Word By Word

As we consider how to make this new year the best yet, today I want us to focus on the practice of letting God’s word come alive in us.  We need to not only read God what God has written for us in the Bible but also get that truth attached to where we are at.

Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken. My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me. O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge. 

Psalm 62:5-8

“LET ALL THAT I AM” – We need to make space in our hearts and minds for the peace and blessing of God.  That means we must give up everything that is crowding our minds and bringing uncertainty to our heart.  God won’t take it from us but we can hand it over to Him.  God cares.  We must give ALL of it. 

It’s a great practice to just pause and reflect on what is bothering us and just name those thoughts and situations to God and say, “Here this is God.  I need you to do what’s right here.  I surrender this and myself in all of this to You.  I put this part of my life into Your care.” 

The wonderful truth is that God is with us  God is for us.  God is in control.  There is no situation we’re facing that God does not have a great plan already prepare for.

WAIT QUIETLY – that’s so often the challenge isn’t it?  Most of us are tired of waiting for what we think we want and how we want this day and this year to go.  What is God saying and doing in all of this?  What a great moment we have to stop and ask Him

Be still, and know that I am God! 

Psalm 46:10

Thank you God that we don’t wait alone.  We wait with You, the one to whom we can safely surrender all that we are, our past, our present, and even our unknown future. 

On our own we would have lots of reasons to panic and feel burdened and wonder where everything is headed.  But, when we bring ourselves to that place of conscious awareness that we are in Your loving and powerful care, wherever we are, there is a peace and confidence that seeps into some place deep inside and steadies us.  We’re so grateful for that. 

We surrender our will and our lives into Your care again today.  We take refuge today in You and wait quietly with the peace of mind and heart You so generously give us.  Amen

Well, as we see things begin to unfold for this new year, let’s rejoice in all that we know God is good for.  Our hope is in Him.