As the last few days of 2019 slip away, I am suddenly reminded of the new decade that is upon us. Ten years quickly flash in my mind and a fresh start comes into view. Hope rises and the great unknown stands ready to reveal itself during this new decade. I’m the girl that loves all things new coupled with an abundance of blank journal pages. Now if only I can persevere through the blank pages this year.
Growing up I couldn’t wait for the new box of crayons at the start of each school year. The smell alone transports me back to my growing up years. I love the promise of a new calendar of empty blocks just waiting for the first scratch of the pen. As I have gotten older, expectancy reigns at the beginning of each new year. Hope is waiting to bloom, joy stands ready to unfold, and uncharted days are mine to explore.
Persevere like the Hebrews
The words of Hebrews 12 fill my mind as I begin the new year. I can’t think of a better way to begin a new year and decade than with a battle cry to do it well.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. Hebrews 12:1-2
Promise nestles itself between the words and a knowing that all is well with Jesus. That is where I want to find myself as the new year begins. A blank calendar laid out before me and three hundred sixty-six days of the unknown with Jesus leading the way.
What about you? Are you ready to run your race with Jesus to the finish line—the One who holds all your days in-between?
Let’s allow ourselves to think back over 2019 in order to prepare ourselves for this new year. My own personal journey held uncertainty during the first quarter of the year. It ended with immense joy when my grandson was born in the middle of March. Spring rolled into Summer and all the while life was a roller coaster ride. My emotions swung from overflowing joy to overwhelming uncertainty.
Deep, uncharted emotions are not the norm for me, but 2019 led me through a mix of highs and lows. I said “No” to many things the second half of the year as I leaned into my one word, “Receive.” I honestly felt a little lost in the process. Thoughts of “why” filled my mind. The year ended differently than it started with answered prayers filling up the last few days in a fanfare of glory. Only God can take us on the scariest roller coaster ride of our lives to find out it wasn’t so bad after all as we pull into the station to disembark.
In looking back, I am finding the space to move forward.
What do the Hebrews know?
New beginnings bring deep reflections, thoughts of new goals, and hope that we will keep God first in our lives. I journal, set goals in a broad sense, but try not to set myself up for failure.
The question is what do the people in the Book of Hebrews know and how can they help us?
Key points to glean from our friends of long ago:
We are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses. We are not alone. God is always with us and that is enough to keep me on the roller coaster even when it is the last place I want to be. What does this look like for you?
Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. Surrender has been a recurring word that God continues to bring up in my life. I can choose to carry a heavier load or let God step in and help. My stubbornness tends to get me in trouble but I am praying I choose to let go more often this year. How do you let go of what weighs you down?
Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. This is one area that is hard for me. I get tired. How about you? I have good intentions to persevere but do not always make it to the finish line. What a blessing it is to know what the Hebrews know.
Fix your eyes on Jesus, the pioneer, and perfecter of faith. Amen. In order to persevere, our focus must remain on Jesus. Whenever my eyes stray, my ability to stay on the path and finish the race gets sidetracked. What do you do to stay focused on Jesus?
A new year is upon us. Let's look back to make space for moving forward with a new hope, joy, and uncharted days ready to explore. #TellHisStory #newpost #persevere #newyear #linkup Share on XGod’s message to the Christian Jews of the time leave us with some good pointers as we begin this new year. I am trusting that God already has it figured out and He will lead me in the ways I should go. What about you? Will you join me?
Blessings,
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I love pondering the though of a new year with blank pages. I can’’t wait to see what God does.
It is a great way of looking at a new year, isn’t it? Thanks for being here.
My cousin’s one word is perseverance too! Great word. And, you used my oneword in your post, “abundance.” I do hope 2020 finds you driving south at least one time???
Perseverance is a great word. Come back next week to read about my word for 2020. I had perseverance a few years ago.
I honestly feel so weighted down right now, but I want to run well this year.
That’s a hard place to be. I am praying for you as you move forward and run your race this year.
I can relate to getting tired when persevering at the beginning with good intentions! May God continue to show you what excess weight to drop so you run the race He has set before you. Just today I wrote in my journal that I need to posture myself in reverence to Him. bowing and making Him first in my life.
Your words about asking God to show me what excess weight to drop are very prophetic. They actually go along with some things that God is speaking to me this year. Thank you. I love how your comment was exactly what I needed to hear today.
Happy New Year, Mary! I am looking forward to see how the Lord unfolds this year for me personally and through my intercession, for others as well as He answers prayer.
Happy New Year, Diane! I will pray for you as you seek answers to your prayers.
Thank you, Mary. I appreciate that.
A happy new year to you Mary!
2019 was a year of such amazing grace for me, which was the word I had for the year.
Such grace unrealized before in all areas both received & to play forward.
2020 for many of us here in Australia has already been a beginning to year of traumatic events!
Bless you,
Jennifer
Thank you for sharing a bit about your year of amazing grace. I am praying for you and your country as you suffer such destruction from the fires.
Oh, the smell of new crayons! And new play-doh. Those are two iconic smells from my childhood that are still around today.
Yes, I am joining you in this, Mary: “I am trusting that God already has it figured out and He will lead me in the ways I should go.” Amen.
I forgot about the joys of opening a new container of play-doh. Another favorite memory. God has written our stories and I pray I trust Him in each turning of the page. Thanks for being here.
Thank you for encouraging us to persevere and focus on Jesus, Mary. I am trying to trust God more, too. He has impressed it upon my heart to take one step at a time and not be so obsessed with needing to know where the next steps will lead. As you write, He’s already got it all figured out. May we trust His faithful hand and heart to lead us, even when we can’t see where the next step takes us! Love and blessings to you!
