Happy New Year!

Every year in November I ask the Lord for a word for my Birthday and since January is around the corner, I also take that word for the upcoming new year as well. This year the word I felt resonating in my heart for 2017 was: CATAPULT. I’m sure we all know what a catapult is. But as I dived in deeper and searched out the definition, I was fascinated by its meaning. So come close and listen up! 🙂

cat·a·pult:

1. Wikipedia’s definition: A catapult is a ballistic device used to launch a projectile a great distance without the aid of explosive devices
2. Hurl or launch (something) in a specified direction with or as if with a catapult

3. A device in which accumulated tension is suddenly released to hurl an object some distance, in particular.

For some of us, we accumulated a LOT of tension in 2016! Right?? (Insert your preferred emoticon here lol!) In addition, the many tragic events of the world only made this year more troubling and heart breaking. How can we live with joy in the midst of so much loss, devastation and tension? I get it.

But I also believe that same brokenness and tension can serve to propel us forward and launch us a great distance as we invite Holy Spirit to be our Helper, Counselor & Comforter in every aspect of our lives.

Living forward is possible, when we live our lives with God’s counsel and from Heaven’s perspective. And there’s no one better to help us do that, than His Spirit. He understands us and knows every facet of who we are. He has seen every trial and joy we faced in 2016. He is aware of our past, present and future. The Holy Spirit hears what God the Father is saying and reveals that very word to us and over us. He reveals who Jesus is and the mystery of living in union with Him, right here in this beautiful, messy world of ours. In the good days and bad days it’s such a comfort to me to look to Him as my Life Coach, Teacher and Best Friend. He has whispered words of affection and affirmation when I’ve been empty, depressed and lost. He has incredible humor, candor and insight into life’s crazy moments. He is my ROCK! I share all of that to encourage you and myself to continually trust His guidance and ask Him questions. Not just on the big, serious issues but in even the most mundane tasks! Then take the time and make head space and heart space to listen, ponder and write down what He reveals.

We can pivot into 2017 with the assurance of being anchored to the very Spirit of Christ and the essence of who He is – His flawless Love, unexplainable Joy and beyond-all-logic Peace. He is our unshakable foundation. This world offers the temporal, fleeting and ever fluctuating “hope.” But in Christ, we can encounter and tap into an eternal, steadfast, supernatural and powerful LIFE in the midst of death around us and flip on the LIGHT in the midst of darkness that surrounds us.

As we close out this year and wherever we are in our personal journey, in the midst of deep disappointments or incredibly joyful new beginnings, we get the privilege of engaging with Holy Spirit, living in oneness with Christ and holding our Abba Father’s hand, trusting in His heart of extreme goodness that He is working out every loss experienced in 2016, into a field of bountiful harvest – not only for us – but for many other lives that will be impacted by our own personal story!

A practical way to live out our story vibrantly is in reflection and taking inventory. With 2017 almost here, I jotted down some questions I’m asking myself that may also help you to walk out your story from Heaven’s perspective and experience deeper transformation in your own life.

So take out your journal and let’s process and grow together! 🙂

1. What were three areas in your heart that you struggled with in 2016? Name those areas and write them down.
2. Next to those areas of challenge, write down the nature of God and scriptures that describe His provision that correlate to that area of challenge. (Example: One of my areas of challenge is: Lack of Patience 🙂 || God’s nature is slow to anger, patient and compassionate || 1 Cor. 13:4, Exodus 34:6 || Personalize the scriptures and insert your name… “Johanna is patient…” “Johanna is compassionate…”)
3. What are you seeking the Lord for in 2017?
4. Write down those things and ask Holy Spirit to reveal HIS perspective and truth. (Carve out space and time in your day to listen and journal, what He reveals to you…)
5. Write down specific goals, projects or desires you want to see manifest in 2017.
6. What are three things you can do daily, to move towards the accomplishment of that goal?
7. Lastly, choose to celebrate three areas that you have seen any amount of growth in your character. Name the incidents if you want to be specific so you can look back on it later as an encouragement!

These are some questions and thoughts to get us started in reflecting and evaluating areas of our life as we close out this year. I hope they help you in assessing where you are and where you want to be this time next year.

It’s time to be catapulted into greater measures of encountering God’s fullness and experiencing His Heaven in our earth! I would love to hear from you on how you’re preparing your heart for 2017. Be sure to comment below.

Happy New Year…may 2017 be your finest yet!! 🙂