Congratulations! We are almost at the finish line. What word or phrase springs to mind when you think of the year 2022? For me, it is DELIVERANCE. I had my Rahab and Mary Magdalene moments.
And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him, And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.
Luke 8:1-3 (NKJV)
I was delivered from spiritual blindness and oppression. I encountered the power of studying and meditating on God’s Word daily with the help of the greatest teacher, the Holy Spirit.
Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
James 1:21-25 (NKJV)
Good and challenging times drew me closer to God, and I learned to stay thankful in every situation. While helping others, God helped me. I learned that God sets us up for success when we obey him without fully understanding the mission/vision. We just need to trust God.
Before the year ends, take a moment and thank God for the gift of life. You may not have accomplished your goals, but you have life in you. Being alive is an accomplishment, celebrate it!
Before the year ends, close your eyes and think about the heartbreaking moments and disappointments you felt this year. Thank God for giving you victory whether you experienced victory or hope for victory.
Before the year ends, write down your goals and vision for the coming year in form of thanksgiving or testimony. Examples: “Thank you Father for divine ideas to advance your kingdom”, “Thank you Father for my spiritual growth”, etc. You can make your requests known with thanksgiving.
Before the year ends, have a spiritual retreat. Seek God’s plan for the coming year and run with it.
Before the year ends, forgive those who hurt you and forgive yourself. Do not carry that pain and baggage into a new year. When we do not forgive, we hinder our prayers and hold ourselves captive to those who hurt us. Self-forgiveness gives us the opportunity to embrace new beginnings. Experience freedom, you deserve it!
Before the year ends, sit with your spouse and children and reflect on the year. Ask one another, what did we do right and what can we do better? Let this guide your family’s goals and vision for the new year.
Before the year ends, dream and believe again. Start the new year with hope. The coming year is a gift. What will you do with it?
Let’s do these things together!
See you next year by God’s grace.
Happy New Year precious daughter 🙂