Finish Well

Your next starting line is one step away from this season’s finish line!

Begin strong! Finish well!

This past year I chose a word to study. I wanted to learn everything I could. Let me tell you, I have! This year’s word played over and over in my mind and heart as each month passed and I was faced with a new lesson.

Humility ….

That word alone speaks for itself. To be honest I got scared when the Lord impressed on my heart the word I would be living for the “next 12 months”.

I wanted to begin strong, I studied every form of the word in scripture. I made myself a month’s scripture writing plan to study verses more in detail. I looked at examples in the Bible to glean from. I wanted my beginning to start with a sure foundation on why God wanted me to learn Humility.

Each month passed and a new lesson came about. I won’t share them all for sake of time but I will highlight the ones that humbled me to my very core.

God began working on me- the real me. The one no one sees but Him. He pointed out areas of my life where I let pride fill my thoughts. Where pride was the basis or motive of my service. Where my feet walked. I started asking and begging Him to fill me with His Spirit.

And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

Ephesians 5:18

If you’ll allow me I’d like to compare wine in this verse to pride. Just like alcohol distorts the way the consumer sees, feels and acts, pride is the same way. Being filled with pride, your mind is on only one thing and that is yourself. Yes I thought about me too much! How I felt, what I wanted, why I do this or that. There’s danger in serving the Lord and being drunk or intoxicated with oneself.

The Lord showed me the remedy-His Spirit. Where His Spirit is there is humility. The Spirit never lifts Himself up. He always points a soul to Christ. He draws one to Christ, and He fills one to live a life for Christ. I want my life to be a Spirit-filled one. I want to Finish Well-Living, thinking and breathing wholly in Him and not in me!

This past year brought changes in our service for the Lord. We were serving in full time ministry. I loved serving beside my husband as he pastored. I love to serve in anyway possible. It’s who I am. But!!!! God had another plan. It was hard for me. Hard because I was fighting His leading. I didn’t want the change. What it really boiled down to, I worried what others would think. I feared what the church and people we were leaving would feel and think. I became overwhelmed with how we would be perceived by our “Home” church and preacher friends. It all pointed back to pride in my service.

But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Philippians 2:7-8

If I truly wanted to live a life filled with the Spirit and not self I had to remember Whose servant I was. I humbled myself and submitted to the leading of the Lord. Leaving the church felt like a death. A death I didn’t want to face but if I am to be more like Christ I have to be obedient unto death as well. I want to finish well in my service for Him.

When I gave my daughters to the Lord when they were babies, I knew He would take care of them. I’ve watched Him save them, work in their lives and take such good care of them. He’s a good Father! As with any mother, I too, don’t like MY children to go through trials. I want to shield them from any pain. This year I’ve had to be reminded of my commitment to the Lord over and over again. I can’t take care of them like He can but in pride I think I know what’s best. Wrong!

Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.

Proverbs 16:3

Our youngest has been through some rough patches learning to live on her own. I want to fix them. God’s will for her is to live 6 hours away from me. That’s hard. I want my babies near me but that’s my will. I’ve had to give her completely to the Lord for His safe keeping. My oldest daughter has been trying to get pregnant. I’ve been praying fervently daily for the Lord to bless her with a child. He answered but not how I wanted. My first grandchild is safe in the arms of Jesus. Everything within me wants to shield my girl from this pain. I want to walk this path for her but I have to trust His plan for her. His ways are above mine. Giving my works or daughters lives wholly into His Hands, brings peace. Peace that passes all of my understanding. The panic has to flee. I can trust His Spirit.

As this year comes to an end, I see a new starting line. I want to carry the lessons of humility from this past year with me. I don’t want to leave them on the sidelines. It’s not about me anyway-It’s all about Christ. Everything I do, say, feel, think…everything needs to be seasoned with Him and not me.

Let’s Finish well my friends.

For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

2 Timothy 4:6-7

Goodbye 2021!