Watchful

With 2013 coming to an end, it causes me to reflect on the many things that have happened this year.  What a ride it has been!  We have seen many of our goals accomplished, we gave more in financial and other ways, I survived a big surgery and still recovering, loved on more people, enjoyed studying a lot, and I have walked closer with the Lord than last year.  So all in all, I have had a good year and I find God, as ever, faithful!  This year brings a new tradition on our household.  So, on New Year’s Eve, my man will enjoy some quiet time at home, a few snacks, a toast, and then, I will open my Gratitude Jar and we will read through each heart that has been dropped in that jar all this year!  I love remembering how God has provided or connected for/with me in my daily life.  I will carry this tradition in to 2014.

So what is up for this coming year of 2014?  I’m not sure but I walk into it expectantly and watchful!  “Devote yourself to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”  Colossians 4:2.  Yep!  That is the word that God gave to me for this next year.  I am to be watchful for what God wants me to notice.  I am excited to see how God works this word out in my life next year.  I know that prayer is very important in the life of a believer and it can be the difference between me seeing things with my physical eyes or seeing things with my spiritual eyes.  I have the feeling God is going to use both in me next year.  He wants to me to watch for various things that He wants me to see.  Mark Batterson talks in one of his books about the Holy Spirit being like a sixth sense and that there are some things that can only be perceived through the Holy Spirit.  I am inclined to agree with that.  But we must seek Him daily in our lives so that we are in tune enough with Him, that the Holy Spirit can clearly speak to us.  The more time we spend with Him, the deeper our relationship goes and we can recognize when it is Him working in us.

I am going to be diligent in my pursuance of God, and ask again for things in my life with bold faith.  Some of my goals are what others may consider as crazy goals!  But for me, I have seen God answer so many of them, that I am looking forward and watching for what goals He will answer through this next year.  I am thankful that He has been working in my life, excavating in me enough that I DESIRE to set lofty goals, and make more changes in myself.  In fact, I WANT to change!  What about you?  Will you be more bold this next year in prayer?  Will you seek Him more in quiet time?  Want to live a life you have never lived before?  Walk closer than you have ever walked with God before?  Are you bold enough to ASK Him to change the things that need changing?  We do have to step into the water before God will part it.  I’m all in… and jumping in!    Now is the time.  He is calling us all to lean in closer.  Be watchful of what God is doing in and around you.  He wants you to pray, believe, and then let Him do it, and then thank Him.  I hope you have a wonderful New Year and remember a prayer of thanks for all He HAS done, then thank Him for what He already has in store for you!

Please share in the comments any special gratitudes that you have from this last year.  Thanks for being a faithful reader of this blog!  I hope you share it and enjoy it even more this next year!  For those who were encouraged by my post about my jar, to make one of your own, I hope you will share how it was for you as you read through the year in the life of…YOU!

Walking the journey with you…with a jump here and there!