Standing on the threshold of a new year, what are you hoping to find? What new experiences or changes are you anticipating? What do you want to leave behind? Despite the uncertainty before us, we have encouragement and a comforting promise from our Heavenly Father:
“The land you are to take possession of is a land of mountains and valleys that drinks rain from heaven. It is a land that Lord your God cares for; the eyes of the Lord your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end.” Deuteronomy 11:11-12
This verse reminds us that our lives will have both mountains and valleys; it’s not all flat or downhill. If life is always smooth and easy, we won’t grow, and life would become stagnate. We need the valleys and the hills. The challenges of the mountains keep us returning to the throne of our heavenly Father, where we find grace in our time of need.
God is our source of supply. In Him are the springs, fountains, and streams that will never run dry. We can be assured that God will lead and guide us; all we need to do is stay close to Him, take His hand, and trust that He knows the way.
In the book of Judges, the tribe of Dan was looking for a place of their own to settle because they had not yet come into an inheritance among the tribes of Israel. They came to land and asked the Lord if this was for them. Here was God’s answer to them:
“Come on…! The land is very good. Aren’t you going to do something? Don’t hesitate to go there and take it over…God has put into your hands a land that lacks nothing whatever.” Judges 18:9-10
This command of “Come on!” indicates that there is something definite for us to do, and nothing will come of it unless we put forth some effort. We need to have an appropriating faith in God’s promises and make His word our possession. Appropriating faith is an action word, a verb that means to take hold of something for one’s use; to seize; to take hold of; to grasp. As a child of God, He has permitted you to take His word for yourself as 2 Corinthians 1:20 says, “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ.” This year, my hope and prayer are that we will take God at His word and step confidently into all that He is dreaming for us and have the tenacity to finish strong!
We pray that God bless and keep you and make His face shine upon you. We ask that the Lord be gracious to you and give you peace. May this year be marked in you by increasing faith and power in the Holy Spirit. And may you take the land He has marked out for you!
“The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.” Psalm 16:6 ESV
Cheering you on!
Your Sister’s at SALT+CLAY
Photo credit Deborah Tracey Photography
