New Year. Fresh start. Resolutions….?
OR
New Year but life carrying on as normal?
Whatever your approach to a New Year, there is one thing I believe we can all aspire to which reflects David’s heart expressed in Psalm 63: to know God more deeply and choose His life more intentionally.
Do you sense a desire for, need of and dependency on God, or is this something to nourish and nurture through 2025?
If so, what might that look like for you?
That may be all you need to hear this month: the invitation to “contemplate” Jesus, and in turn be increasingly transformed to reflect His beauty.
There are a number of verses that help me to pray for people enduring conflict or war, others that prompt me to pray for those suffering famine and sickness arising from such conflicts, from being forced to flee their homes, from weather patterns devastating harvests or from the slave trafficking trade.
I am also grateful for organisations that help us to pray and to offer practical support for such heartwrenching situations, for example, 24-7 prayer, BMS, Samaritan’s Purse, Tearfund, Open Doors, A21 … and many others.
But there are times when God places a hand on my shoulder and says, “Be still”.
Be still so that you may know My love for all people.
Be still to know My compassion.
Be still to know My heart….
In those moments of stillness I may be reminded of a news headline that has long since disappeared from my feed. A face comes to mind from a photo I’ve seen in a prayer bulletin, or perhaps, someone’s name. An image of a malnourished parent, child or refugee might penetrate my soul…
Images, headlines and reports that urge me to “Be still”; to still any sense of doubt, disillusionment or apathy, and “know” His heart.
As Jesus wept for individuals and for cities, and as the Holy Spirit intercedes through our wordless sighs and groans, God moves us in prayer. Prayers fuelled by faith in God’s compassionate presence and His ultimate power and justice (v.10b).
And so, I Ieave this verse for you to dwell with this month: and respond to in prayer and/or practice, as God leads.
I had no problem discerning which verse of scripture to share with you this month, as Colossians 3:16 inspired the writing of my next book which is published on 18th October! Click the button at the end of this post if you would like to find out more.
Books aside, Paul offers a beautiful instruction to dwell with this month; one which prompts some questions:
Do I dip, dash, delve or dwell in God’s living word?
Why is it important to dwell?
And how might I do this?
There’s a time for dipping and dashing – a need to ‘snack’ to meet a particular need.
There’s also a time to delve – to read at length and study scripture to increase our knowledge about God.
But to deepen our relationship with God, it definitely helps to ‘dwell’ – for His words are living and active, transforming and guiding, reassuring and releasing. But as one of the loveliest ladies in my life said to me recently, “I’ve learned over the years that it’s best to not read too much at a time.” How right she is when our desire as we approach scripture is to meet with its Author and find ourselves at home with Him as His word makes a home in us.
So how do we do this?
Although I read lengthier passages of scripture most days, for 30+ years I have also been dwelling with just one (or occasionally a few) verse(s) of scripture for a week, or more, at a time. It transforms my attitudes, responses, perspective and priorities. It influences how I think (& therefore feel) about myself and others. It shapes and disciplines my life to become increasingly more like Jesus. It aligns my life to the beat of God’s heart for lost souls and the poor, oppressed and persecuted. And it infuses my life with peace and presence – God’s presence breathing His living words in and through me.
As you prayerfully reflect on Colossians 3:16, what verse comes to mind to ‘dwell richly’ on this month?
If you would value a little help with this, then do take a look at my book here.
I find myself thinking about friendship, prompted by making friends with a fabulous emu last month. I confess, I became rather smitten, even if it only befriended me because of the food in my hand!
Of course, I have ‘proper’ and wonderful friendships too, for which I’m IMMENSELY grateful. If you’re one of them – thank you for your love, care, kindness, support and patience. I am aware, however, that many people today who lack friends, suffer isolation and loneliness. If you would like support, do take a look at Sheridan Voysey’s Friendship Lab. As the project prepares to launch you’ll find some free friend-making tools.
