It’s simple
At the end of the year, I like to seek God for a fresh word for the coming year. You may do this also. There is no wrong or right place, but I love to walk along the beach listening to the rolling tide, or take a hike and sit atop a hill looking out over the horizon as I pray for a fresh word. This year has been busier than normal. I found it hard to find the "perfect moments" to take those beautiful walks. Even sitting with my journal and coffee in hand has taken extra effort. Can you relate?
What I find amazing is that in the middle of the hurry, in the middle of making dinner for my family, folding laundry, paying bills, scheduling appointments, and finishing up a long work day, God speaks. He is speaking. And if we stop and engage with him, we can hear Him. In the middle of the busy, I came across an image, and after one quick glance I heard His voice resonate deep. It was as if God spoke an entire sermon to my heart in a matter of seconds!
God spoke a few words to my heart that would help me transition into the New Year. They are words of hope and words to realign and position me to hear more as I step into what is next.
Want to know what He said?
God asked, "are you ready?
God in his kindness and understanding knows the year we have just had. You may have had one like mine- full of uncertainties, mishaps, hard moments, diagnosis', transitions, tragedies, goodbyes, and about 100 different emotions. (There has to be at least that many, right!?) Thankfully, because of God's great love, we are not consumed. (Lam. 3:22-23). That means we are not destroyed or overtaken. We don't have to be lost or swollowed up by life, if we let his love be the thing that surrounds us. God is asking if we are ready to leave behind what was and posture in expectancy for what is ahead. He is inviting us into something. He is saying no matter what was... there is more. There is better. There is goodness out ahead of your steps.
God said, "It's not always easy, but it is simple."
Simply put, God wants to walk with you. He doesn't want you doing life in your own strength or wisdom. He wants us to remember He goes before us, stands beside us, and chases after us with his love. (Isaiah 52:12; Psalm 23:6). Life is not easy. There will be hard moments, but Jesus came to make us Overcomers who can walk victoriously in and through the toughest of battles. Every day we can walk in confidence that His love, mercy, compassion, and great faithfulness goes with us. We are created to go higher, dig deeper, and go further. When we stay in Him and He in us, we are more than conquerors. Yes, conquering is our superpower because Christ in us is victorious!
God stated, "it's as simple as 123"
That's right. The end of our year, 12.31.23 sets the stage for the beginning of the next. And if we stop, pause, and ponder a couple simple things, we can walk forward into the next year- light, free, and full of hope. Your next steps can be as simple as 123!
He doesn't want us to complicate things. In fact I hear him saying, "LET COMPLICATED END NOW!" Let the last day of this year be a fresh start into a simpler way of life. Return to the basics. Return to your first love. Return to a simple 123 step process of knowing that:
God is for you
God is with you
God turns things around
I believe He is going to turn things around. In fact, it is as if He is directing the traffic lanes of your life. There He stands, putting His hands up to block the things that would advance against you. He stands blowing his whistle to silence the doubts and fears, stopping the commotion that is trying to hurry around you. He stands as protection to halt the things that will harm, and then points them in the other direction. He is turning them around. He is redirecting and creating breaks in the chaos so that you can walk through to the other side- away from harm, havoc, and hurry. Let God turn things around for you this year. It starts with simply going back to the basics.
His love is for you and chases after you! Make him your only. Make Him your goal. Let “Give me Jesus” be your mantra.
It's that simple!
