Journal Entry...

#anabundantlifeseeker
Jan 1, 2021
3 min read

When I think back to this time last year I was optimistic and convinced that things could not get any worse. 2019 had been disappointing to say the least. I had planned to make this my best year, I was about to turn 30 and I had big plans. The celebrations were expected to run throughout the whole year, I was planning to live it up as if it was my last.

In all my excitement for the possibilities ahead, it didn’t even dawn on me that the turmoil I had experienced in 2019 may have been just the beginning. My inability to be able to see into my future left me completely unaware of the emotional distress I was about to endure and the battle my mind was one day going to wake up in.

Last year (2019) I learnt about and experienced God’s unconditional and unchanging love, this year (2020) I learnt and experienced God’s power. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve seen God do many things for me throughout the years. But this year, He moved and left me speechless.

“People may make plans in their minds, but the LORD decides what they will do". Proverb 16:9

Over the Christmas my brother made the point that the word ‘but’ makes everything before it pointless. This year reminded me of God’s sovereignty (supreme power and authority).

“With God’s power working in us, God can do much, much more than anything we can ask or imagine.” Ephesians 3:20

Each time I asked for God's help He surpassed my expectations (my friends, my work colleagues, university extensions, my bathroom to mention but a few).

My word for the year 2020 was 'INTENTIONAL'. I wanted to be intentional with my prayer life; exploring the practicalities of the principles in the Bible (money, work etc); my business – having a plan, getting to grips with social media; with my family - making the effort through phone calls and visits; with my money – spending less; sharing God – wherever, whenever, however.

This year my word is ‘DILIGENCE’ as I’ve learnt that mentally deciding and purposing to do an act or seek a specific result is only profitable if you are;

A) constant (continuing without pause, regular, not changing or varying) in your effort to accomplish the things you’ve set to be intentional about.

“The answer is, if you eat or drink, or if you do anything, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31

B) attentive (observant, thoughtful, considerate) in all scenarios

“Our fight is not against people on earth but against the rulers and authorities and the powers of this world’s darkness, against the spiritual powers of evil in the heavenly world.” Ephesians 6:12

“We fight with weapons that are different from those the world uses. Our weapons have power from God that can destroy the enemy’s strong places. We destroy people’s arguments and every proud thing that raises itself against the knowledge of God. We capture every thought and make it give up and obey Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:4-5

C) persistent (to stand firmly in your purpose regardless of opposition, obstacles or discouragement) in all circumstances

“In your lives you must think and act like Christ Jesus. Christ himself was like God in everything. But he did not think that being equal with God was something to be used for his own benefit. But he gave up his place with God and made himself nothing. He was born as a man and became like a servant. And when he was living as a man, he humbled himself and was fully obedient to God, even when that caused his death—death on a cross.” Philippians 2:5-8

I like to write in my journal, just to keep a record of what God’s doing. What you just read was this year's (2020) last entry.

I share this because despite all our hopes of 2021 bringing something better, the reality of life is that there is also a chance that things could get worse, the unexpected could happen and you might be left feeling things that you never thought possible. You might get to a point where despite the support from your family and friends you’re left feeling hopeless. If by any chance this does happen to you in 2021, I want you to know that regardless of how you feel and what you see, God is able!