As the year of 2011 comes to a close I can't help but reflect on the wonder and excitement of it. It truly has been a year of unparallelled learning and growth. When reminiscing, I realize that the only endeavors that sing a song of success and satisfaction in my heart are those that advanced my Father's Kingdom. However, in the moment, when choosing God's plan over my own, it felt as if I was loosing everything that would lead to a year of happiness and satisfaction . It's funny how our own ideas of what will make us happy are usually wrong in the end. We always think comfort, familiarity, and self-seeking endeavors will lead to greater fulfillment. However, this year my experiences proved quite the opposite. My greatest accomplishments were achieved when choosing risk over comfort, peace over fear, patience over assertiveness, love over revenge, and faith over unbelief. No doubt that in those moments of opposition my human wisdom would try to tell me that I was running away from happiness instead of towards it. But also in those moments I heard the quiet whispers of my Father telling me He alone knew what was best and would bring about true happiness. In the end He won; His truth won. The rewards He brought highly outweighed the sacrifices I made . His way truly is good, His love truly is perfect, and His provision truly is the only way to satisfaction.
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; -John 11:25
Because of Him, this year I was able to see and hear things I've only dreamed about. These are just some of my favorites, He's so good to me that I couldn't even list them all. This year I got to; hear the passionate cry of a prodigal son's heart return to the Father, experience the healing power of the Holy Spirit, hold in my arms the true definition of humility, see a wounded heart restored to fullness then set on fire for Jesus, walk into my calling, discover the depths of friendships, look fear in the face and destroy it, find my identity in Christ alone, walk out of the prison of people's approval, see the passion of a generation rise up to glorify their Savior, experience first hand what it means to be poor in spirit, raft down the Nile River, stomp on Satan's head, discover just the beginnings of the heights, the depths, the vastness of His love, and truly find satisfation, peace, freedom, and happiness.
Jesus, 2012's all for you, you know just what to do with my heart. I give myself away and allow you to lead. Take me on the path that leads to life.
God's way is perfect. All the LORD's promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.- 2 Samuel 22:31
Love always,
Brittany <3
