looking forward in 2018.
Two thousand eighteen. I could spend ten minutes going on about how I cannot believe yet another year has come and gone and how I often want time to stand still. But, I shall spare you. That's what the new year is all about, right? Looking forward. Embracing the now, this very moment. And, there is so much to look forward to.
"For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland." Isaiah 43:19.
This was regarding Israel's deliverance, but also so much more. This new thing - this beautiful and unheard of thing - was all part of God's plan of redemption for us all. I love that despite what our current circumstances are that there is always hope. In Romans, Paul refers to God as "the God of hope." Hebrews says, "now faith is the assurance of things hoped for." Hope is defined as "a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen." Isn't hope a glorious thing? Looking forward with expectation!
I do think looking backwards has value, in order that we may learn and grow from the past, our mistakes, and opportunities we've been given. My word for 2017 was fearless, and boy did God ever work in my heart and challenge me in more ways that I ever could have anticipated. The question I asked myself last year was, "What would it mean to surrender my fears to God and truly let Him carry them? Carry me?" I couldn't have gotten through last year without Him. The word fearless, ironically, scared me from the beginning. But God took all those fears and brought me to the place where I knew the only thing holding me was Him.
All that being said, I am hopeful for 2018 - for the beauty and grace to come. In reflecting on and praying about the new year, God brought me the word, follow. I had been praying for God to reveal a theme, if you will, for the upcoming year. Laying in bed the other night, the word follow popped into my head and my mind began to ponder. What could this mean? Follow. Okay...
When I woke up the next morning I sleepily grabbed a devotional book {Jesus Calling} that I found in my closet the day before. Flipping through it inadvertently, it opened to a random page and this is what I read:
Of course, right away, the words FOLLOW ME, lit up on the page like a fluorescent sign. I love where it says listen more to Me, and less to your doubts. Isn't that so true? Don't our thoughts and doubts sometimes torture us? Rather than walking in faith, it's so easy to get caught up in everything else. Which path am I really on - HIS, or my own? What voice am I listening to? HIS, or my own? It's so easy to doubt, to question, to not fully surrender. I think we like feeling like we have some sort of control. So my prayer for the year is to listen more to His voice and to learn follow. I am excited to see what the year brings and where he takes not only me, but my family, as we continue to seek after and follow HIM.
"For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland." Isaiah 43:19.
This was regarding Israel's deliverance, but also so much more. This new thing - this beautiful and unheard of thing - was all part of God's plan of redemption for us all. I love that despite what our current circumstances are that there is always hope. In Romans, Paul refers to God as "the God of hope." Hebrews says, "now faith is the assurance of things hoped for." Hope is defined as "a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen." Isn't hope a glorious thing? Looking forward with expectation!
I do think looking backwards has value, in order that we may learn and grow from the past, our mistakes, and opportunities we've been given. My word for 2017 was fearless, and boy did God ever work in my heart and challenge me in more ways that I ever could have anticipated. The question I asked myself last year was, "What would it mean to surrender my fears to God and truly let Him carry them? Carry me?" I couldn't have gotten through last year without Him. The word fearless, ironically, scared me from the beginning. But God took all those fears and brought me to the place where I knew the only thing holding me was Him.
All that being said, I am hopeful for 2018 - for the beauty and grace to come. In reflecting on and praying about the new year, God brought me the word, follow. I had been praying for God to reveal a theme, if you will, for the upcoming year. Laying in bed the other night, the word follow popped into my head and my mind began to ponder. What could this mean? Follow. Okay...
When I woke up the next morning I sleepily grabbed a devotional book {Jesus Calling} that I found in my closet the day before. Flipping through it inadvertently, it opened to a random page and this is what I read:
"You are on the right path. Listen more to Me, and less to your doubts. I am leading you along the way I designed for you. Therefore, it is a lonely way, humanly speaking. But I go before you as well as alongside you, so you are never alone. Do not expect anyone to understand fully My ways with you, any more than you can comprehend My dealings with others. I am revealing to you the path of Life day by day, and moment by moment. As I said to My disciple Peter, so I repeat to you: Follow Me."
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Psalm 119:105
Jesus replied, “...As for you, follow me.” John 21:22
Of course, right away, the words FOLLOW ME, lit up on the page like a fluorescent sign. I love where it says listen more to Me, and less to your doubts. Isn't that so true? Don't our thoughts and doubts sometimes torture us? Rather than walking in faith, it's so easy to get caught up in everything else. Which path am I really on - HIS, or my own? What voice am I listening to? HIS, or my own? It's so easy to doubt, to question, to not fully surrender. I think we like feeling like we have some sort of control. So my prayer for the year is to listen more to His voice and to learn follow. I am excited to see what the year brings and where he takes not only me, but my family, as we continue to seek after and follow HIM.
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