All of us at Influence magazine wish you a happy New Year! May you experience the blessings, hope and nearness of our God as you continue to walk with Him and serve Him in ministry in the days ahead.

We look forward to resourcing you with helpful, informative, thought-provoking and inspiring content along the way. May 2018 be your best and most fruitful year yet!

Here are five promises from God’s Word to meditate on as you start the new year:

• “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).
• “‘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’” (Jeremiah 29:11).
• “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22–23, ESV).
• “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).
• “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).