"But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come." ---John 16:13
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So at the cafe last week, some ladies chatted about the ridiculousness of 2020 and one ended the conversation with, "Not to mention I lost a year out of my life."
Oh dear! I hope you don't feel that way. For me, 2020 was valuable. More deeply, I understood what Joyce Meyer often says:
"We live Life forward, but we understand it backward."
2020 came along and suddenly I understood how the Holy Spirit--without ever using the word 'pandemic' (or 'plandemic', certainly)--warned me for whole decades to prepare for a 2020 shift in reality.
He'd nudged me to collect:
food, emergency supplies
books (comfort and instructional)
godly encouragers
accessible savings
prepper knowledge
garden seeds
gardening experience
vitamins, immune system boosters
housework lists
hair-cutting experience
a planned-out wardrobe
wisdom
-- and taught me to need Him far more than other people, even. Only God has never disappointed me, only to Him will I give 100% of my heart, emotions and mind.
Yep, that's controversial, but I know what (who) brings me these thousands of peaceful-heart days. It's that reliance upon Him, that needing Him more than anyone else.
The Bible said this:
"But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people. No one needed to tell him about human nature, for he knew what was in each person’s heart." ---John 2:24, 25
After a year like 2020? Oh Honey, I understand that on a deeper level, also.
Pressure and stress! They yank out (for all to see) our growth and our stubborness to remain and suffer. Stress makes known how far we've veered from humility. Stress in 2020 showed us friends on our same page and those in a whole separate book.
Stress reveals who and which beliefs we truly follow.
2020 to 2021! The learning, warning and reaping year. And although I've told you I know bright, godly happenings await ahead--what I don't know is how long we've got until they appear. How long before folks wake up, repent, warn others and live biblically so God can bless our land again.
But the remarkable 2020 lessons we learned and our wonderful Teacher, Himself--they will keep us strong, prepared and anticipatory.
No matter what. That is, if we've learned our lessons well.
"...if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." ---2 Chronicles 7:14
That wild 2020 year invited us to know God and ourselves better than ever.
The truth will set us free.
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More special movies Tom and I watched:
The Dog Who Saved Summer (only if you're in the mood for something silly) ツ
(If you've watched any of the films I've recommended this year, I'd love to hear what you thought about them!)
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"Sometimes God will put a Goliath in your life for you to find the David within you." ---Matt Couch
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"For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." ... Matthew 6:14,15
2 comments:
First of all, I just love the beautiful header on this post! Makes me want to plant some pansies!! Nope, I don't think 2020 was a "Lost Year" at all. If anything, some of us learned a whole lot; and many of us learned more about ourselves than we bargained for. I'm not proud of the fact that I had some moments of fear, but the One who knows everything told us to "Fear not," and with His help, my fears slipped away. This life we live is for learning. Some years will be rougher than others, but there will always be joy, peace and hope, if we welcome the Father into our lives. I'm so thankful that He loves us, no matter how messed up we are!
2020 a lost year? Nope. I learned I can be content with my own company and not always being on the go. I spent a LOT more time in the WORD of God and thus grew exponentially in my faith and I always thought I had a lot of faith already. :-) Dennis told me tonight that our governor is moving BACK a Phase and closing restaurants, etc. again. That's so disappointing. He said the numbers aren't any different so I don't know what's happening. Certainly not faith in the one that can heal us all of everything.
Blessings my friend.
Betsy
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