As 2014 comes to an end, I look back at this past year and what it has taught me. I have always loved New Years Eve because it is a time to reflect back and a chance to dream about the future. This past year has definitely been a year I have learned so much. It has been a year of fresh starts, growth, letting go, and getting uncomfortable. So much has happened and God has taught me so many lessons some easy and some the hard way, but all in all 2014 has been a revelation of a year. I write a lot about my life and what God has taught me and what God is doing in my life because your life is the strongest testimony to God’s goodness besides the very word of God himself. God calls me to share my story my weakness, my strengths, my failures, my accomplishments in hopes it will touch someone who reads this. So as I reflect back here are the greatest truths I have learned this year:
1. Saying Yes to God is the best thing.
By saying yes to God to go on the race was the biggest challenge but most rewarding answers. God can fulfill your dreams and lead you on an adventure of a lifetime if you are willing to get uncomfortable and say yes to whatever he may be calling you too. Saying yes can take you on whole new road with a great destination.
2. I am Strong.
2014 was a hard year. I used to believe I was a strong. But in the past that strength slowly faded as lies filled my head that I was weak. I became lost and forgot who I was. It wasn’t until this last year that my strength was put through the fire and instead of crumbling under the pressure it was by Gods grace that I flourished. Truly, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.
3. Live with no regrets.
Don’t ever regret circumstances. Don’t regret relationships, mistakes or failures instead learn from them. Those are the things that make you who you are. Every mistake or circumstance shapes your character. It is your choice whether it shapes you for good or bad. Everything you have been through are the steps to where you are now and where you are headed. God can use anything for his glory.
4. Allow things to make you better not bitter.
If there is anything I dislike most it is a bitter person. When storms come my way, the last thing I want to gain from it is a bitter attitude. Instead gain valuable lessons such as patience, forgiveness, happiness, compassion. We all go through things in life. Something’s may seem unfair, but it is all about your response.
5. Forgiveness is necessary.
If you want to be a happy person and live a peaceful life, one step of that is forgiveness. Forgiveness is easier said than done. It is not easy to forgive people who mistreat you, slander your name, or speak nasty words over you. Forgiveness is a process. It may take time, but it’s worth fighting for.
6. Family is always there.
2014 has been a year where my family has shown so much love to me. And when I talk about family, it is so much more than just blood. Family are people who genuinely care for you, love you, support you. God has blessed me with so much family from my Swaney side to my Simpson side, to my Faith Fellowship family, to my friends. They have been there each step of the way to help pick me back up, to love me with no judgement, and to bring me so much laughter and smiles. Family is and will always be important to me.
7. Jesus is a relationship not rules.
While i have known this for quite sometime, it hasn’t really stuck until now. I have always been a rule follower. I do what I am suppose to, if I step outside those lines I start to feel anxiety coming on. And for a long time my relationship with God was about checking off a list of to do’s and don’t’s. But lately, I have been reading about the grace of God. Jesus did not come to this earth to give us a set of rules, he came to live beside us to go through life with us. He wants us to sit at the table with him to break bread. He just wants us, our attention on him. The rest will follow.
8. Frest starts can seem scary, but also empowering.
Starting something new whether a new job, a new relationship or end of a relationship, moving to a city, can all seem a little scary at first. It is because we like familiarity, we like being comfortable. But I have had several fresh starts this year and why all were a little terrifying to begin, God has blessed them so much. They allow you to focus on the present and not the past. Fresh starts can empower you with so much strength and indepence if you let them. Fresh starts can lead to breakthroughs.
9. Love is so much more than just love.
Loving someone is so much more than just saying you love them. Love is about cherishing the other person’s needs above your own. Love is placing value in someone and never disbelieving that value. Love is truthful. Love is kindness. Love is knowing another’s faults and loving them all the more. Love is the greatest of them all. It should never be taken lightly. It should never be half effort.
10. My story has purpose.
I did not like sharing my story. Parts are shameful or embarrassing. I did not want others in my business. But God gave me this story for a reason. He wants me to share it. By sharing it, my prayer is someone out there reading it will gain courage from it. It’s nothing spectacular or out of the ordinary, its my life and I have a calling to share my testimony of how God has worked through it.
11. Live your life to the fullest.
If you don’t like where your at, change it. Take ownership of your life. If your not happy, do something that makes you happy. No person or thing can determine your happiness, only you can. Be the best you can be. Take risks. Take chances. You only get one, so use it wisely. God desires for his children to be happy. He never planned for misery or despair, that is in part to sin. He wants to take you on an adventure, you just have to jump on board.
2015 is only a couple hours away. What has God taught you this past year? Will you open your heart to what he wants to teach you in 2015?
New year’s is a great opportunity if you need that frest start to saying yes to God and what he has for you.
