January 8, 2024
January 8, 2024
Pause. Pray. Read. Be still. Write. Pray.
Read: Jeremiah 33:11a
“The sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of bride and bridegroom, and the voices of those who bring thank offerings to the house of the Lord, saying,
“Give thanks to the Lord Almighty,
for the Lord is good;
his love endures forever.”
For I will restore the fortunes of the land as they were before,’ says the Lord!
As we embark on this new journey of 2024, may our hearts overflow with gratitude for the goodness that has carried us through 2023, and will guide us into the New Year.
I would like to encourage you to pick one word to focus on each week, each month, or one word to be your focus throughout the year. One word can be a single, powerful guiding beacon shaping your journey through the year. What is it that you need most this year? Find the word or a series of focus words that will help you become a better version of yourself.
Today’s focus word is wonder. It is a simple yet profound word that we live in more often than we know. Wonder is the emotion stirred by something surprising and awe inspiring, a marvel. We wonder a lot about so many things in life, especially as we set new goals and resolutions to be a better version of ourselves. Then we wonder what happened by the end of January or mid-February, wondering how the new year resolutions we set now seem to be only a distant thought we have left trailing behind in the review mirror.
When we get busy with all the regular things of daily living, by not fulfilling the resolution we hope too, creates stressors in our life. So, why not try something new this year? As you pick a focus word or focus words for the year, I want to encourage you to wonder about all that is possible for you in 2024. May your new year actions and resolutions be rooted in the enduring love of God, inspiring you to share that love with yourself and with others. May 2024 be a testament to the faithfulness of our Creator, and may you walk confidently into the new year, trusting in God’s unwavering goodness and love. A love that builds up, encourages, and remains.
Pray: Gracious God, as we step into the dawn of another year, we come before you with hearts full of gratitude. We give you thanks for the countless blessings of the past and the promise of a new beginning that lies ahead. Your word resonates in our hearts: ‘Give thanks to the Lord Almighty, for the Lord is good; his love endures forever.’ We embrace your goodness that has sustained us, and your enduring love that carries us always. Amen.