Dear friend,
It's a new year, and with every transition comes opportunity. I hope you will join me in committing afresh to making the most of the time God has given us--seeking His face, receiving His grace gifts, growing in knowledge and experience, and extending ourselves to others.
The Lord has given me a word for the year. While I didn't expect this type of word, I know it is right. Breathe! [Read more] Not only have I embraced this annual focus, but I'm happy to say that “breathe” has much more meaning than just inhaling and exhaling! This type of breathing aligns us with God’s will. We relax into it even as we passionately pursue being and doing all God has planted in the soil of our souls.
GREAT CONCEPT, BUT HOW DOES THAT
LOOK IN REAL LIFE?
First, we must abide. Sit with Jesus. Practice His presence. In sweet communion with the Lord, we breathe in the atmosphere of Heaven and it infuses us with vibrant faith, hope, and love. As we study the Living Word, we intentionally commit ourselves to God’s superior wisdom and invite the Lord to inform, reform, and transform our thinking and behavior. There is a type of “knowing” that comes exclusively from our personal encounters with God from which we gain perception through participation, greater stability, and depth unattainable through studies alone.
Every worthwhile endeavor
begins with a relationship with God.
In addition to spiritual connectivity, the Lord imparted three directives for this year (which I believe are applicable to His church as well):
Taking on these powerful charges will increase our personal growth as well as our ministry (and we are all ministers, see 2 Cor 5:11–21). The process of fine-tuning involves adjusting our routines and habits. We declutter, reorganize, scale back, add things in, and cut things off even if only for a season with the goal of clarifying where we should invest our time and energy to maximize our effectiveness. Honing requires repeated contact with a “sharpening stone" (see Prov 27:17, Deut 32:4). Through an abrasive process, instruments (you and I) are smoothed, refined, and perfectly finished to accomplish targeted actions, tasks, or functions. In order to unite, our hearts must align with God and each other. In itself, the word implies the joining of different groups or individuals. We know this was Christ's prayer for His church. He knows we are different, and he also knows the power of agreement.
Power flows where unity prevails.
Coming full circle now, we see that abiding means coming into oneness with God--and that peaceful union should result in oneness with His people. Scripture tells us God’s thoughts are continually upon us and about us (see Ps 115:12). In response, we purposely direct our thoughts to include Him--that we might know Him so well we are able to anticipate His desires. I want to know God better. First, because He is worthy and wonderful. Second, because "flowing" comes from "knowing." Our world needs God's Spirit to flow, so we must endeavor to gain and maintain unity with the Spirit and unity in the Spirit
Thank you for sharing a few moments of your day. My prayer for you in 2023 is that you would find pleasure in your God-ordained purpose and that you would live with joy in the "house" of the Lord.
Rev. Lori Wagner, MTS
Traveling Minister, Author, Teacher
Affirming Faith Founding Director
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