even the hard pathways, the difficult pathways, will experience His abundance. Let me leave a quote with you today:

“Your memories of 2024 should not undermine your future dreams for 2025.”

Whatever challenges you have faced, whatever pain you may be facing in your life right now, don’t let those memories undermine your future dreams, and God’s plans for the months that are ahead. You know, as I looked back on the past year, I remembered so much about God’s goodness. He blessed my family in so many ways. We—all of us, that’s four of us in our family—had good health. We never had to enter a hospital for sickness. We found provision many times in miraculous ways. God provided for us.

God also blessed even the studies of my children—my two sons—and provided financially for those studies as well. Our needs were met, not our wants, but our needs were met by the Lord. He even blessed our ministry. He blessed my ministry. He blessed my wife Regina’s ministry.

Yes, God blessed us in so many different ways. But was the journey easy? No. There were many challenging moments. So let’s look back and thank God for all that He has been to us in the past year and in our past, and let’s also trust Him for the challenges that may be ahead of us in the months to come in 2026..

You know, a few Sundays ago, when I was at the service in our church, after the service, a couple came and met me. They had come down from Melbourne, and they came to me and said, “Pastor, you may not remember us, but in 2009, you prayed for us to have a baby. We did not have a baby at that time.” And then they said, “When you prayed for us, we believed God.”

And in that lady’s hands, she was carrying a lovely child. And she said, “Pastor, this is the answer to that prayer.” So we thank God that—they remembered and they are still thankful to God for that blessing and for answered prayer. Let’s remember His goodness daily.

Let me now go to point 2.

2. Desire to obey God completely.

Let’s look at Deuteronomy chapter 11, verse 8:

“Observe therefore all the commands I am giving you today, so that you may have the strength to go in and take over the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess.”

God is saying, “Obey me and find the strength for the journey that is ahead of you.” In fact, He tells them that this land, the land they were going to enter, is a land that drinks water from Heaven, because the rains will come at the right time. You know, that was very important. He reminded them that back in Egypt they had to irrigate the land using foot pumps, which was not easy for them.

I read in a commentary, that the nation of Egypt at that time drew water from the overflow of the Nile River during the rainy season. They stored that water in tanks and used canals and foot-operated machines for irrigation the rest of the year. But God says, this new land drinks rain from Heaven. That means it would be a place of divine provision.

So my friend, even as you have gone through some challenges over the past year, don’t live in the past. Move forward, trusting God.

Let’s read chapter 11, verse 13:

“So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today—to love the Lord your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul -“

Once again, God calls for full-hearted obedience. To love the Lord and serve Him completely. Someone once said: “We cannot abandon the principles of God and expect to walk in the blessing of God.” Yes, God’s blessing follows obedience. His principles aren’t suggestions; they are pathways to blessing.

Now let’s look at verses 18–20:

“Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads… Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”

God is instructing them to keep His Word always in front of them—as a part of their daily life, their identity, and even their family routine.

Verse 19 adds:

“Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

Parents, that means: when you take your children to school, talk about God’s Word. When you sit for dinner, when you go to bed, when you wake up—let God’s Word be present in your home. Hebrews 11:23 says something powerful: It says, “Moses was no ordinary child.” Believe that for your children too—that they are not ordinary. They can do extraordinary things with God’s help.

The word of God is vital. Let’s live in it, memorize it, proclaim it, and believe it.

Remember, when Jesus was tempted by Satan? He used just two chapters from Deuteronomy to defeat him. Today, there are over 1,000 chapters in the Bible for us—imagine then the power you carry with God’s entire Word in your heart! Let’s walk in it daily in obedience. 

Let me now move to my final point.

(For another inspiring sermon for the New Year, click here.)

3. Trust God’s Goodness and Care through the year that is ahead.

Let’s believe for God’s unfailing care through all of the year ahead—for our hopes, plans, prayers, and daily needs. Maybe this month you looked at a calendar and marked off birthdays, anniversaries, appointments, or even dates for your medical tests. As you look at those months, believe that each one will carry the care and presence of God.

Back in the 70s, a reggae group called The Trinidad Oil Company released a catchy song called The Calendar Song. The lyrics had only 12 words – the 12 months of the year: January through December. That’s all. And as simple as that sounds, I ask you—when you look at the calendar, can you trust that every month will hold God’s blessings and care?

Deuteronomy 11:11 says:

“But the land you are crossing the Jordan to take possession of is a land of mountains and valleys that drinks rain from Heaven.”

That means it’s a beautiful, fruitful land—receiving rain straight from above. Can you believe for that kind of provision for the rest of your year?

Let’s also revisit Psalm 65:11 again: It says, “You crown the year with a bountiful harvest.” You know, Psalm 65 was a national psalm of thanksgiving after the harvest season—a reminder that God’s blessings follow even after dry seasons. Now let’s look at Deuteronomy 11:12:

“It is a land the Lord your God cares for; the eyes of the Lord your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end.”

What a promise! God’s eyes are on the land—and on your life—”from the beginning of the year to its end”. That’s from January to December.

1 Peter 3:12 further echoes: “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer…”

So friend, don’t doubt—God sees you, He hears you, and He cares for you.

Psalm 68:19 reminds us: “Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.” Not occasionally. Not monthly. But daily. Devotional writer, Bob Gass, once said: “You may lack the latest, the finest, and the fastest, but you won’t lack what is needed.” Yes, in today’s world, everyone wants what’s new and fast. But with God, you’ll have what you truly need.

Illustration: Let me close with a story about a song. My wife Regina and I used this hymn at our wedding 21 years ago. It was written by Ira Stanphill, a pastor and musician who went through heartbreak when his wife left him. While driving one day, God gave him these lyrics: 

“Many things about tomorrow, I don’t seem to understand. But I know Who holds tomorrow, and I know He holds my hand.” 

We’ve been married 21 years now, and that song still remains true for us.

So, let God hold your hand through the season ahead. He sees you. He cares for you. And He will walk with you—”from the beginning of the year to its end”. That’s a certainty.

God bless you!

(For a short Podcast on the same topic of the New Year that you could share with friends, click here.)