Though you may not see it, the one thing that
comes to the forefront of mind in this New Year when I think of our lives is
the word layers. Not layers in the sense that we have walls up, but layers of
depth that we have not learned how to fully comprehend yet. Sometimes when we
jog our minds, thinking upon all the things that God has given and done in us,
we are still clueless of all the gifts that truly lie within.
Spiritually, we may feel that we have to wait
for someone to show or help us better understand who God has called us to be.
Some things, however, have yet to be revealed because God wants you to know the
capacity and power that lies within through your personal relationship and
communion with Him.
God giving you something that you want is not
enough because He desires more for your life and would never give you anything
that is not tied to His will. Ladies, what I am saying is that you are far
beyond how you envision yourself to be. I challenge you in this New Year that
God has blessed you with to dig into those layers and seek a deeper
understanding of who you are. I am not talking about something that is on the
surface; I mean reaching to depths that you have never known.
There is a voice, and there are thoughts,
visions, dreams, goals, gifts and a heart that you need to embrace in order to
share all of these intricate parts with the world. You may be the kind of
person who likes things to be simple, easy, clear, precise and uncomplicated.
But you need to know that there is more. I am calling and speaking to the seeds
planted within that are ready to grow and produce fruit.
When you follow this road, I pray that you stay
true to who Christ has called you to be, even in the challenges you face. I
pray that you walk in integrity and strength because you will, again, be
challenged. You are challenged because God is faithful and He requires more of
you than you can see. Ask Him to open your eyes and enlarge your territory. Let
God use you to your fullest potential.
God has called you to be a leader and to lead
with your voice- not only from your heart, but also from His. Be bold, be
courageous and be a vessel for the Lord. Although we are imperfect, and while
we may feel that there is no way to start over, you need to know that our
beginning in this New Year does not require any fireworks, bells, or whistles.
His mercies are new every morning. Receive them.
As you walk into the beginning of this New Year, I encourage you to take these words with you:
God is
with you. Do not give up because it is through Him that we find hope. Every day
that we are here is a new day, no matter how tough life gets. Take a deep breath
and keep pushing.
Jesus
said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish
his work. Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’?
Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for
harvest. Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for
eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the
saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for
which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor”
(John 4:34-38 ESV).