Final Thoughts For 2016

Dear Friends,

As 2016 draws to a close I am tempted to look back on the past year with reflection. However, I believe what God is saying is not to look back, but to instead keep my eyes ahead. The past is over and a continued victory behind my back. Jesus has brought me to the place I am now, no matter how it feels in each moment, and He is going to continue to strengthen me as I walk forward on this path He called me too.

He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.

Isaiah 40:29

If I were to look back on this year, I could easily see so much trouble, sorrow and pain in my life. Yet, I could do the same thing with any year before that. The devil has consistently tried to bring me down in this world, but Jesus Christ has held me up, even if I was only hanging on to my sanity by the strings of my soul. There is only one thing I need to focus on now: today.

Today is the day that we can do. We cannot retrieve the past and we cannot know the future, but today we can fight the good fight that is before us, and continue to walk in the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ. I admit, some days are extra hard for me. It is very difficult to keep my eyes on the prize and very easy to feel like I’m drowning in the midst of it. That is why we must all stand firm together in this war, and hold each other up daily. No one can do this fight alone. We were not made too.

The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.

Revelation 3:21

I am so thankful for each and every one of you, my brothers and sisters in Christ. We are all the light, and together we are holding back the darkness. Together we are the light on the hill that cannot be hidden. Together we stand firm and strong on the Rock of Jesus Christ. Together we are going to win this war and see the victory that Jesus promised us is coming. Do not let your lamp go out my friends, but instead allowing Jesus to keep refilling you. The oil of our lamps is the Holy Spirit within us, and as a long as we keep fighting for our freedom, and for truth, walking in love with God, we will keep our oil replenished. Just like the widow who trusted in God and never ran out.

My prayer for this next year is for more of Jesus for each one of us. I pray we each be so filled up with the Spirit of the Lord that it overflows into every part of who we are, and every aspect of our lives. I pray that His love shines in us so brightly that it begins to diminish darkness all around us. If you have ever noticed light does not have a shadow, then you will have seen that where the light is darkness truly cannot exist. So we must continually bring more of God into our lives; into our hearts and minds, and then we will see the real resurrection power of Jesus Christ within us.

The people who walked in darkness
    have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
    on them has light shone.

Isaiah 9:2

I am taking a break for the holidays, and I will be back with a new post on January 9th. Have a wonderful and blessed holiday season, and I will see you next year. I love you all!

Love,

Beth

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

John 1:5