As 2014 draws to a close, I am taking a look back to see what God has done, what things have happened, what has changed, how I have grown and changed, and areas in which I still need to grow.
My prayer for the Change Journey of 2014 was that God would make it a year of change physically and spiritually. Little did I know all that was to take place.
The first half of the year was challenging, but things went relatively smoothly. I was excited about growing in the Lord and excited about the new diet and health changes that I was making.
One of my goals was to draw closer to the Lord and allow Him to change my life. He has surely been working on it, especially in the areas of trust, waiting on Him, and thankfulness. Those are three main areas that still need much work in my life. One thing that has been so evident to me over this past year is that God is near and that He is always ready to love and to forgive. Sometimes I have grieved Him, but He is always still there with open arms. Though I have failed, He never has.
“If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.” (II Timothy 2:13)
Another goal this year was to see some physical improvement and lose 35 to 40 pounds. I have worked very hard at this. There has been some physical improvement in some areas, especially my neurological problems and my arthritis. It was very disappointing to me, however, that I was not able to lose any weight, not even one pound.
The second half of the year was filled with trials – financial, physical, emotional, and spiritual. It was a very difficult time. Oh, so many times I was tempted to be upset with the Lord and doubt Him. Sometimes my thoughts toward Him were not good at all. But He always gently wooed me back to Himself, giving me many reminders to trust and wait. Wait, wait. Oh, that is so hard!
We are still going through some of these trials, and I am still learning to wait and trust and rest. And God is trying to teach me to be thankful.
Thank You, God, for your watch care over us, sustaining grace, forgiveness and love during 2014. We look forward to what You will do in 2015.
“1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress… He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.” (Psalm 91:1,2,4)