Blessed Assurance
Someone asked me my word for 2024, and without hesitation, I answered, “Assurance.” It just came to me, that fast because for my entire life, I’ve tried to hang onto control. I’ve never actually been in control of my life, but the illusion of it has kept a wedge between me and my Lord.
The past year, as part of my 2023 resolve, I committed to praying every morning and every night that God lead me to do His will instead of my own. It was a big step for me. It’s hard to relinquish control, even while knowing that all things work together for His good, according to His plan.
Over the past few months, God has shown me that He’s got me. I have nothing to fear.
For the first time ever, I finished writing a book in 2023. I think it was fear that kept me from this crucial part of the writing process. Now I’m filled with so many ideas that there aren’t enough hours in a day to do them all. It was when I asked God into the process, the venture, that things started happening.
For the past year, I’ve been pretty quiet on social media, especially in comparison to the two previous years. It was so much work, and I felt I was just adding to the noise instead of accomplishing anything. So, I’m going to review how my social media posts can be more meaningful for the Kingdom.
Simultaneously, I’m ready to take this to the next level and treat it like a business. Once I accepted that mentality, “things” started happening. I can’t really explain it, but it’s exciting.
Just in the last couple of months, I’ve:
-published my devotional with a journal and pain tracker.
-revamped my website (still working on it).
-I’ve signed up for some affiliate sites. I’m not thrilled about it, but it’s a side gig that fits in nicely with book promotion.
Coming up and in the works:
- guided meditations.
- an anthology from Christians who suffer with chronic pain and how they’ve seen God working in their lives through the pain.
- videos to share on YouTube and other social media sites to encourage prayer, Bible reading, meditation, and community.
- design and sell merchandise that compliments the themes of my books.
It all sounds a bit ambitious to me, but God is calling the shots, and I’m assured of His blessed guidance.
But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord;
I say, “You are my God.”
Psalm 31:14 NKJV
Father, I praise You and place my life in Your perfect hands. Please bless the person who is reading this and give them Your perfect assurance, Your perfect peace as we head into a new year. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
