A Prayer for the New Year

Lord Jesus, thank You for Your Spirit that drew me from bed in the first few minutes of this near year, this new decade, to read and meditate on Your Word. I don't believe I've ever done that -- watched the ball drop on a new year and had You call me straight to my quiet time place in my living room. Perhaps You have called before and this is the first time I've answered. Whatever the case, thank You for speaking to me in that way.

As I read the first three chapters of Genesis, I came away with a fresh look at how busy You were as the first minutes ticked away on the clock and as the very first days were marked on the calendar. Stars and planets that were not in one moment, were in the next. The sky, land and seas were formed at the sound of Your voice. Creatures, great and small, came to be and then You got your hands into the dust of the ground and made man and then woman.

What an amazing God You are! How I want to know You more this year! How I want to serve You more this year! I don't want to miss one single thing that You have for me this year. Teach me, Lord. Make me more teachable with each passing day. Give me a resolve and a determination to be everything that You've called me to be!!

Do Your creative thing again in me this year, Lord! Create in my a clean heart. Create in me a desire to do Your will and fulfill Your plans and purposes for my life. Create in me an overwhelming thirst and hunger for Your Word.

I love You, Lord. Help me to love You more.

Amen.

[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [ which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope] (Philippians 3:10 Amplified)

With and Without Him

My heart is a bit heavy today. I got a call this week that a childhood friend had taken his life. This is the second time I've gotten a call like this in the past 6 months about a friend from my childhood. It has me wondering how does hope completely disappear to bring someone to take such drastic measures.

Leaving behind two beautiful little girls, the despair in this man's life apparently was more than he could take. His hope was gone.

So today I'm thankful for the hope I have in Jesus Christ. Life is not always fun and it is definitely not always easy. But He is steadfast. He is sure. He is sufficient. He is supreme. He is salvation.

Without Him, I would wander aimlessly through life. With Him, I have direction and promise and a calling. Without Him, life is impossible. With Him, I can face anything knowing that He can use anything for my good. Without Him, I would be lost. With Him, I sense His presence and all is well.

Without Him, I would despair. With Him, I am filled with hope.

‎"I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD." Psalm 27:13-14

Blessings,
Dori

It Might Be Hope by Sara Groves

Still

"Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God ; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge." (Psalm 62:5-8)

A friend shared this scripture in Bible study yesterday with tears streaming down her face from the sheer love of this powerful Word and the comfort that it provides. I love that when God speaks, He speaks to the individual and then the Body is strengthened through their sharing.

Perhaps it is II Corinthians 1:3-4 in motion:

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

I know that some of you reading this don't feel very still right now. The winds, waves and high waters of life are overwhelming. I'm praying that you will find rest in God alone. I'm praying that God will give you supernatural wisdom and insight to know how to ride out this storm well and find waters on the other side that are still, cool and refreshing. I'm praying that you will be still and know that He truly is God.

Blessings,
Dori