Have the demands and loss of 2020 left you feeling exhausted and overwhelmed, in need of refreshed joy? Are you able to see the future with fresh eyes or are you dragging last year’s uncertainty into 2021? Just because we have flipped the calendar, we are not guaranteed change. . .or are we? The answer to that question will be up to you and your perspective. You are the only one who can choose joy, search for peace, and live in the certainty of God.
When our family is together for a day or an extended period of time, my daughter, Sarah, challenges us to share a “High-Low-Buffalo”. The “high” represents a positive, exciting or best part of our day with the “low” representing a disappointment or less than desired experience that day and the “buffalo” is the final piece, representing a random or unexpected blessing. It is a fun way to close out our day. But, deciding what to share takes a good bit of consideration and intentionality. What you choose to be your “High-Low-Buffalo” is all determined by the perspective you choose to have as you reflect on your day.
I am sure as you look back on 2020 you can ramble off a lot of lows, but if you look deeper you can find the highs and some really great buffalo’s.
I think we all can agree going into 2020 we had no idea what the year would hold, but never did we expect the reality of it. For me, 2020 left me missing the face-to-face gathering of women, speaking at live events, and hugging friends and family. But as I reflect on my ministry, this past year expanded in unexpected, “buffalo” ways, stretching me beyond what I thought I could achieve.
Although we don’t know when things will feel “normal” again, we do know our lives and the way we do things have been changed. Regardless of what it looks like, we can continue to fulfill God’s call and move forward.
Just as the angels urged Lot in Genesis 19:17, we must also keep moving forward and not get stuck in the past. “Do not look behind you, and do not stay in the valley; escape to the mountains or you will be swept away.” Oh, yes, we can learn from what is behind us, but take what you have learned and apply it to what is in front of you.
Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards
Søren Kierkegaard
How can our souls find refreshment and relaunch ourselves for 2021?
- Be a good follower
“The Lord is my shepherd, I will not be in need. He lets me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for the sake of His name.” Psalm 23:1-3
The common denominator is “HE”. Everything referencing these verses is about Him and His leading—we are the follower: He lets you lie down, He leads, He restores, He guides. Too many times followers get a bad rap, but in order to be an effective leader, you must be a good follower. A follower of the one true God. Following isn’t bad as long as you are following the right people or person. So you and I must follow Jesus every day. How do we do that? By being in the word of God
- Prioritize the Word of God
“The Law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.” Psalm 19:7
From Psalm 19, the Word of God restores our souls (vs 7), enlightens our eyes (vs 8), cleanses us (vs 9), is sweeter than honey (vs 10), warns us (vs 11), and provides great reward (vs 11).
Reading His Word daily will provide a spiritual reset for your day and the year ahead. Let’s make being in His Word a priority and watch God reveal Himself and His will to you.
- Embrace the Nearness of God
“The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.” Psalm 145:18
The key lies in our ability to embrace His presence by drawing near to Him. May you be encouraged by David’s declaration in Psalm 27:4—“One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to meditate in His temple.” Just as David went from the pasture to the strongholds of the wilderness, his deepest longing was to be near to God. May this, too, be the yearning of our hearts.
Take these next few moments to be captured by the stillness of His presence in your day. He is a God who is near, not a far off God (see Jeremiah 23:23)
- Discover Rest
“Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10 (KJV)
Rest will energize you and prepare you for what lies ahead. Make sure to take some time for yourself. It’s okay! It’s important to take care of yourself so you will be stronger to take care of others. Remember what Psalm 23:2 says, “He lets me lie down in green pasture.”
The words of Corrie Ten Boom have never been more applicable in my lifetime than right now, “never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” He’s got 2021. Oh, that we would entrust our days into His hands!
What steps will you take to move forward and allow God to relaunch your days?
Do not call to mind the former things, or consider things of the past. Behold, I am going to do something new, now it will spring up; will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.
Isaiah 43:18-19
Yes, 2021 will bring highs, lows, and buffalos. Watch for the blessings that come each day and be grateful for the surprises.
For more on this teaching, join me at the Refresh & Relaunch conference, January 23. Click here for more information.
Journeying with Him,
Jessie
Leave a Reply