I sense in my heart that this will be an encouragement to someone as we come close to the end of 2020.
A few days ago, I discovered a text message I’d written earlier this year…January 1st of 2020 to be exact. I’m not even sure how or why I’d scrolled all the way back to it—other than the Holy Spirit directing me outside of my conscious thought. He has promised to bring all things the Lord has spoken to our remembrance, after-all…even if it takes an almost-year-old text message we’ve completely forgotten about! As I read what I wrote, though, I was in awe. This is what I’d shared with my friend:
“Thank you for your call yesterday. As I listened to your message, it actually brought me to tears. It caused me to acknowledge just how challenging things have been…a good thing for me to face because it’s only when we acknowledge what’s going on in our hearts that we can then go to Him with it. I was discouraged and still in tears as I entered into 2020, but God reminded me of Psalms 126:5-6 and Psalms 51:12, 15 as I went to bed, so I take them as a Word from Him for the year and expect joy to be my strength in 2020: ‘Those who sow their tears as seeds will reap a harvest with joyful shouts of glee. They may weep as they go out carrying their seed to sow, but they will return with joyful laughter and shouting with gladness as they bring back armloads of blessing and a harvest overflowing.’ ‘Let my passion for life be restored, tasting joy in every breakthrough You bring to me. Hold me close to You with a willing spirit that obeys whatever You say. Lord God, unlock my heart, unlock my lips, and I will overcome with my joyous praise!’ TPT”
As I reread these words a few days ago, I was in absolute awe. You see, I didn’t just START 2020 with tears. Tears have honestly been a marker for much of my year—not joy. BUT GOD. In a variety of areas in my life over these past weeks, it has felt like accelerated change and restoration have come. Much of it has actually come as a result of challenging situations, but through these weeks, and even with the challenges, I have been in a tangible and experiential place of joy and peace and I have been strengthened and emboldened in who I am in Christ and who He has called me to be like never before. Truly, I have been “tasting joy in every breakthrough”!
So a few days ago, when I read the words I’d written that started my year…on January 1, 2020…words that I had literally forgotten about that ended with both a promise and a prayer…I realized that here, in these last weeks of 2020, I am living in the fulfillment of that promise and the answer to that prayer. It’s been a step-by-step and day-by-day journey, but here…in His perfect timing…God has done it! He has turned my tears to joy in 2020!
So as we come to the final days of 2020, what was it that God spoke to you about at the beginning of this year? Before COVID…Before protests…Before political rallies and debates…before whatever challenges that came trying to distract you from what He had told you about this year? If you don’t remember, ask Him to remind you…and I believe He will tell you again. And if you haven't seen it happen yet...I believe He will spark fresh hope and renewed faith that the One Who promised is also Faithful to bring it to pass! And if you don’t think you’ve ever heard from God…reach out to Jesus…talk to Him…pour out your heart…tell Him that you need Him and want Him in your life, and as you draw near to Him, He’s promised to draw near to you. He loves you. He gave His Life for you on the cross…and He’ll give His Life and Love and Joy and Peace to you in the here and now, too.
My continued prayer for you, for all of us, as we move into 2021 is that your passion for life will be restored…that you will taste joy in every breakthrough He brings you…that you will know He holds you close no matter what comes…that you will have a willing spirit to obey whatever He tells you…and that as He unlocks your heart and unlocks your lips that you will overcome anything that tries to overtake you in 2021 with your joyous praise! (Psalm 51:12,15 TPT) He is worthy of our trust!
A few days ago, I discovered a text message I’d written earlier this year…January 1st of 2020 to be exact. I’m not even sure how or why I’d scrolled all the way back to it—other than the Holy Spirit directing me outside of my conscious thought. He has promised to bring all things the Lord has spoken to our remembrance, after-all…even if it takes an almost-year-old text message we’ve completely forgotten about! As I read what I wrote, though, I was in awe. This is what I’d shared with my friend:
“Thank you for your call yesterday. As I listened to your message, it actually brought me to tears. It caused me to acknowledge just how challenging things have been…a good thing for me to face because it’s only when we acknowledge what’s going on in our hearts that we can then go to Him with it. I was discouraged and still in tears as I entered into 2020, but God reminded me of Psalms 126:5-6 and Psalms 51:12, 15 as I went to bed, so I take them as a Word from Him for the year and expect joy to be my strength in 2020: ‘Those who sow their tears as seeds will reap a harvest with joyful shouts of glee. They may weep as they go out carrying their seed to sow, but they will return with joyful laughter and shouting with gladness as they bring back armloads of blessing and a harvest overflowing.’ ‘Let my passion for life be restored, tasting joy in every breakthrough You bring to me. Hold me close to You with a willing spirit that obeys whatever You say. Lord God, unlock my heart, unlock my lips, and I will overcome with my joyous praise!’ TPT”
As I reread these words a few days ago, I was in absolute awe. You see, I didn’t just START 2020 with tears. Tears have honestly been a marker for much of my year—not joy. BUT GOD. In a variety of areas in my life over these past weeks, it has felt like accelerated change and restoration have come. Much of it has actually come as a result of challenging situations, but through these weeks, and even with the challenges, I have been in a tangible and experiential place of joy and peace and I have been strengthened and emboldened in who I am in Christ and who He has called me to be like never before. Truly, I have been “tasting joy in every breakthrough”!
So a few days ago, when I read the words I’d written that started my year…on January 1, 2020…words that I had literally forgotten about that ended with both a promise and a prayer…I realized that here, in these last weeks of 2020, I am living in the fulfillment of that promise and the answer to that prayer. It’s been a step-by-step and day-by-day journey, but here…in His perfect timing…God has done it! He has turned my tears to joy in 2020!
So as we come to the final days of 2020, what was it that God spoke to you about at the beginning of this year? Before COVID…Before protests…Before political rallies and debates…before whatever challenges that came trying to distract you from what He had told you about this year? If you don’t remember, ask Him to remind you…and I believe He will tell you again. And if you haven't seen it happen yet...I believe He will spark fresh hope and renewed faith that the One Who promised is also Faithful to bring it to pass! And if you don’t think you’ve ever heard from God…reach out to Jesus…talk to Him…pour out your heart…tell Him that you need Him and want Him in your life, and as you draw near to Him, He’s promised to draw near to you. He loves you. He gave His Life for you on the cross…and He’ll give His Life and Love and Joy and Peace to you in the here and now, too.
My continued prayer for you, for all of us, as we move into 2021 is that your passion for life will be restored…that you will taste joy in every breakthrough He brings you…that you will know He holds you close no matter what comes…that you will have a willing spirit to obey whatever He tells you…and that as He unlocks your heart and unlocks your lips that you will overcome anything that tries to overtake you in 2021 with your joyous praise! (Psalm 51:12,15 TPT) He is worthy of our trust!
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