We want to finish 2013 strong at our church and encouragement flowed from the pulpit this weekend to do just that. Our speaker gave us four steps to finish strong and I have started today.
The first step is reflecting on what God has done for me this year and prayers that have been answered. I listed everything I could think of early this morning and added as the day went on. My list includes:
- Healing from celiac disease and leaky gut syndrome with tangible physical improvement.
- Release from an emotional entanglement that died aborning.
- Increase in my provision.
- Encouragement about the celebration in heaven when it’s time for my elderly mother to go home.
- Favor at my place of employment beyond anything others expected and grace to honor those there to whom honor is due.
- Peace about my current job as a time of gleaning.
- Healing from the effects of past hurt in marriage previously unidentified.
- A new depth of peace about provision for my sons and their families.
- A deeper sense that His ways are so much better than my ideas.
- Joining an awesome team of prayer partners at church – all truly sisters in the Lord.
The second step is to refrain from complaining about prayers not yet answered and dreams yet to be fulfilled. How can I complain when I look at the first list? There is really nothing more to do than step three, which is rejoice and step four which is repeat the rejoicing. I will finish this year strong and delighting in God who is faithful in all His ways.
I will count on the blessing just as our speaker taught, knowing that He who has been faithful cannot and will not change. He is the same yesterday, today and forever and my life is a testimony of His faithfulness. I only ask for grace to give God all the praise and glory for who He is!