saltandlight

Christmas has come and gone. I’ve always heard the phrase “slow as Christmas”, but when you think about it Christmas is not really slow.  It sneaks up on us pretty quickly every year and before you know it, it’s all over with.  All of the family gatherings, the food, the lights, the presents, it’s all over with just as quickly as it came.  What about the spirit of Christmas?

By Christmas spirit, I mean kindness. The focus on the birth of our Savior.  Happiness, forgiveness, showing grace to others, helping others.  These are the things that we see people doing more at Christmastime than the rest of the year. Christmas just brings that out in people.

What if we take that kind of spirit with us into 2020? The miracle of the birth of Christ and His life on earth did not happen just for us to show kindness to each other for one month out of the year.  He came that we “might have life, and that we might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:0)  “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

2019 might have felt like a “rough” year for you.  I understand that.  But, can I tell you this? God does some of His best work in our hearts during our “roughest” times.  That is how we grow closer to Him. I know it’s hard to see that during the midst of our troubles. And sometimes we can’t see the good that comes from things until years later. We may never know the good that comes from our trials. But, we have a promise from God in Romans 8:28. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.”

Take your trials and your heartaches right now, and give them to God. He knows and understands what you are going through.  Lay your head in His lap and let Him comfort you.  Feel His embrace around you.  Know that you are loved.  Know that everything that you go through is for a purpose and for YOUR good.  Let 2019 go knowing that God was there with you and will go with you into 2020.

Take His spirit with you. If you are not sure if you have His spirit with you, all you have to do is ask Him. Ask Him to come into your heart, forgive you of yours sins and walk with you. And then continue to talk with Him everyday.  It really is that simple.  The more you talk with Him and read His word, the more of His spirit you will have within you. To lead and guide you into 2020.

Not only is this a new year, but it’s a new decade.  2020 is your year to get closer to God. 2020 can be the year that God makes a change in your life. 2020 is the year that God is going to move in mighty ways. Don’t you want to be involved in that? I’ve seen Him move alot in 2019 but I feel that even more is to come in 2020!  I’m so excited to see what God is going to do this year.  Don’t miss out on the blessings God has for you because of selfish stubborn pride.

“Father I come to you today praising you for all that you have done this year. Lord it may be some difficult situations that you have brought us through. There are things that you kept us from without us even knowing about it. You are so good to us, Lord. Even the times that we feel are not so good, I know You are at work and You will work it all out for our good. Thank you for taking care of us. Thank you for blessing us with the faith of others. Lord I pray that You will guide us into this new decade. Give us more of Your strength and Your love that we might use it to show others who You are. Lord, I know that You are working behind the scenes to prepare Your children for the upcoming battles that we will face. I know that you have been working in the hearts of many to do Your work. I pray that this is the year that we put feet to our prayers and we get to work in the field.  I know that the fields are ripe for the harvest. People are starving for You. They just don’t know that You are what they need. They have been deceived by the enemy. I pray that You will show us how we can reach these people. Put us in place to serve you more and to serve you better in this coming year. Thank you God for all that You have done, all that You are doing and all that You will do. I just ask humbly that You use me however you see fit. In Your Holy and Righteous name! Amen!