Strengthen Me

Stop.

Take out your calendar from the past year. Flip through it for a few minutes. Reflect on what your year has been like, good and bad. As you hold your calendar, breathe and say: my days belong to God.

Listen.

I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. – Philippians 4:12-13

Reflect.

Many of us have heard the end of the verse we just read, saying that we can do all things through the one who strengthens us. Too often, we skip the verse right before it. We can do all things through God – and we know that because we’ve had to do them all, good and bad, hard and fun, supported and alone. The only reason we know we can do all things through God’s strength is because we’ve indeed been through all things. 

As this year approaches its end, consider how God has been at work in your life. It can be easy to think only of the losses and compromises. Remember instead how you have gotten this far and God has continued to go with you. It’s not been easy – but easy was never the promise. The promise has always been that God goes with us in all circumstances.

Pray.

I praise you, God, for coming with me through this year. I rejoice in the good and grieve the bad, but in all things, I know you give me strength. Amen.

Carry On.

When you look at the hardest times of this year, can you still see God’s strength and love at work? What does that mean for the year ahead?