I would preach nothing else but the practice of the presence of God. If I were a director, I would recommend it to everybody, so necessary and even so easy I believe it to be. – Brother Lawrence.
I hope you all had a beautiful holiday season, or at least captured some special God-filled moments during these past weeks. Because I had made an intention before the holiday season to seek the heart of Christ, avoiding another year of striving for a neatly packaged Martha Stewart Christmas, or being a mouse in the rat-race of the materialist American Christmas madness, I so very much enjoyed the holidays this year.
Cherished moments wrapped in the warming fire of Christ’s love, although uneventful, fueled steady burning embers in my heart throughout the holidays. The moments were simple: sitting with my family around the fire in our pajamas, sharing joyful memories of Christmas past, eating delicious home-cooking, baking our favorite snowball pecan cookies, waffles at noon (teenagers sleep late), sharing prayers, taking some lovely hikes, and an overnight stay at a quiet inn in the mountains with my husband — a few of the lovely highlights.
In Christ’s presence, a free-gliding, ice-skating kind of peace permeated my days. I almost felt as if the Holy Spirit delivered a fruits of the spirit Christmas basket to my door, my heart brimmed with an unusual bundle of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Yet, as New Year’s Day rolled around, I started thinking about my goals for 2016. Always seeking new ways of working to create more time to write, I’ve been interested in how famous entrepreneurs set and attain goals. Tim Ferris’ book, The 4-hour Work Week, which I had never read, beckoned from my bookshelf. I plunged in, plotting out my 3-month goal with his action-oriented, goal-setting template. By the time I finished, my grace-filled holiday mood turned into a dark, swirling mini-tornado sucking up every bit of my peace and joy.
Thankfully, I soon realized that I needed a God-centered intention for the New Year like I had for the days leading to Christmas — the trustworthy intention of seeking the heart of Christ.
(In fact that’s the best life intention isn’t it.)
Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.” James 4:13-15
Not that we aren’t allowed to have dreams and goals, but consider them held in God’s palm loosely – just as we might hold a fallen baby bird.
Abandoning our own wills, we hand our plans and goals over to God, allowing God’s every breath, the Holy Spirit, to break free our dreams, or put them to rest for something much better according to God’s will.
It’s the wonder of such counter-intuitive goal setting, of letting go, letting God, that breathes life into our moments, fueling our future with truth, hope and the fruits of the spirit.
In an instant, my brief, joyless mood lifted, peace pouring into my soul.
I’m fascinated by the faith of the Celtic monks, the peregrinis. Evelyn Waal writes about these ‘wandering saints’ in her lovely book, Lost in Wonder, She says “they set out in currachs, without cares, to go wherever the spirit might take them–the end of their journey would take them to places of resurrection where ‘the spirit of truth will guide them to all truth.” V.R.Edman in Light in Dark Ages says, “Burning with love for Christ, fearing no peril, shunning no hardship, they went everywhere with the Gospel”.
So let’s start our adventure in the New Year like wandering saints, trusting in the spirit to guide us, letting God hold our goals and dreams loosely, making them into God-shaped dreams we share for the good of others. Let’s inscribe into the nests of our hearts God’s plans for us — to give us a future of hope (Jeremiah 29:11), and hold near the stunning words of Jesus illustrated in this contemporary passage from The Message:
“Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds.” Matthew 6:26
Happiest and most blessed 2016! May we help one another lead a Holy Spirit led year!
Warmest, Happiest New Year!
Leave me alone with God as much as may be.
As the tide draws the waters close in upon the shore,
Make me an island, set apart, alone with you, God, holy to you.
Then with the turning of the tide,
Prepare me to carry your presence to the busy world beyond,
The world that rushes in on me till the waters come again and fold me back to you. (Aiden)
We love your comments!
Sharing today at #Small Wonder and these lovely groups!
We are neighbors today over at the Small Wonders link up… and this post made me laugh because as much as I love a bossy list of things to do –if I planned it all out, and got no direction of feedback from Him about it first… well – it wouldn’t matter if it was 4 Hour Work Week or a 40+ hour work week… there would still just never be enough time!
Great post… and yes and amen to seeking Him first! I like it best when HE is the only One bossing me around! 😉 Happy New Year!
Oh! So lovely you are my neighbor on Small Wonders so I get a chance to wish you a Happy New Year! I’ll be looking forward visiting your site for some inspiration, too! We all so need reminders to relinquish our hold on those things on our bossy lists!! So blessed to have you as my new friend! Happiest New Year Karrilee~!
I love this. This will be my new year way of thinking.
So lovely to hear from you here dear Cindy! We’ll support one another to remember this..Happiest New Year!
I totally understand why you are not doing a resolution! I think the whole problem with most resolutions is that we do them in our power. I am doing a ‘one word’ this year but it’s focus is on walking intentionally with the Lord.
