Hi Everyone!
I hope you all had a beautiful New Years!
Last January, the leaders of our church held a servant leaders night and shared with us what God had put on their hearts. Our Pastor explained how he really felt God directing us to focus our attention and our hearts on a single word God put in our minds. Some of our Pastors shared what God was showing them as their focus for the year.
I fell in love with the idea. We broke off into groups and told each other the one word God was putting in our hearts and then we prayed for each other. The word that popped into my mind was passion. I felt I needed to become more passionate about God, about my faith and my purpose.
As I prayed over the next months for passion, I felt so inspired by God. I wrote more songs on faith, and became very passionate about this message. I could see how faith in God had shaped my life and my story; how faith had shaped the songs I’d written and the ones I was writing. I got excited by the testimony God had given me. It had been a tough journey, but the story of God’s redeeming love is so powerful.
I found God bringing His word to life and reminding me of stories of faith in the Bible, of passionate people like Simon. I wrote a song called Walk on Water. His excitement of seeing Jesus on the water and asking him to call him out. He was brave enough to step off that boat and walk on the water. Of course, we learn our lesson from him about keeping our eyes on Jesus, no matter how big the waves that come at us. To be so full of passion, zeal and excitement that you’d pursue God and plunge in, that’s what I was wanting.
Same with the woman who knew if she could just touch the hem of Jesus’ garment, she’d be healed. Such faith and passion. She put all of her hope and trust in him to heal her, which he did.
In saying all this, I’ve come to realize how instead of making New year’s resolutions, which I never keep, I want a New Year’s revelation. I want to look to God this year again for what He’s putting on my heart. What can I learn from God this year, as I live my life for him? What is God saying to you this year, as you pursue Him?
For me, it’s to fall in love with him all over again. To love His word and spending time with him, not because I feel like I “have” to do devotions, but simply to spend time with him like I would my husband or my children. To invest more of my time with him, to really get to know His heart more.
Happy New Year’s Revelations!!!
Andrea Vestby