I scrolled through FB posts and my favorite blogs, enjoying
My Year in Review and
My Word for 2014, the resolutions and words of encouragement making me smile. Everyone seemed so excited to welcome the new year, confident they could scale any hurdle that came their way. After a while I started to feel a little......well, defeated.
Before the year even began.
Thinking back on 2013, I was recalling all the things I wanted to accomplish, but didn't, all the ways I wanted to bless people, but hadn't. And on and on, you know the drill.
I should insert here that it probably didn't help that I was home alone, with a fever and a rapidly growing mountain of used tissues. The rest of my family was at a New Year's party with great friends, fabulous buffet, plenty of laughter and games. I had sent them out the door with food and lots of assurances that I would be fine and they should just go have fun.
But now? I was throwing my own little (pity) party. :(
Ridiculous, I know. It wasn't that I couldn't come up with countless ways we had been blessed and numerous times God had shown Himself in unmistakable ways. My thoughts just kept going to how my 'failures' weighed heavier than my 'successes'. And what about the things God had put on my heart that I hadn't accomplished.....notice all the I's and my's? Yeah, me too.
Unfortunately, the feeling still lingered when I woke up on New Years Day.
I took my Bible out to the patio, setting up my chair in the sun. As my skin began to warm and the soft breeze blew my hair, I started to breathe in the fresh air deeply.
'Lord, I desperately need something from you, a word, anything, to counter this feeling of defeat. I can't let the devil win this battle on the very first day of a new year!!"
I gazed across the hillside, bright greens sparkling, the mountains a shadow in the background. It was almost too beautiful to take in, the fresh start of a new day, a new year....
Snatches of songs and verses floated through my mind as I closed my eyes and started to relax.
"....all that is within me,
bless his holy name."
"....because his compassions fail not.
They are new every morning; great
is thy faithfulness. The Lord
is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him."
"I'll praise You in this storm, and I will lift my hands....."
".....which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:"
A complete change in my attitude, a spark kindling and growing brighter...with hope welling up inside of me, the negative thoughts receded until they were completely gone.
My word from God.........was HOPE.
Combat
defeat with
hope.
Thank You, Lord.
I opened to begin my reading through the Bible in a year.
In the notes before Genesis it said:
"Read Genesis........and hope!"
Wishing all of you a blessed year!
