Terri's Wellspring

That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of  love  for God is worked into something good. Romans 8:28 MSG

We thank God that we can be in relationship with our Heavenly Father through His Son Jesus Christ. We can look to God in prayer for His direction and guidance. We may experience things that are not in our personal vision of what and how things ought to happen. In fact, if we were to pick and choose what we would endure, the landscape of our lives would look very different. But thanks be to God for His grace and His mercy. He is able to take our experiences – both good and bad – and transform them into something that aids our purpose and creates a higher ground for our living. Our passage today, is an incredible reality for God’s children. All things, every detail, work together for good for them that are a part of His plan.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:13 

Many of us felt the weights of the experiences of the last year -grief, discord, and even disappointment. We seemed to be moving at a marathon pace of occurrences that weighed heavy on our hearts. We are so thankful to be in the hands of our Savior, who continues to sustain us through things that are hard to bear and understand. The Holy Spirit’s blessing of comfort, peace and resiliency surrounds us even in the most difficult time. It is a time of faith and trusting, even as we look to a new year.

I love the opportunity and mercy that comes with a new day. It represents a turned page, a fresh slate for even a new year. The Bible says we are granted new mercies each morning. I believe that mercy comes with a revival of spirit and a chance to move forward. We are called in this New Year to continue to press toward the Savior. A fitting definition of press is to exert a steady force. A God’s Children we want to continue to move steadily toward His will, His ways and His direction for our lives. The enemy would have us to be weighted down with the things of the past becoming immobile or taking dangerous detours. But despite his devices, we are looking forward with promise of our calling in Jesus. This first day of the year, we can remove the luggage of sin, lack of forgiveness, misunderstanding so that we can become free to move with our full force in our walk with the Lord. Today – through prayer and the Holy Spirit’s leading we can ask for deliverance and guidance on achieving release of things that would bind us. It’s time to focus and press toward Him and what He is calling us to do in our lives.

I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward-to Jesus. I’m off and running and I’m not turning back. Philippians 4:12-14 Msg

And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. John 12:32

Lifting the Savior in the eyes of the world is something we are challenged to do each day. We want people to see Jesus more clearly through His love, His power and His righteousness that dwells in our hearts and souls. Each act of living “the life”‘ helps to bring into focus the tremendous blessing of walking with the Lord. As believers, we must work to eliminate any contradictions of His Word, His principles of love and forgiveness and the way we live our lives. The inconsistencies create a heavy weight on our witness to the world and dishonor the price Jesus paid for our salvation on the cross.

As we turn the page and move into a new year, we can consider how we can lift Jesus higher. We can exalt the Savior in our praise and in our daily living. We can ask the Holy Spirit to show us where we can exhibit more of His love and His peace, His compassion and more of His righteousness. As we lift Him higher, as people see Him more clearly, men and women will be drawn unto the Savior.

When I have been lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people toward me. John 12:32