New Year, Same God
Happy New Year everyone!!!!!!!
The year has changed, but our God remains the same! At a recent vision board party, when discussing everything my friends and I wanted to accomplish, someone asked, "What's your word for the year?" She was asking what's the one word that is going to be at the forefront of my mind, what word is going to take me over into greater this year. To be honest, I hadn't thought of anything. And in that moment, "Faith" escaped my lips. When I thought about the word I chose on the drive home, I immediately thought well that was silly because I already have faith! Boosting myself up, I thought, "when other people say I can't, I'm the first one to say 'but God can!' When someone says we can accomplish THIS in THAT amount of time, I'm saying 'God doesn't need that amount of time. He can accomplish this ASAP!'" But, the more I thought of it these couple of weeks, I've truly been convicted. I realized that though I have no problem seeing BIG things that others can't see, there are even things that I can't imagine: dreams that are beyond my wildest dreams. Even my level of faith has a ceiling.
I looked at my 2018 to-do list and threw it away. Everything I wanted to accomplish, all of my goals pale in comparison to the greatest I believe God desires for me. What I listed were no BIG things for God. I knew in that moment, with enough effort and determination, I would have no problem accomplishing them. SO WHY HAVE THEM? If my goal this year is to completely maximize my faith, those goals would no longer be enough. I want some serious, miraculous works to happen. Some spiritual shifts and supernatural chains breaking that even I sometimes wonder am I asking for too much! See, faith in itself is the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things unseen. But if I can imagine it in my own strength, I realized I didn't need really faith. I just needed persistence. But faith is a true God concept. Without Him, I can do nothing. And with Him, I can't fail. Or at least that's what His Word says (John 15:5), so why not put it to the test? Just faith it up to the extreme. What do I have to lose, right? But, I have absolutely everything to gain.
A lack of Faith comes from an overabundance of fear, and usually that fear is of failure. I recently completed a Bible Plan that was titled Chasing Failure. It was all about trying EVERYTHING your mind can think of because you only have two options: success or failure. And of course the question, "what if I fail" always enters the back of our minds (which is a complete and utter attack from the enemy). BUT, how often do we actually sit and say, "WHAT IF I SUCCEED?" Think about how life-changing that could be in moments of uncertainty. Although I can list quite a few successes in my life, I have an even longer list of failures where most exist because I failed to even attempt in the first place. I settled for defeat before I ever tried. Will I allow fear to cripple me or will I rise to the occasion and FAITH IT UP?!
I realize now that those moments are the true moments to show where my Faith lies. I was unknowingly showing that I had more faith in myself, in my own failure than I did in the matchless power of my God. Though I may fail in my own strength, I serve a Father who has never, ever, EVER failed. He's like 123,985,093,098,473,126,543,289,983,2478,896 to 0! None can compare. Not even my doubts! So TAKE THAT teeny tiny goals! You have no place here. Doubt and Fear will not cripple me in 2018!
I truly feel in my heart and spirit that THIS is the year of NEW. God is really going to do some spectacular things in our lives if we will allow Him the space and opportunity.If we will examine our hearts and see where I true Faith and Hope lies. If we find that it is misplaced in things of this world or our own strength, repent, and redirect to Him, He will blow our minds like never before.
There is a song that has been on my heart this month called "Fall" by The Belonging Co. (Please go listen to it!!!) The lyrics say, "My eyes beyond what it looks like. I will only see all You promised me... My Faith beyond what it feels like. All the way to You... Something's changing in the spirit. Something's breaking, I can feel it. Heaven come down. Let the weight of Heaven fall. Have your way." Oh what would happen if that would be the true cry of our hearts. Lord, beyond what my physical eyes can see, I'm so fixed on you that I am immovable by anything that is not like you! My faith level is at an all time high and heaven has no choice but to come down and tend to me!! God, you have to come sit and rest right here on your child! Open the windows of Heaven and pour out blessing, upon blessing, upon blessing, until my cup overflows. And that is truly God's desire for His children: for us to live abundantly in the overflow. But, we have to have hearts and minds that are ready for all that He has in store for us. That starts by building up our faith. Here are some scriptures that I refer to when my spirit needs to be stirred:
James 2:14-26
Hebrews 11:6; 13:8
Ephesians 2:8-10
Philippians 1:6; 4:13
Mark 11:22-24
Matthew 8:26; 17:20; 21:22
Psalm 121:1-2
Romans 8:31, 38-39
2 Peter 1:3-4
Luke 1:37
This year will be unlike anything we have ever experienced. It sounds scary and absolutely delightful at the same time!! I'm so ready for it! Will you level up your faith with me to make the miraculous a reality? Let's encourage each other. What are some of your favorite faith scriptures and songs of faith? Put them in the comment section below!
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