Echoes of a New Year

2 Chronicles 7:14

if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Last year was a roller coaster! So much happened. And the last few months especially were packed with God given opportunities to grow. I grew a lot this year, in my relationship with God, in my knowledge of God, and in my passion for God. 

Through the theatrical production empowered, God revealed to me, more deeply than I have ever known, just who he is. He showed me through his Holy Spirit so many things about his character. It was a time that I will always look back on with a smile and a tear. It was a time of passionate pouring out. And anyone and everyone who saw or was involved with that play will tell you that The Lord anointed that play. And he worked in the hearts of the cast most of all. He changed my life forever through that play. And I don't want to be the same after it. 

In November I got the chance to visit the Evangelical Institute down in South Carolina. And through that The Lord grew me in my knowledge of Him. He taught me, He showed me, He revealed to me more knowledge in those few days than I had learned all year. And He showed me at least a part of the path that I believe he wants me to follow. 

And finally through the passing of a good friend and brother He taught me passion. Wilson was a man who lived a life poured out, a man who constantly sought to help others. And through his example he has inspired countless people to a greater faith, and greater love and appreciation for those around him. He was a man who lived passionately and I want to live as passionately as he did. 

These three things are mainly what The Lord taught me last year. He stretched me beyond what I thought I could bear, He revealed to me more than than I deserved or asked for. And he strengthened me more than I could have imagined. 

Now you might be wondering why I chose this verse again. Well my family this year decided to make words and verses for the year. The word I chose was inspire and I'll get to that in a second, but this was the verse that I chose. The reason I chose the word inspire goes back to the play empowered, I was praying one night and I asked The Lord to give me one word to describe what He wants me to do, the word that I felt He gave me was inspire. And I'm hoping to do a whole blog post on that word, or maybe even a series. Now back to the verse. There's a reason I picked this verse. It's one that I feel we as a nation need! Our nation is falling apart, and it is the churches fault. We as a church, as the people of God, have put our heads down, hidden beyond our doors, and shut out the God that can change us, and change this world through us. We as a nation, as chosen people need this verse. If his people, the ones he has chosen to declare his name, and the ones he has strengthened to accomplish things greater than His son did, humble themselves, get on our knees before Him in submission to whatever His will may be, and pray, pray harder than ever before because our church needs more prayer than ever before, and seek his face, seek him more than all the treasures of the earth, and turn form our wicked ways, turn from the ways we've rejected and grieved him. Then, and only then, after we've done what he has called us to do, after we lay aside our pride, and pray, and seek, and turn, He, as a merciful God and Father, will hear our cries, shower his mercy on us, and see a people that he can use to do his will, and finally through us he will show his strength and heal our land. 

I'm tired of living day after day seeing this world, seeing those around me, seeing the church fall farther and farther away from what God has for them. He has amazing things in store if we will simply stop and surrender! This year let us not back down from the hard things. Let us not give up opportunities for God to work through us because of fear. Let us open the doors of our hearts and allow him to start a work in us. Stand this year for Christ. Change the world for Christ! Do not fear the world, for Christ has overcome the world! And we are filled with power from on high. Use what God has given you. Give all you have to Christ and let Him do the rest. 

Hear the echoes of last years growth, calling you to this years purpose. Hear the God who has grown you, and who now calls you to greater and more glorious things than you can imagine! 

Ephesians 1:19-20

and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places.