A New Year

I always love the end of the year — holiday activities, Christmas lights, thankful hearts for our salvation, the chance to spend time with family and friends, and the excitement that comes from starting a new year.  But one of the things I love most about this time is the chance I have to reflect on the year that has passed and pray over the one to come. 

One of the best ways I personally feel God’s love for me is experiencing refinement.  As I obediently follow God’s path for me, something challenging usually comes up.  A new job, a new place to live, the sometimes tiring mission to know myself better, or the frustration I have when God seems too unclear or too silent. 

It’s crazy to think of where I was last year at this time.  I had no idea what I was going into — my last semester of college, a summer full of growth in Juneau, and the challenge of raising support and starting an internship with Campus Crusade.  But how comforting is it to know that all of these events in this last year have refined me, enabling me to give more glory to God and live a life more worthy of the calling I have received?  The concept to me is incredible and humbling.  Obedience, refinement, reflection.  God desires to refine us so we can more clearly reflect Him.  Our spiritual lives grow, we experience the fullness of God and through that His unfaltering, unfailing love.  I can clearly see progress in my spiritual life from this past year of challenges — I have a bigger view of God, more faith (because I learned how to ask for it), and more confidence in how He uses me for His purposes.  I feel very loved.

Now as it’s time to continue the processes already at work within me and start new ones, I look forward to the new challenges ahead.  I’m praying for more changes in my heart so that I can more accurately display Christ wherever He sends me.  And whatever circumstances He chooses to make those changes happen, I pray that I have the courage and the humility to follow in faithful obedience.

~ by karensharp on December 30, 2007.