REFLECTIONS

"A happy heart is a good medicine, and a joyful mind causes healing, but a broken spirit dries up the bones." Proverbs 17:22

Someone asks, how are you?

Good. We respond, almost without thinking. A reflex automatic response. 

In this moment though, for real, how are you? 

Please take a moment before responding. 

I have noticed that in the busyness of our days, we internalize so much and never really get a chance to unbox and just attend to our souls. It’s so easy to pile one pain over the other, one disappointment over the other, and so on, without really noticing. 

So, take this moment before responding. Are you genuinely fine or numb?

In the same vein, have you also been too busy to really pay attention to the different ways God has come through for you this year? 

Have you been too preoccupied, going through the motions to notice that hey... you’re breathing! 

Yes, despite every messy road, hurdle, and the rocky mountains you’ve had to walk through and climb, yes, you are alive! You’re still here. Still standing. Isn’t God good?!

As we are approaching the end of this year, I’ve been doing a lot of reflecting. At random times, I have had to message a friend to share a realization as it dawns on me that God truly has been good to me throughout. On the surface, sure, it's easy to agree with all the Instagram memes that say to just fold this whole year up and toss it in the garbage...a nightmare to be forgotten. Before you do that, however, please take a moment and genuinely do a soul search. Search your heart, recap the year and the events of the year. Talk to God about how you feel. Share it with him in a moment of stillness and let him know where it hurts and also where your gratitude overflows. 

It's been a whirlwind of a year, and I don’t know about you, but I have kept so many things on the back burner just to get through each day. Just keep pushing, I tell myself, you just need to get to the other side, the new year, fast forward, and start again. The result? I felt full, but not full of the right stuff. 

The word declutter and unclog has been loud in my spirit for a while now, and I guess in summary, that’s the whole point of my question - how are you?

Answering this question has been an opportunity for me to declutter and unclog my heart. I hope it will do the same for you. 

It is an opportunity to open yourself up, empty yourself of everything knowingly or unknowingly clogging up your heart. Today is a good day to address it all at the feet of your father. He has the balm for that wound you still carry. 

It is time to let the right things in. 

The right thoughts.

The right mindset. 

A mindset of thanksgiving. 

A mindset of surrender. 

What have you been focused on? Does your future still seem bleak? It is time to change your lenses.

Here’s also an opportunity to get in the right posture. 

Still expectant? 

Yes, waiting sucks, but it is also where the warm-up for a mighty comeback happens. 

So, get in the posture of worship today. 

Get in the posture to receive. 

It is time to let God in to do what He has been meaning to do in your heart all year. 

To ignite a fire inside of you. 

To revive your tea time moments with Him. 

To ready your heart for His use. 

In short, declutter and unclog so you can set your heart right and set your eyes on Him. The next year is upon us, but first, here's to finishing this year right by the grace of God.