But what about my friendship with God? Am I an ’emu’ friend, coming to Him only for what I can get? Am I like Abraham, a friend of God who unreservedly believes, so proactively acts in faith on His promises? Am I a friend of Jesus, taking time to be with Him, to love and worship Him, enjoy silent companionship and listen to Him? Am I sharing His perspective on life – and on my life – realising that His life is the best, inspiring me to align my life to His so I can enjoy it and convey it ‘to the full’ (John 10:10)?
Emus aside, I do believe God wants us to be friends who ‘ask’ Him for things, whether for comfort, guidance, help or provision. It would be unbiblical if I didn’t!! But friendship is also about believing in God’s awesome truth in my heart and not just my head, so yielding my life to loving, serving and being present to His perspective, priorities, ways and will.
But the fundamental reality of friendship is that it grows by just being together; enjoying one another’s company. Listening. Speaking. Loving. Sharing hearts and minds.
Dwell with how you’re growing your friendship with Jesus this month. Enjoy taking time to draw close to Him in prayer and presence of mind. Receive His love, care, kindness, support and patience with an open heart. How might you show your love for Him too?
Believe in all He has promised you and take His hand so you might walk in step with His Life through your day.
If you would value further insights and help on friendship with Jesus, I warmly recommend Amy Boucher Pye’s, Transforming Love, How Friendship With Jesus Changes Us.
Picture yourself on the sidelines of this story, looking out over a vast crowd – thousands, in fact, sprawled across the landscape. The sun has long past its peak. It’s getting late. After an afternoon of soul-nourishing teaching from Jesus they’re now hungry for food. You overhear the disciples, suggesting that Jesus sends them away to nearby villages, but Jesus has other ideas. “You give them something to eat” he replies, shifting his gaze from the disciples and onto you. (See Mark 6:30-44 if you’re unfamiliar with what happens next.)
Carry this image and how you feel in response through August. Take time this month to pause, take a breath, slow down – and picture the many people sprawled across the landscape of your life. Family. Friends. Work colleagues. Fellow volunteers. Social media connections. Neighbours. Acquaintances near or far, social action needs and projects on your heart…. It may be surprising how the numbers add up when you immerse yourself in the scene; as you see how many ways your life is interconnected with others. A vast crowd, some or many of whom may not know Jesus. Some who may be hungry for food, literally – or for the soul and spirit nourishing love, life, truth, grace, compassion, wisdom …. and more, of Jesus.
As you pray for them, asking God to help, provide and reveal Himself to them, where can you hear His response: “You give them something to eat”?
It may be practical: an extra couple of baked bean tins …or more… in your grocery shop that you can gift to the food bank. But there’s other hunger waiting to be nourished too. Friends who don’t understand who Jesus is or a social media feed hungry for joy, positivity, truth and wisdom. Who else is hungry for what you could potentially give?
You may feel inadequte with your meagre offering of breadrolls and a couple of sprats to feed the vast need, but no matter how insignificant you feel, no matter how small you perceive your offering to be, ask Jesus to bless it, then trust Him to provide in ways you may never realise as you distribute what you can to your world.
While reading Genesis 32 recently, I was struck by Jacob’s raw honesty with God.
How often I feel unworthy of God’s loving kindness and faithfulness – which I am, just as Jacob was. If you feel that today, be honest with God about why, but then receive Jesus’ warm invitation to confess any wrongdoing, and to remind you that in God’s eyes you are unconditionally loved no matter how you feel, and that Jesus takes all your unworthiness upon Himself.
Save me … from. What problems are you desperate for God’s help or intervention with? Identify them and talk with God freely about them.
I am afraid. Fear is a normal reaction to life’s worries and difficulties. Again, being honest with God and identifying exactly what ignites your fear is important to help open your heart, mind and soul to encounter His peace and reassurance.
But you have said. God’s Word is His personal message to you as well as to the world. The word ‘but’ is so important to bring to place at the forefront of our thinking after we’ve honestly shared with God our fears and concerns.
So, what is your ‘But‘? What does God’s Word say to you about your fear?
Dwell on that promise, truth or characteristic of God this month to transform your thinking and response.
I’ve been facing some considerable challenges recently, and I doubt that I am alone. Perhaps you are facing some kind of difficulty, heartache or fear-fuelling scenario too.
