*2013*

Psalm 42:10 - David tells his soul to be still. By this point his raging emotions are probably fervently reminding him that his enemies are after him- so David, where is your God?
I felt exactly like this when I began reflecting on 2012. Where has God been this year for you Neeqs? Did you expect to be in this place? But just like David did in verse 11 I had to tell my soul to be still - hope in God!

2010 and 2011 had been two very hard years for me! The struggles were hard and each year seemed to bring more obstacles. I fought through those two years and hoped and prayed that 2012 would bring greater things. So I sat some time ago thinking what greater things did I see? Before my mind could focus on the greatness of of this year (because there were great things) I had invasions of where has your God been? I then began to allow the failures of my year to dampen my expectancy of 2013. 2012 wasn't impressive so neither will 2013 be.
It wasn't until I had two conversations with friends that my perspective began to change. My friends spoke to to me about having goals and plans for 2013. Because of previous thoughts, I thought it was pointless. But I began to plan...and God began to reveal. All those things that I had let go of and abandoned in 2012 He rekindled in me. All the struggles that I thought I had to carry with me into the next year God reminded me that changes will come in 2013 and more freedom will come. God makes all things new- it is a new year! God is going to do great things.

I really believe for a number of reasons that unity is important for this year. God is going to be bringing things together, plans together, people together...there is going to be an alignment. It is when things come together that we see things happen. For example in Acts 2:1-2 it says that the disciples were in ONE place, in ONE accord, when the Holy Spirit came. There was unity amongst them and there Bible says, "And suddenly...". I really believe that this year as alignment takes place in many different areas of our lives there will be a lot of 'and suddenly's. 

I'm not just talking about in our churches or our families, but also in ourselves. James 1:6-7 speaks of a the man who doubts is a double minded man. Either we believe or we don't. In ourselves we can be double-minded. "Maybe God loves me". "Maybe I love God". "Maybe God has great plans for me". "Half of me wants to serve God, the other half is unsure. I just go by how I am feeling at the time." Very double minded. Joshua 24:15 reads "Choose this day who you will serve". When we are unified in our thoughts about who we are serving, we will see 'and suddenly's. The challenge this year is when in every decision and situation I have to choose who I serve, I want to choose God every time- being very sure in my decisions!

Have a great 2013!!