It is a comfort to know that God already has it figured out. I pray we both stay focused and lean in to hear what God is saying to us. I am praying for you as you trust God and His timing.
Happy New Year, Mary! Hope you enjoyed your break. I also love the potential of the new – a new journal or a new project – but finding the perseverance to finish can be more of a challenge so I love this encouragement from Hebrews.
Happy New Year, Lesley! I did enjoy the break and am looking forward to this new year and all it will bring.
I loved the thoughts and scripture you shared today, Mary!
I feel we may be kindred spirits because I too love fresh calendar pages fresh new journal pages. But you are so right, the one thing we need in this new year is to keep our eyes fixed on Him.
I love kindred spirits. The thought of beginning a new journal always makes me giddy. May we both look to Jesus knowing that He will lead us well to the finish line.
Hi Mary – Yes, I too am ready to run my race this year. I’m eager about it. I don’t always feel this way but I am anticipating great things in the months ahead! However it plays out I want to embrace Paul’s sentiment in Acts 20:24 “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” I want run with joy!!:) Looking forward to joining you here on Tuesdays as well:)
I love your eager anticipation. There is something very refreshing about beginning a new year. Thank you for sharing Acts 20:24 and the challenge to finish the course with joy. I look forward to seeing you here on Tuesdays.
We do need to keep our eyes on the prize. As I have had some dear people leave my life over the past few years, sometimes I imagine they are in the cloud of witnesses and watching me. Cheering me on. Hoping I make the better choices. It may seem silly, but it does help me persevere.
I love how you view the cloud of witnesses. I have no doubt those dear people are cheering you on. This is why we are always better in community. Thank you for being such a wonderful member of this community. Happy New Year!
I love your reflections on Hebrews, Mary! It’s one of my favorite books in the Bible too! I’m going to be thinking about that great cloud of witnesses today and considering if they are watching me live my life fully for Christ. That’s what I hope, and will strive to make that what they see! Happy New Year to you, my friend!
The cloud of witnesses is one of my favorite parts of Hebrews 12. It comforts me to know that there is a community surrounding me. And it would be even better if the community sees my life reflecting that of Jesus. Happy New Year to you too!
Thank you for these encouraging thoughts for the New Year, Mary! It is so easy to focus on the roller coaster ahead (or under us!) instead of the ONE who is the author and perfector of it all, isn’t it? My husband loves roller coasters, and I do not, so God has actually used that picture many times in my life. It was just the reminder I needed today, facing this New Year with Jesus. Blessings and hugs to you Dear Friend!
It is easy to focus on the roller coaster because the ride is unpredictable and as a controlling person I want to keep my eyes open. How much easier would it be if I chose Jesus first? I pray this reminder is one that reminds you how much you loved by Jesus.
I had to smile when I read the verses you chose to highlight today, Mary. I often see those verses on signs at races. I believe they also have T-shirts with them too.
I am in the middle of a roller coaster ride also through the process of deconstructing and reconstructing my faith. It’s scary and induces queasiness just like a roller coaster but I must trust the process God is leading me through.
Here’s to 2020 and perseverance! Happy New Year!
They are the perfect verses for a race, aren’t they? I’m glad I am not alone on the roller coaster of life. It sounds like God is working mightily in you. I am joining you in praying for perseverance as we begin and walk through this new year.
Well, happy new year, Mary! It’s good to be back with you on this early Tuesday morning. I love that you’re looking at Hebrews as I’ve been leaning hard into chapter 4:16 in this, a season of exhaustion and neediness.
Thanks for the encouragement to persevere, to look toward Jesus no matter what’s swirling around us. He is our everything!
Happy New Year, Linda! Hebrews 4:16 is so good. Hebrews loves to point us with “confidence” toward God. That’s what I love about Hebrews 12. It shares what to do but I walk away from the verses believing I can do it. Jesus is our everything and in Him, we find what we need.
One year in college, someone brought up this passage about the hills and valleys (highs and lows) of a year, and I often think of it around New Year’s: “But the land that you are going over to possess is a land of hills and valleys, which drinks water by the rain from heaven, a land that the Lord your God cares for. The eyes of the Lord your God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year to the end of the year.” (Deuteronomy 11:11-12). What good lessons from the book of Hebrews to start our journey this year.
Thank you for sharing the verses from Deuteronomy. It pairs well with Hebrews. May we persevere, keep our eyes on Jesus, and know we are never alone. Blessings!
Ahhhh, Mary. 2019 was a wild, busy, humbling, trust-building year. I like how you broke down Hebrews 12:1-2. That was one of the passages I considered for my theme verse of the year as well. It has so much meat in it. Thanks so much for breaking it down, for asking the important questions, and for sharing your encouragements to persevere. May we walk well into this new year and new decade.
I am joining you in walking well into this new year and decade. Hebrews 12 has a way of teaching me new lessons time and time again. I love it. I’m praying you walk into this new year knowing how much God loves you.
I think 2019 was a wildly emotional year for a lot of us, and as I consider the context of the book of Hebrews, coming as it does in an era of persecution and hardship for believers, I’m so grateful for this bracing call to persevere in faithfulness regardless of our circumstances.
VERY excited about the Enneagram series, Mary!
I am glad to know I am not alone. There are deep connections between God’s Word and our lives and God continues to teach me. There are no mistakes in what is written each week because God always leads the way.
I am excited about the Enneagram series too.