Confession: I do not love the beginning of a new year. But I try to plan for it and stay as positive as possible. Before I started this devotion, I looked back on the one I wrote for February last year. A lot of bittersweet emotions, but through it all, acknowledging that God loves me and he is enough. I still need that reminder as Christmas ends and I trudge through the wasteland of January toward my least favorite holiday, Valentine’s Day. But enough of the negative.
A huge theme for the end of 2024 for me was purpose. God gave me the realization that telling the story of what he has done for me is my life’s purpose. That carries forward into the new year, even into my least-favorite parts of it. Serving God is a joy, but I’ll be honest – it hasn’t always been what I expected it to be. At forty, I still cling to a remnant of a “happily ever after” hope, but only a thread of that remains as I realize it's foolish to expect such an imperfect world to be perfect. (I’ve been going through a Karen Carpenter music phase).
As you might have guessed, I’ve been battling cynicism lately. And I don’t like it. Which is why I jumped at the chance for an hour-long prayer meeting at church on the first Saturday in January. Oh, how I needed it.
I wasn’t sure what to pray about. I just listened to what God was telling me. Soon I realized I was seeing a mental image of myself wearing one of those flowy dresses that little girls twirl around in. I was dancing in the sunshine, so happy and carefree. Before I knew it, there was Jesus, dancing with me. Would anyone be offended if I said he was wearing a tux? The instrumental worship music being played in the sanctuary became the soundtrack for a dance that went on and on for several minutes.
Then something happened in this mental image that I’m not ready to share because it’s so dear to my heart. I’ll just say that God invited me to keep believing in something I thought was hopeless. He reminded me how limitless his love is and that declaring it is part of my purpose. Because love is not just what he does, it's who he is. And knowing that love is worth every moment in this imperfect world.
Dear Father, thank you for your endless love that permeates my fragile, war-torn heart. Help me continue my journey to understand how great it truly is, how much love is who you ARE. Help me declare your great love to others. In Jesus’ name amen.
Throughout this day: How does knowing God loves you impact how you see the world?
This song is a timeless declaration of God’s love for me and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do: Tenth Avenue North - Love Is Here
Photo Credit: Bridgette Tohm