Maneuvers - No. 44
A New Way
to Live
As we enter this brand-new year, many people are putting together their list of annual resolutions. Perhaps you’re doing the same.
What goals and achievements are on your list this year, friend? And what strategies are you setting in place to accomplish those dreams of yours?
Setting, pursuing, and achieving goals–those are all good things. But could it be that the reason we love goals is that we crave something new? Something better?
Perhaps deep down, we want new joy, peace, love, and hope. We hunger for a fresh change, and goals are the best way we can think of to find it.
But right now, as we go through this newsletter together, why don’t we put aside the goal-setting for just a moment and simply allow Holy Spirit to speak to us?
Because this year, he has good things in store. Better than we can imagine.
This year, he wants to take us deeper in relationship with him than we’ve ever gone.
This year, he longs to show us new things, teach us new ways to enjoy life with him, and produce new fruit in our hearts.
But to walk in those good things, our hearts need to be open. What if, instead of allowing our agenda and willpower to dominate, we make room for Jesus so he can take us by the hand and show us where he’s going? What would it be like to join him on that journey?
It might not be easy. (The last few years certainly haven’t been easy for many of us, have they?) But it will be good.
Will you join us as we listen?
01.
The Message
“I want you to see what I see. All the possibilities. For I am not holding out on you. I am not careful with how I give away my love. I am not a Father who withholds what he has for his children. All good things are what I have for you. All newness coming–also much to bring forth that you don’t yet see.
“Let me capture your heart. Let me capture your attention. Let me permeate your thoughts, your dreams, your moments of each day.
“Expect this new season to be one of fullness–the fullness of life awaiting you. You see it. You know it. Sometimes, though, you forget. Don’t forget, child, Don’t forget what is in you, how you know me, how I want you to know me more.
“As you look to this year, expect newness, child. Expect a new way to move in the world as you grow tired of doing things on your own. (Aren’t you tired of doing things on your own?)
“You know this time you keep is not my time–although I know you experience the years going by one after another. So you can look back at the past–and you can look forward to the future. This is good. But right now, son/daughter, is where you can hear me. Right now, child, is where I am. Right now, child, is how I speak to you. Right now, child, is how I exist–not bound by time, not bound by rules, not bound by ideas or misconceptions. Not bound by perceptions that come nowhere near describing who I really am.
“You speak my language. Did you know that? Did you know you have everything you need, in this moment, to engage your heart with mine? Did you know you have everything I have ever given you–all the good things, all the blessings, to be picked up again? And I have so much more to give you now.
“So in this moment, expect me. In this moment, reach out your hands. In this moment, lift up your gaze to meet mine. I am for you. I am with you. I want to fill you and sustain you, equip you and inspire you. This year…the reason life is coming…the reason life is here…is because I am never leaving the ones whom I love. I love you. With all of me. Ask me to show you again (for I planted truth in your heart) what that really means.”
02.
Listen
As Holy Spirit spoke of “newness,” what stirred in your heart? How do you want to respond to him? Let’s take a moment to do that in our journals.
03.
Think
“For I’m going to do a brand-new thing. See, I have already begun! Don’t you see it? I will make a road through the wilderness of the world for my people to go home, and create rivers for them in the desert!” (Isaiah 43:19, TLB).
1. Where do you want God to bring newness into your life? What areas need a fresh touch from him?
2. In what ways have you been doing things on your own? How does this striving make you feel? (Alone? Tired? Defeated? Proud?)
3. How does fear get in the way of you receiving new things from God?
4. How does knowing God is for you and with you impact that fear? How does it make you feel to know you are safe with Jesus and that his plans for you are good?
04.
Trust
When we think of the future, what words come to mind? What emotions do we feel?
Better yet, what new things do we want God to do in our lives? And are we ever afraid that he won’t do them?
As we ponder those questions, let’s look at how God talks about our future:
“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6, ESV).
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed in us” (Romans 8:28, ESV).
“Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off” (Proverbs 23:18, ESV).
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11, ESV).
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV).
“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18, NIV).
Now, let’s pull out our journals and write down the keywords God uses to describe our future in these passages. Feel free to look at other translations to see what words they use. Here are a few keywords to get our list started:
• Hope
• Glory
• Good
• Trust
What other keywords did you write down, friend? And how do those words change how you view your future with God?
Let’s take a moment here to close our eyes, breathe (slow and deep), and think about that good future he has in store for us–the newness he’s bringing into our lives through Holy Spirit.
And now, let’s respond to him in prayer…
05.
Pray
Father, thank you for your love, light, and truth. You fill my life with good and perfect gifts. And you have good plans in store for me.
As I head into this new year, replace my fear with hope and anticipation. Wherever I’ve been resisting you and the change you want to bring, forgive me. Fill me with faith. I want to walk closely with you and see life through your eyes.
I trust you. You’ve never let me down. Even in my darkest moments, you’ve been there, helping me and comforting me. You will never leave me. I love you, Lord.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Waving the banner with you,
