Last year as the clock struck midnight on January 1st, 2020, in the whirl of celebration, I heard God say to me that this would be a year of freedom. 2020 was certainly not the year I was expecting, but God’s word did not go forth void. This year I have grown tremendously. In 2019 I learned a lot about others, but this year I learned a lot about myself. As I was forced to come face to face with demons that have lived unnnamed within me, I was finally able to claim freedom over the fear that steered my life for far too long unnoticed. I was able to claim freedom from the negative thoughts that held me captive, from my fears of being alone when I discovered that God is always with me. I was freed from the fear of failure, because that is an inherently human trait and is not a sign of weakness, but rather, a doorway for grace. I claimed freedom from the expectations I felt that people had of me, and I allowed myself to step into my calling in the ministry I now find myself in.
It’s easy to say that 2020 was a terrible year and ignore God’s goodness through it all. The truth is, no matter what happens, whether famine, fire, storm, or pandemic, God has always been good and He always will be good. Nothing is outside of the light of God’s grace and mercy. Earth is the battle ground of heaven and hell. Every day satan tries to steal, kill, and destroy, but at the end of the day, God has already claimed victory over satan. This is why we can live in hope, knowing that God’s glory is present in every part of creation and His mercies are new every morning.
So transitioning from 2020 to 2021 for me means putting freedom into action.
2021 is the year of courage.
Courage is freedom fully realized. Courage is the ability to step into freedom, guided by faith, to act in boldness for the glory of God. In the beginning of this year, I have been reading acts and will continue to read through the letters of Paul, one of the most courageous characters in the Bible, to help solidify the promise of courage for this year and use Biblical example to guide how I will live out my faith this year.
I don’t know what season of life you may be in, or what God has spoken over you for this year, but I pray that you will take time to reflect on what courage means to you, and how you can live your life full of the hope that God is victorious, and you are never alone or foresaken.
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