2019: Year of BRAVERY

First of all, I apologize for falling off the grid for the past six weeks or so…

Over Christmas break, I felt like I was supposed to really think through some things, spend my time with family, and take a deep breath out.

Jumping into this NEW YEAR, I have felt both excitement with a heavy helping of nerves. Feeling pressure come down and around me due to the worry of other people’s opinions, entering into the last part of my Junior Year of college, and still frustrated with the uncertainty of the future, I have had a hard time claiming the PEACE that is found in Jesus.

Laying in my bed and reading my Bible, I felt like God said the word for this new year is BRAVERY.

When God gave me the word BRAVERY, some of the different things He challenged in include…

Choosing to stand DEFENSELESS (by my own means), to stand content in OBSCURITY, to pray BIG prayers, to stand ALONE, to SPEAK, to STAY SILENT, to choose His PEACE, to ADMIT where and when I fail, and to ACCEPT HIS GRACE.

Choosing to stand defenseless by my own means, may mean choosing not to lash out on those who have either hurt me and/or my family. Letting God be my DEFENDER.

Choosing to stand content in obscurity, may mean having to serve behind the scenes without receiving credit or recognition. Authentically serving God, for God alone.

Choosing to pray big prayers, not allowing my own mind and expectations of reality to defy the absolute power that God possesses. Growth of prayer life and faith for big things.

Choosing to be content in standing alone, if that means that I choose not to compromise with the convictions that God has given me.

Choosing to speak when God gives me the prompting. No filtering the words that He may give—To risk being critiqued. God does speak CLEARLY.

Choosing to stay silent in those times where everything in me wants to scream my own opinion or confront someone in a harsh way.

Choosing to stay gripped upon the peace that Jesus has promised. Not allowing any event or situation to steal away the peace that is so graciously given to me. Moment by moment.

Choosing to put away my own pride and admit failure, when I have done somebody wrong. Quickly asking for forgiveness and quickly repenting.

Choosing to accept the grace that Jesus has made possible for my mistakes. Not allowing myself to get hung up on the many times I fail. Choosing to trade my shame for joy.

These are all typically things that I would not associate with bravery, but when I was considering that which I fear the most… these are the things where more bravery is needed. They all require humbling myself, which is one of the hardest things to do. Putting aside all confidence that I have in my own abilities, and placing all of it in Jesus. It takes bravery to really TRUST in God.

So, my friends…

Let’s all continue in this year with bravery by fully putting our trust in God and obeying the promptings that He gives us.

2019: More of Him and Less of Me.