I love that Lil..resolutions require our power..not surrendering to God’s will! Love your One Word..I think when we frame our words with God’s purpose in mind, they can move mountains in our lives for the well-being of the world around us! So glad you visited!
Being in tune with the Holy Spirit – love it! It goes along with my word for this year: wonder. It’s my heart truly to be mindful of the wonder of God every day, and that has a lot to do with being mindful of the movement of His sweet spirit. I suppose that’s somewhat of a goal, but when that He drives much more than I. Happy New Year to you!!
Hi Tiffany, I love your word ‘wonder’! What a ‘wonderful’ word to open your eyes, ears and hearts to all the wonder surrounding you everyday. How beautiful! Happiest, wonder-filled New Year! Thank you for visiting today, and eager to share more in 2016!
What a lovely post. I am so glad that you have come on over to Sitting Among Friends. I hope that you will make it back on Wednesdays. This is such a beautiful space and I am happy to share it with our readers. Have a wonderful God-centered New Year.
thank you Jaime, so much appreciate you visiting and your site! Look forward to connecting again!
What a beautiful post. I understand the pressure that writing can place on a gal. When we focus on our goals, our timelines, we can lose sight of God’s plans for us, and His timeline (which often looks different from my own!).
I love how you came back to being intentional about keeping your focus on seeking the heart of Christ, and being open to wherever God leads you. What beautiful thoughts to begin this year with!
Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today! It’s been so nice to meet you. 🙂
Hi Jeanne, Thank you! And for your visit and comment. I’m blessed to read so many wonderful writers out there look forward to connecting again!
Hi Kathy 🙂 It is so good to get to visit you again! I am always blessed when I stop by here! I missed my stops here over the holidays!
I think our hearts were aligned this year, too. My post this week is about having goals, but first and foremost being aware to what God is placing before me. I love that you are leaving yourself open to God’s will and thus, to the best adventures planned by the ultimate Map Maker 🙂 I’m so glad you had a beautiful Christmas as well.
Much love,
Lori
Thank you Lori, it’s always a gift to share with you! I hope you had a lovely holiday. I’ll visit your post, too–to share the encouragement and adventure!
Yes, only God can lead us to the best outcome. When we live Christ-centered, all is well. Thanks, neighbor. Happy & Blessed New Year!
Thanks Mari-Anna, so glad you visited and wishing you a Happy New Year!
Your words are so beautiful today! I soaked in everyone of them because what you write about is my greatest desire. Being present in God’s presence will lead us to every goal we could ever imagine but taking the time to be still is the gift we need to give ourselves.
Thank you for speaking directly into my heart today. For showing us all through the beauty of your words what a blessing it is to have God and set a goal of Him and only Him. The rest will follow. Blessings!
Thank you Mary, I always appreciate your comments, and your blogs! I know your intention is being present with God, allowing God’s will to unfold and shape your life! How blessed we are to have one another on this journey! My heart is warmed knowing this subversive New Years message spoke to your heart!
Kathy, it’s amazing how the world continually pulls us to do more, more, more. It is only when we purpose to live with intention, putting Christ at the center, can we allow His hand to teach us what is best for us. Thank you, friend, for sharing your heart at #IntentionalTuesday. : )
Happy New Year Crystal! I hope you had a lovely holiday! Yes, the world will always pull, that’s why we need each other to remember where our home is each day! Looking forward to a Christ-centered New Year..even when we get off track..
“Wandering saints” what a good image – I hope to remember it. Lately, I’ve donned myself the title of “preaching poet” for the times when I speak at church – it helps me over correct some ideas about myself and stay centered – maybe “wandering saint” might do the same. Happy New YEar!
I love the ‘wandering saints’ .. I’ve meant to read up more about them–they inspire me. I absolutely love your title of ‘preaching poet’ — that really suits you Kelly, and brings forth a similar feeling as ‘wandering saint’!
Oh dear friend, I needed this SO much… So so much.
Thank you for leading me to this place of peace and trusting in His Will- freeing myself of the ever -elusive goals I kept tethered to, but rather allowing God’s hand to hold me and lead me in His direction. To surrender to the Holy Spirit’s guidance, and find comfort in knowing all my tomorrows are His- not mine.
I will trust that. Find confidence and hope in that truth.
“Abandoning our own wills, we hand our plans and goals over to God, allowing God’s every breath, the Holy Spirit, to break free our dreams, or put them to rest for something much better according to God’s will.” <— THIS. I couldn't love this more…
You bless me so, with your words. I'm so grateful.
I’m so blessed to hear your encouragement today Chris and that this spoke to you deeply. I know for myself, we need one another, we need constant reminders in a goal driven world that tugs and pulls at us. May the New Year continue with the peace the surpasses all understanding. I’m so grateful for you as my new friend along the way! Blessings, blessings, blessings!