Hi how are you all? I am writing this on the last day of 2023. Christmas has just passed and it is time to get ready for a new year. I hope your Christmas was good and in the midst of present giving and receiving, family etc, you took time out to remember Jesus. There is a saying “Jesus is the reason for the season“. That is all well and good but I don’t want Jesus to be the reason only for a season but for my life. He died and rose again so if I believe I can have eternal life- same for each of us. So Jesus is the reason for my life, is a better saying.
This post I want to reflect just a moment on what 2023 looked like. At the start of this year, God gave me the word revealing- it was to be the year of revealing the sons and daughters of God. I don’t think I have ever lived through a year before where I have needed to stand for my faith more. I also received more hardships over my faith than at any other time.
In the world we live in, there is a clear divide now over Gods truth and man’s individual truth. It is time to stand up for Jesus and His truth now in a world that has no clue what truth is. They are so easily swayed. One day A is truth and the next day B is. There is so much confusion. It is time to stand up and bring clarity, no matter the cost.
For me 2023 has heralded more personal change than ever before. In my work life, I have spent 38 years in one legislative Act only to find myself this year having to learn 3 others.
I missed out on promotions because it wasn’t the will of God which was so hard.
I am now doing an internship at church which was not on the radar at the start of 2023 and from this, have found myself serving at church in a different capacity than ever before.
I went on my first youth camp in my mid fifties / unheard of.
My second book is nearly finished which is a miracle within itself.
So many changes so how do we keep moving forward in the change into 2024?
When Joshua found himself the leader of Israel after 40 years of Moses leadership,he probably had these same questions and doubts. But what did God say to him? In Joshua 1:8 in the Message Bible, it states:
“And don’t for a minute let this Book of The Revelation be out of mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you’ll get where you’re going; then you’ll succeed.”
For Joshua to succeed among a great change, he had to be found in the Word of God. The Word of God is truth. For us to be able to successfully navigate 2024, we need to be found daily reading the Bible and doing what it says. That is the first step.
The second is found in the words of Paul which he said near the end of his life. It is found in Philippians 3: 12 to 14 and states;
“I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.”
We need to keep our eye on the goal – doing the will of God and following Jesus. 2023 was not the end of our race but just another stage in it as will 2024 be.
Let’s keep running in 2024 not knowing what it will bring but in everything we know that Emmanuel – God is with us.
This week write some goals for 2024, pray and then let God direct your steps. Also remember what you learned and experienced in 2023 and thank God for it.
Let’s make 2024 the year we live intentionally each day as God intended for us.
Bless you
Karen
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