A Weekly Journal to Embrace God’s Calling
January is the time for one’s soul to come inward, to reflect upon last year’s journey and prepare for a new season of life experiences ahead.
I am so thankful for the holidays filled with laughter and joy. As I put the cover on the last box of decorations, the cherished moments shared with family and friends will live on in my heart and thoughts throughout the year.
I am also grateful for the much needed rain we have had. As a wonderful blast of stormy wind whirled through the garden, I was reminded that the winter solstice is a perfect time to light a fire and snuggle up with a warm blanket and a cup of hot tea.
My thoughts led me to one of my favorite passages from Psalms 23 “He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.”
I took a deep breath, finding comfort and peace as my heart was reminded of the Christmas Season and the birth of our Lord and Savior:
“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son,
and they will call him Immanuel (which means “God with us”).”
Matthew 1:23
Our God is always with us.
I began to pen some notes to family and friends. I started to think about a list of things I would like to accomplish this year, tearing out a separate sheet of paper from my journal for my resolutions. Suddenly, a big gush of rain washed over our home with a loud clap of thunder. A little startled, I put my things down and got up to look outside, to make sure everything was okay in the garden. Peering through the sheets of rain, my mind became clear. It was as if God was trying to get my attention. Pull away from a year’s list of to-do’s! Look up at Him, in prayer, and listen to what He is calling you to do for His Glory.
You see, I do not believe we are walking into a new year of the same old thing. I believe that we, as Believers, are walking into a season of God’s new beginnings to carry forth for His Glory.
This January, instead of writing a list of resolutions, I invite you to join me on a journey of hearing God’s calling for you. Make this a year filled with ChristMORE (a new phrase that has been rattling around in my mind for the last month). Open the doors for peace and creativity by committing to writing in a journal at least once a week. Let go of old ways and make more time for Christ. Together, we’ll welcome in a season of new beginnings as we embrace God’s calling for our lives.
“All that man can know of God and His Love in this life is revealed in Jesus Christ.” A.W. Tozer
This year, let’s put God first in all the things we do. Invite God to join you on every decision, every activity and even every thought.
Spend more time with God in reading his word, communing with Him to embrace his blessings and the promises He has in store for you, for His Glory.
And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love him,
who have been called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28
May we open our hearts more to ‘ChristMore’ — to hear God’s calling for us to dream big, imagine beyond, create freely, and embrace the gifts of His beauty in everything around us. May we know and understand God’s endless love and kindness that is to be reflected by us and shared with those around us.
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works,
which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
– Ephesians 2:10
And maybe, when we step back from the electronic noise and block out moments of each day for quiet journaling, God will enter into our hearts. Hear His voice — he is calling for us to embrace the true essence of His love and to live a life of joy filled with real experiences that He has planned for you and me.
“The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your love,
O Lord, endures forever—do not abandon the works of your hands.”
– Psalm 138:8
What a great way to start the new year. Free from the old ways and reenergized for greater things ahead. Just open the ears of your Heart to our God as He is calling all of us for His Glory…
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,
“plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future.”
– Jeremiah 29:11
How God is Calling You for His Glory:
Study the word
Create quiet space and time to pray and mediate on God’s word
Turn off the noise and distraction
Keep a Journal
Be free in thoughts
Let go of old ways
Welcome in the new
Make time for ChristMORE in all you do
Some word prompts to help you write about how God is calling you:
Peace:
Joy:
Laughter:
Simple Beauty:
Create:
Dream:
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:4-10