a new year

i'm thankful for a new year- of new beginnings and resolutions that i most often don't keep but have great intentions as many people do. what has hit me lately is how i long and crave for God's Word- and not only to spend time with the Lord but to really have His Spirit speaking truth through what is written and promised in Scripture. today as i was running i kept praying for the Lord to protect me from satan's lies that i listen to that cause me doubt and fear and for the Lord to continually speak truth into my heart and mind. so the verse that came to me that i did not know exactly where it was in isaiah comes from ch 49.
Thus says the Lord:
“In a time of favour I have answered you;
in a day of salvation I have helped you;I will keep you and give you
as a covenant to the people,
to establish the land,
to apportion the desolate heritages,
⁹ saying to the prisoners, ‘Come out’,
to those who are in darkness, ‘Appear.’
They shall feed along the ways;
on all bare heights shall be their pasture;
¹⁰ they shall not hunger or thirst,
neither scorching wind nor sun shall strike them,
for he who has pity on them will lead them,
and by springs of water will guide them.
¹¹ And I will make all my mountains a road,
and my highways shall be raised up.
¹² Behold, these shall come from afar,
and behold, these from the north and from the west,^[b]
and these from the land of Syene.”^[c]
13 Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth;
break forth, O mountains, into singing!
For the Lord has comforted his people
and will have compassion on his afflicted.¹⁴ But Zion said, “The Lord has forsaken me;
my Lord has forgotten me.”
¹⁵ “Can a woman forget her nursing child,
that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb?
Even these may forget,
yet I will not forget you.
¹⁶ Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;
your walls are continually before me."

the verse that came to my mind is verse 16- behold i have ENGRAVED you on the palms of my hands- your walls are continually before me.
i love that promise and comforting message from the Lord to His people- a people who had rebelled against him and did not obey him after he continually punished them and yet had mercy. i pray that this new year brings more and more depth and love for Jesus and knowing His power in my life that comes from His Word and presence and Spirit.