What an interesting year it’s been, right? There’s definitely been ups and downs this year, but the mercy, grace, and constant pursuit of the Lord has kept the hope in my heart aflame. It flew by so fast. Felt more like 3 months rather than 12. A lot has happened. I’m reflecting on so many things as I write this.
Here are 19 things the Lord has taught me throughout the year – some more than others because I didn’t want to learn from it or confront certain things at times, and if I’m being honest, I didn’t want to hear it or feel the conviction I knew I needed in order to move on and really grasp what God has for the better in my life.
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Growth. The Lord has really blossomed me in so many ways – more ways than I could’ve ever imagined. It’s taken me awhile to sprout from the weeds that were still holding me back from growing and flourishing into more freedom in Christ. I’m so thankful for all the pruning too, even when it hurt so bad…it was necessary and essential to gain revelations that I would’ve never gotten if I hadn’t released any of it to Him.
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Confidence. I may be outgoing and extroverted, but that doesn’t mean I have all the confidence in the world, and not in a prideful way either. God has really helped me with even the tiniest of insecurities and lies of the enemy that I still believed to be true. I’ve gained so much confidence in knowing who I am and whose I am!
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Daily surrender. To give myself up as a sacrifice for the needs of others rather than my own and to serve them as I serve Jesus. No matter what I’m feeling or how I feel, I have to humble myself and give up what I want for what He wants.
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Be me. To be myself even if others don’t like me or judge me, or even if they love me. To be a burning flame. To be an example of Jesus to this hurting world. To illuminate the darkness. To not let my light go dim even if I’m shining brighter than others (thank you, friend, for this one. You know who you are). To constantly go to Jesus for every little thing. For Holy Spirit to lead me and to breathe on me every single day. To have fun. To live this beautiful life. To love. To create. To shout out my victory. To smile. To laugh. To shine for His glory.
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To rest. Working full-time has definitely tired and exhausted me out many times. For a person who likes being busy and for a person who is always running around doing so many different things, the Lord has told me to rest. To hit pause for a second. To breathe in. To breathe out. To take some time for myself for once. The Lord has been pushing me to rest. Literally. I have been sick quite often this year. That’s just me choosing to learn the hard way…
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Importance of community and Jesus-centered friendships. Another shout out to my church fam for our amazing love, community, and fellowship with one another. I have never felt so close and so loved by a growing group of people who care deeply and boldly pray for one another. This family is so special, so dear to my heart, so treasured, and so valued. And to those few new friends I have made within these past couple of months, you have been nothing but a huge blessing and an answer to a prayer I’ve prayed for a long time.
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To be consistent in prayer. To fervently and boldly pray. To be intentional while doing so. To have divine appointments with Jesus.
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To praise Him and come to Him with a heart of gratitude and thankfulness regardless of the circumstances – good or bad – that I’m in or experience. To not let judgement from myself and others to stop me from worshipping.
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Trust God in the process. Everything is a process. I’ve had to really let go and lay at His feet about certain things because I couldn’t bear controlling everything anymore. I was even holding myself captive to so many ties because I’m “too nice” or care “too much,” and I give too many chances, especially towards toxic people (the ones I didn’t want to let go of, but later understood I needed to…), but the Lord has held me close and has taught me that that toxicity isn’t meant to be in my life. To really stand firm in my faith and trust that He is GOOD. To know He is GOOD.
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To get in the RIGHT and GOOD soil. Shout out to my home church, Roar! I absolutely love where I’m at with my church fam. It’s one thing to say, “we’re bearing fruit,” and another to SEE the fruition! Words could never express my love, gratitude, and thankfulness towards this family.
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To receive. This one has always been something I’ve struggled with, as most of you know, and although I know how to receive, Holy Spirit still convicted me of not receiving in full. He never said to receive partially. I’ve learned to receive fully, to receive in abundance. It’s nothing in a selfish way either. There’s a difference between receiving a blessing and getting comfortable in receiving to where it’s almost as if you’re taking advantage of the blessing? Does that make sense?
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Don’t forget the little things. Maaaaaan I LOVE the little things. Simple joy.
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To wait. To endure. To persevere.
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Where He guides, He provides. Overflow. Abundance. Live life for and with a mission (relating this to my mission trips). This one has left me with a super grateful heart and very much overwhelmed.
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Performance and perfection kills my joy. I’m here to please the Father.
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Be bold. Be courageous. Be strong.
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To live in faith. To step out of my comfort zone. To just simply ask.
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Public speak, no matter the audience. I’ve always had a fear of public speaking. This year, the Lord has taught me that when I speak, it’s not for me, but for Him and to glorify His Kingdom. And although I still get nervous, I know Holy Spirit will breathe peace and calmness over me so that I may be used by Him.
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RUN the race, not walk the race. Endurance was important this year. He has strengthened me to run. It was time to take the training wheels off.
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Meditation. I always played the blame game with not having enough time, working full-time, being busy, being sick, etc., but being devoted to reading the Word has brought me that much closer to Him. Actually reading it, studying it, and applying it rather than skimming through verses and only memorizing a couple of them, has made my heart, mind, soul, and spirit that much more hungrier for His presence. That much more on fire for God.
Friends, this new year is gonna be filled with so much more of His Spirit. So much goodness. So much faithfulness. So many miracles – big or small. So many victories. So many lives touched. So many hearts changed. So many promises fulfilled.
Happy New Year to you and yours.
LET’S GO 2020!! I’M READY FOR YOU. PERFECT VISION. C’MON JESUS!!!
Jeremiah 29:11, “‘for I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”
