Pressing Into 2022

Your hands made me and fashioned me; Give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments. Psalm 119:73 NASB

I have been praying for you and hoping that as you celebrated the birth of our Savior that you took some time to be still and pray, not just into Christmas Day, but also pressing into this upcoming year. I am always in wonder of a God who does not leave us to wander aimlessly through life. The verse above is a prayer, in essence the pray-er recognizes God as the one who gave them life, designed their life and now is asking God to show them how to live the life they have been given.

You are God’s wonderful workmanship, His masterpiece, not a mistake. Please pause to take that in, maybe even reread it. God does not make mistakes. Yes, we live in a broken world with disease, disabilities, disappointments and more,  BUT GOD… God does not make mistakes, He is still on His throne and Lord over all. The Creator of the universe cares for you and the Author of every day lovingly and masterfully designed a beautiful destiny for you. I will say it again, you are His masterpiece made in His image, redeemed by the blood of His Son and the dwelling place of His Spirit.

Unlike an artist of a painting or statue, God is not finished with you and never walks away. He is always watching and working, lovingly conforming you in the character of Christ and enabling you to walk in your destiny. You are the recipient of great love: we just celebrated the greatest love we ever received as Jesus willingly left the glory of heaven to come in flesh and bone to teach us how to live out the life He authored and then to sacrifice Himself to pay our sin debt so that we could forever walk with the Father. We don’t just think of Jesus and thank Him on the 25^th of December, we worship and serve Him every day. As we step out of the Christmas season, Jesus is still the reason for this season, every season and every second of our lives. How we live is our gift back in response to the love He gave and continues to give us with every beat of our heart.

With that in mind, have you given any prayer or thought into how God wants to disciple you in 2022? Every year I encourage you to pray and to ask God for a word and/ or a Scripture that He will expand your understanding and lead you through over the next year. We can never predict all the ways He will increase your understanding as you journey through the year with Him. We are all imperfect people being perfected by a perfect God and He does not leave us to stumble through life with games and guesswork, He guides you every step of the way if you will resolve to watch and respond to all that He wants to do in you and through you each day. He is the Potter, and we are the clay.

Many people are worried about what is going to happen in the coming weeks, months, and year. God sees the end from the beginning and His thoughts, plans, and ways are higher, better, and beyond anything we can ever imagine. Be encouraged; more than that, be strong and courageous walking by faith and not by sight. Turn your eyes, ears, and hearts to Jesus and exalt the Lord who has established you and all He has for you in 2022.

Would you be willing to begin by praying with me now?

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, You are the Alpha and Omega, the God is was and is, and is to come. You are ALL mighty, wonderful, powerful, and worthy of all praise. You are the Author and Perfecter of faith and our lives, and we have nothing to fear as we walk in the safety of the shadow of Your wings. You are our refuge and our strength. You never leave us or forsake us, and we desire to love You with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Please increase our understanding of Your will and ways so that we can worship You with our lives. Thank you for all that You have done and will do as we commit to learn and respond to You in 2022.

Serving Him with gladness,

Kathy Branzell

President, National Day of Prayer Task Force