You may expect one of those typical New Year’s Day posts from me full of positive, inspirational sayings like “Today is the start of a blank book with 365 pages waiting for you to write your story.”   However, that is not what is on my heart as we start 2019.

Last December the Lord laid a verse so heavy on my heart that I couldn’t get away from it.  “Behold I will do a NEW thing.  Do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness, even rivers in the desert.”  I wrote this verse on my chalkboard, blogged about it, wrote it on post-it notes… I felt it in my soul.  I lived in anticipation and excitement! 2018 was going to be a year full of “New Things” for myself, Christian friends and the church.  Boy did God prove me right as he turned my world upside down in 2018 and showed himself faithful in the midst of some of the best times of my life, and some of the worst.

If I’m being totally transparent?  What the Lord has been laying on my heart this last month is this verse.. “Do not grow weary in well-doing for in due time you will reap.”  At first I thought this word was just for me.  I’m tired.  But more than that, I feel like God is laying this on my heart for not only myself,  but for my Christian friends and the church for 2019.  I felt this in my spirit this morning… “There will be great Victories in 2019!  But a great victory never comes without a great battle.”  Many of us have been carrying a dream and a promise in our hearts for months or years (like a pregnancy).  Many of us are set to give birth to that dream in 2019.  Let me remind you – the labor pains are the worst right before the birth.  But you have to keep pushing.  Keep standing.  Keep fighting.  “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” – Ephesians 6:13.  

For my friends on the front line of this battle of good vs. evil, the ones out there fighting this Spiritual battle every day, I know you may be getting weary.  The devil knows his time is limited.  He’s fighting back, hard.  For us Christians on the front line of this battle?  It can start to feel like we are fighting a forest fire with a squirt gun as the news continues to promote, and we continue to witness, a generation dying of addiction and bound by fear and anxiety.  But what I also know?  His word stands true.  It never changes.  And his word says “This is what the LORD says: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast number, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.” – 2 Chronicles 20:15

If there’s ever been a time to break down denominational lines and stand united as “Christ’s Church” the time is now!  No book but the bible, no creed but Christ, and no name but Christian.  It’s time we unite and work together and not leave our wounded and weary on the battlefield.  It’s time we lift one another up and stand united against the one who comes to kill, steal and destroy.  Again, the bible tells us exactly this… “When MY people who are called by MY name (Christians) will humble themselves and pray (Humble – we can’t do it – only God can!  The battle is His!) and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, (we need to earnestly seek God’s face and repent.  We have to stop sinning if we expect Him to show up.)  Then I will hear from heaven and forgive their sin, and heal their land.” – 2 Chronicles

Praying for his disciples Jesus said “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word (That’s us Christians!) That they all may be one, as thou, Father art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us:  that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.”

I look forward to standing united in prayer for healing for our land, homes for our orphan children, and for the spirit of fear, anxiety and suicide to leave this generation.

Jesus said “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.  But he that believeth not shall be damned.” – Mark 16:15-16