阅读经文 

接近岁末，我们会展望来年。当我们展望未来时，我们相信神必与我们同在。

诗篇四十六篇提醒我们，“神是我们的避难所，是我们的力量”。在这篇诗篇中，神也被称为“随时的帮助”和“山寨”。这一意象向我们传达了力量和信心。

在过去的几年里，我们都面临着许多不确定的未知。然而，在我们准备迎接新的一年时，有一件事是我们确实知道的——神永远是我们的力量和信心。只有在神那里，我们才能找到平安和保障。

在“先圣之神”中，我们唱到对全能之神的信靠。“天父慈爱，昔曾引导看顾……愿我圣父统领扶助保护，祢言，祢道，是我的律法和道路。”

当我们接下来进入新的一年时，我们请求神继续引导我们，就像祂在过去的一年里引导我们一样。神是信实的神，祂继续看顾祂的子民。这就是为什么诗人可以如此自信地说，耶和华是“我们的避难所，是我们的力量”。

我们不知道在2023年我们将会面临什么。但有一件事我们是笃定无疑的。神始终是信实的，在祂的信实中，我们将获得未来一年所需的力量。

As we draw close to the end of another year, we look ahead to the coming year. And as we look ahead, we trust that God will be with us.

Psalm 46 reminds us that "God is our refuge and strength." In this psalm God is also referred to as an "ever-present help" and a "fortress." This imagery communicates strength and confidence. 

Over the past couple of years we have faced a lot of uncertainty. Yet there is one thing we know as we prepare for a new year—that God is always our strength and confidence. It is in God and God alone that we find our safety and security.

In "God of All Ages, Whose Almighty Hand" we sing of trusting in God the Almighty. "Thy love divine hath led us in the past …/ be thou our ruler, guardian, guide and stay;/ thy Word our law, thy paths our chosen way."

As we continue into the new year, we ask God to continue to lead us as he has led us in the past. God is the faithful God who continues to watch over his people. This is why the psalmist can say with such confidence that the Lord is "our refuge and strength."

We do not know what we will face in the year 2023. One thing we do know for certain: God has been faithful, and in his faithfulness we will find our strength for the year to come.