Tag: reflection

Reset

I have been reading Levi Lusko’s book I Declare War, and one of the insightful points that he makes is that it is never the wrong time to reset. 

How many times have you set a goal, gotten off track, and thought you had to wait until the next day, the next week, or even the next month to get back on track? Lusko says, no way. Each moment that we are given is a gift from God and the perfect time to go to Him, ask for help, and begin again. In fact, we can reset multiple times a day if we need to. You will never meet your quota for going to God and asking for help.

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Hebrews 4:16

I don’t know how your word of the year is going. Mine is not going that well. I have been busy this semester and haven’t devoted the time that I should have to staying focused on growing in this particular area the last couple of months. Which is one of the reasons why I am so excited about this month’s reflection. 

I love the Psalms! I don’t think I have ever encountered a situation in my life where I couldn’t find a Psalm that inspired me or brought me comfort. That is where we are going to start – find a Psalm that relates to the word that you have chosen for the year. Write it down. I would even challenge you to begin memorizing it so that in the moment, when you need inspiration or comfort, it is right there, in your heart, ready to provide exactly what you need.

Then (and I really hope that you will do this part) you will write your own Psalm to God. Think about the format of the Psalms. First, the psalmist typically laments a difficulty that he is having. He asks questions, like “Why don’t you hear me?” or “Why have you forgotten me?” After he pours out his pain to God, there is some type of transition – usually a recognition or acknowledgement of who God is and His sovereignty. Then, the psalmist wraps it up by praising God or thanking Him for all that He has done. There isn’t even a rhyme requirement. Just a heart poured out to God, longing to live a life that honors and glorifies Him. 

So, if you have gotten off track with your word of the year and thought you would have to wait until next year and begin again, I say, “no way!” You can start right now! We still have eight months of growth opportunities! Eight months of leaning in to God and striving to live like Christ. Let’s reset right now and get started!

Download the May reflection here.

What Does It Matter?

For the last several days, I have been trying to decide where to go with today’s post. What could I write that would encourage and inspire others to continue to reflect on their word of their year and continue to seek opportunities to grow in that area. As I was scrolling through my Facebook feed this morning and reading different posts about what is going on in Ukraine, I thought to myself, “What does it matter?” This whole word of the year thing, what does it matter when people in Ukraine are facing war. I’m sitting here in my comfortable home, enjoying my morning coffee, reflecting on a word that I have chosen for the year while the people of Ukraine are fighting for their lives. Families are being separated as they are trying to get to safety, other families are in hiding. What does it matter?

If I’m being honest, until this morning it seemed like a problem on the other side of the world. Oh how my heart hurts for the people, and what they are facing and yet my world hasn’t been turned upside down. I don’t know anyone in Ukraine. I do not have any ties to that part of the world. But, I had no idea how many people in my area are being impacted by what is going on. Some of them are former missionaries, some are in the middle of adopting a child, others have friends there, others have family there. Others are sending their soldiers there.

And that’s when I began to think about Esther and the words that Mordecai said to her, “And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this.” Esther 4:14 Esther loved her people. She wanted to help them and provide what they needed. Our love for our brothers and sisters should compel us to pray, and pray hard, while we continue to prepare where we are for the work that God will call us to do in the future.

I am here for such a time as this. You are where you are for such a time as this. Everything I do is preparing me for what will come. God has not put me in a position or given me any opportunities to serve in the devastation that is taking place overseas yet. What He is giving me the opportunity to do is prepare. And that’s why what we are doing does matter. We are preparing.

The Christians in the Ukraine who are protesting, who are working so hard to help, who are singing praises to God, they didn’t just wake up prepared the morning this started. They have been preparing for years. They have been in the Word, they have been in prayer, they have been encouraging one another.

Whatever word God put on your heart to pursue this year, you are preparing. 

You are preparing to be the hands and feet of Jesus to those who flee and come to your area. You are preparing to minister to those who have lost their homes, their livelihood, and all of their material possessions. You are preparing to minister to those you do know who have connections in Ukraine. You are preparing your heart by offering it to God so that you are ready when He opens the door where He wants you to serve.

That’s why it matters. Satan wages war – both physical and spiritual. We have no idea when he may strike close to our homes. We have to be ready to fight back. We do not know what tomorrow will bring. This moment is the only moment that we have, and we need to use it to do the work that is right in front of us. That is why your word matters.

My heart weeps for the people of Ukraine. I honor them first by taking them to the throne and begging God to intervene. Then, I honor them by continuing to prepare myself here, where I am, in this moment. This is where God has put me. I may never have the opportunity to help with what is going on in Ukraine; however, I will be called to do God’s work sometime in my life. I have to be ready.

Download the March reflection sheet here.

Eager Anticipation

Yesterday was a rare day that found both myself and my husband working from home. He has worked from home for almost two years now and has an entire office all set up with his desk and computer monitors. I rarely work from home, so when I do, I enjoy being tucked into the end of the sofa under a blanket or two. 

I’m tapping away on the keyboard and our dog, Myka, has settled in on the other end of the sofa for her morning nap when the chair in the office squeaks, and Michael walks into the living room. She immediately jumps off the sofa and springs to attention. She is ready. She doesn’t know what is about to happen. She has no idea what Michael is going to do or even if he is going to invite her along, but she is ready. Her entire body is taut with anticipation and her tail wags as she waits completely focused on him. She is excited. Nothing else matters. She doesn’t look around. She doesn’t care what I am doing. He is the master, and she is ready to follow him to the ends of the earth. She loves the time they spend together.

And, that made me think about how I anticipate the time I spend with God. I would imagine that God longs for me to do the same. To be excited and ready. To be so totally focused on Him that I don’t notice other things – the dishes piled in the sink, the laundry that needs to be done, the text notifications. Nothing else matters, just time with my Heavenly Father. 

Myka isn’t just ready early in the morning; she is ready all day. Her entire day is spent in eager anticipation of what the two of them might do together. Everytime Michael moves, she is ready, waiting for him to call her. 

I wonder what a difference we could make in this world if we were ready every time God called us. If we waited with that same eager anticipation all day looking for opportunities to spend with our Heavenly Father, looking for opportunities to serve Him. Whatever your goals are for this year, whatever word you have chosen, whatever areas of growth you are desiring, God is going to put opportunities in front of you. Are you excited with anticipation thinking about all of the ways that He can use you for the kingdom? 

2022-February-reflectionDownload