It matters what we do with a year.
It matters what we do with our days. With our hours, our little ordinary moments here and there. It matters how we spend them. What we fill them up with. And I don’t mean to instill any frantic feelings in us. I’ve had enough of those. I don’t want us to scramble around and try so hard to impact the world and succeed at life, with a frenetic, worried, angsty kind of energy. I know that all too well. It doesn’t bring a lick of peace.
Just like that ancient prayer writer once wrote in a song up to God, “Teach us to number our days, (to realize the brevity of life) that we may gain a heart of wisdom,” (from Psalm 90:12), I want us to be aware that time does move forward and we don’t get any of these moments back. So, it matters. It matters what we do with the little increments of time.
I don’t know if you’re with me on this, but I want to enter into this new year with a quiet, contented, confident peaceful heart. Don’t you? I want to live in a such way so that I am, indeed, succeeding and making progress at the things that matter, but I want to work that out from a deep well of inner peace. I think that’s what abiding in Christ means. Walking next to Him, chatting about things. Leaning on Him when I need rest. Asking Him my questions. Telling Him my dreams. Listening to Him. Then working with Him.
He is Peace. So, Jesus and I, (and Jesus and you) can live this life together, in a way that counts, in deep abiding peace.
I struggle with this. Because in my world, there is a lot of noise. My children are loud. I’m glad they’re loud, because that means they’re full of vigor and wildly alive but it does make it hard to hear things. And I home school them, so we have a fair amount or work to do, and they need constant direction from me.
And then there’s the internet machine. Which, I love, but it’s also loud in a different kind of way. There’s constant information coming at me. And I feel lonely throughout the day, so I go checking Facebook and reading blogs and clicking on links and then I end the day, feeling an awful lot like a failure for wasting so much time.
I rebel against them and I turn the noise down. Shut the lights off and step away to think and ponder and pray.
Then I read books. Good books that nurture my soul. I hold my baby and stare long into her newborn face. I marvel that love makes such beautiful things. I sit before my Maker and listen to music and sing to Him.
I read God’s Word. (I want to do this more and more.) And I just let it wash over me and clean my insides. All of this is sort of like a reset for my life. I call it a Sabbatical. Soul-care. Renewal. Rest.
I find, in the the quiet and in the stillness, that there are certain things that are growing steadily in my heart, pushing up bravely out of the dark, like little green shoots.
I speak those things out loud. I get out a notebook and write them down. I tape them to the wall to remind and inspire myself.
Help people heal who have been battered and bruised up by life. Or by religion. Or by too much trying.
Make disciples of Jesus. True heart-followers of Him.
Help people discover their true selves, free and secure in God’s love for them. Help them to become the best versions of themselves–the people God always intended them to be.
Post more frequently here, in this space. I want this small place on the internet to become a haven that restores worn out hearts.
I find these things out by paying attention to my heart and listening to God. But, I can’t hear very well, when I keep filling up my empty lonesome places with facebook and pinterest and blogs and youtube videos and noise. When I keep staring into screens and searching and clicking, I keep missing God. Turns out, God wants to fill up my empty aching places with Himself.
He, who is true Joy. Peace. Satisfaction.
What about you? How do you want to enter the new year? Who is the person you most want to become?
Can you turn off the noise for a bit? Would you like to reset your life? You can do it, you know? You get to choose, how to fill up this year. These months up ahead. This new day.
Perhaps you could use a Sabbatical, too. Some soul-care. A quiet peace-filled heart that hears from God.
I’m praying for you now. Praying for your rest.
Thank you for your little corner of peace. I'm listen to your book as an audio book and I'm glad I found your blog. It's refreshing.
I'm so glad you came. Bless you, Ranata!
Once again you speak to my heart. As I find myself wrestling with the same struggles. Last night I made a list and decided to designate two days of the week as free of social media. Which isn't the greatest idea for an author, but I need the respite. Thanks for speaking life. I have to tell you that one day I was sitting at my counter reading your book. My little ones playing underneath my feet. I praised God that I was able to stay home with them. That there was glory in the grime. I cried at the opportunity I have to be with them. I was interrupted by a phone call. It was a university calling offering me my dream job. One I hadn't even applied for, but they knew my work. The juxtaposition and irony was unmistakeable. By the end of he night I knew what my heart was saying. Home is where I am called. There is worthiness in my work. Your devotion came at the just right time to help me say no to the career but yes to my family. So thank you. I just wanted you to know that your words are impactful. I know sometimes we need to know that as writers. All the best to you!
Sarah, this means so much to me. And it's so fun to meet another writer. Praying for God to lead and direct and speak to your heart a lot this year, and bless you as you minister to others.