When the New Year Doesn’t Start Off As Planned

I love the freshness of a new year. A chance to start over and begin to make wise choices. My journal is often filled with dreams and visions for the new year. I would sit before the Lord allowing Him to pour the plan of the coming year into my spirit.

This year is quit different. Instead of the excitement of the new year, I feel weariness and drudgery. There has been no list making or dreaming this year. There’s been sitting before the Lord but instead of pouring plans for the coming year into my spirit, He has been reminding me of who I am in Him.

See a week before Christmas the enemy threw a punch that I am having trouble getting up from. He didn’t speak lies about my children because I know they are created for greatness. He didn’t take a swing at my husband because he knows I would just laugh. He chose to speak lies right into my identity, right to the core of who God made me to be, knowing He might just knock me out of the ring. Knowing I may run far, far away from ministry and never return.

If the enemy can silence your purpose and density he wins. If his lies convince you that you have nothing to offer than new souls for the kingdom are forsaken.

We have no choice, dust yourself off and get up.

Maybe you are feeling the same way this year. Maybe you’re seeing all the pictures on Facebook of everyone’s joy and excitement for the new year and wishing you could just go back to bed. Maybe life has thrown you some punches that you are having trouble getting up from.

You may have lost a loved one or a job. You may have had a friend betray you or maybe even a spouse. You may be bargaining with God at this very moment for the results of life to be different. There maybe so much pain and disappointment you don’t even know where to begin.

As much as the enemy wants you to believe you are the only one that is hurting…your not. He throws nasty punches at all of us. You are not alone.

Isolation will breed frustration.

Unless we have walked in another’s shoes don’t judge. Unless our words are going to uplift someone lets stay silent.

These lies spoken continue to play over and over in my mind, like a broken record, cutting me in a fresh new way each time.

Lies that is all they are.

Feeling the weight of the words I do the only thing I know to do…feed on His word.

I swallow the disappointment and shake off the pain and allow His word to wash over me.

Holding back the tears I replace the lies with one simple truth…He loves me deeply.

Meditating on these four simple, yet powerful words bring life again to my weary soul.

Simple truths keep you in the ring. Simple truths give you the strength to dust yourself off and move forward.

I need Him to tell me who I am again. I need to be reminded of how crazy in love He is with me. I need to hear that He has created me for greatness.

His words strengthen me. His words draw me in. His words guide my path. His words renew me and give hope for my future. His words assure me of His commitment and devotion to me even when life is challenging.

“For the Lord watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.” Psalm 1:6

“He brought me to the banqueting table, and his banner over me is love.” Song of Solomon 2:4

I am taking the month of January to remind myself of who He is. Will you join me? Take time this month to pull away and align yourself with Him. It is only in the secret place that you will know your true identity and purpose.

I share with such openness and honesty to expose the enemy and to encourage others to not allow his lies to silence their purpose.