Peace.
Such a soft, alluring word – but potentially evasive when challenges threaten to overwhelm. So how do we go about experiencing Jesus’ promised peace? Well, as many have said in some shape or form: Peace is not the absence of trouble, but knowing God with us in it; it is the fruit of the Holy Spirit, of God’s presence within us.
Whatever trouble, heartache or fear you face this month, dwell with this precious promise from Jesus.
Peace: freedom from worry; a quietness & rest of soul; a calm, assured poise.
I leave with you: peace was Jesus’ parting gift…
I give you: and peace is Jesus’ daily gift to all who’ve received His indwelling presence.
It’s a peace that Jesus births within us; a peace that will grow in our experience as we actively believe in His presence, focus on His truth, listen to His voice and follow His leading, rather than entertaining the babble of opinions, doubts, expectations, demands, fallacies, falsehoods, threats … you fill in the blank … representing the voice that attempts to rob you of His peace.
We thank God for days that are free of strife, but these ‘peaceful’ days that the world gives are inevitably shortlived. Ultimately, only Jesus can give us substantial, enduring peace; a peace that prevails despite our situations and surpasses our understanding.
We were not left alone in our place of turmoil and distress or at the mercy of a cruel world. We have the promises and perspective of His life – His peace – to dispel fear and walk with us through our days.
What might you feel especially prompted to dwell with and respond to from this promise, and the part we play in receiving it though active belief, focus on truth, listening to His voice and following His lead?
I began praying this prayer roughly 20 years ago, when I sensed my life transitioning from the felt security of a part-time admin job to the exhilarating if daunting place of being led into the full-time but no-guaranteed-income role of writing and, in fact, speaking.
But I’ve also prayed these verses many times since when other seasons of life have changed, or as a way to “check in” with God to discern if I’m still on track.
Some of you may also know how I’ve often been nudged to pray this prayer for others too 🙂
Perhaps this prayer might resonate with you as a place to dwell this month:
– If you’re facing or already ensconsed in a change-of-life season.
– If you’re busy and often preoccupied on the urgent but not the important.
– If you sense that you’re merely existing but not flourishing in the life you have in Jesus.
– If you feel God stirring you to something new;
whether or not you know what that may be.
– If you’re feeling uncertain about your current commitments.
– If the demands on your life feel out of sync with Jesus’ promise of “rest for your soul”
(Matthew 11:28-30).
– If there’s someone else for whom you’re feeling nudged to pray this prayer.
These verses are set in the context of a Psalm acknowledging the brevity of life – something our ancestors were possibly more inclined to reflect on than we are. But their heart cry is set in the light of God’s unfailing love, reaching out to us in this imperfect, transient world. A truth we can be reassured by and give thanks for every day.
We celebrated Easter on 31st March this year: remembrance and praise for Jesus’ sacrifical death, His glorious resurrection and His gift of new life to all who believe He is living Lord. Perhaps you accompanied your celebrations with a chocolate Easter Egg or three as well!
But of course, this focused celebration isn’t just something to enjoy for one day of the year. Nor is choosing His life isn’t a one-off decision to guarantee a place in heaven; it’s a quality of life to be enjoyed now. A Spirit-led and Spirit-infused life over a barren flesh-led existence.
If you don’t feel you’re experiencing His abundant fullness of life (also promised in John 10:10), take time to prayerfully reflect on what might be distracting you from engaging with & responding to it:
– Haste, hurry & tech dependency?
– Disillusioned by unanswered prayer?
– Sidetracked by personal dreams, a want of ‘ease’ or perceived ‘security’?
– Overwhelmed by problems that overshadow faith?
– Pursuing ‘gung-ho’ this transient life in the world as if it were going to last forever?
– … any other promptings that come to mind ???
Dwell with this invitation to choose His life: to know and receive in progressive measure His peace, wisdom, guidance, provision, enabling and much more, as you align yourself to walk in step with His word and Spirit.
He doesn’t promise a problem-free life but He does enrich it with His dynamic, creative, transforming, envisioning & equipping… LIFE.