We are 1 day away from one of my favorite days of the year next to Christmas, New Year's Day. Growing up New Year's Eve was a big deal in my house. My mom would take us to watch night service and we'd listen to the end of the year message, pray in the New Year, and head home to watch the ball drop on television with glasses of sparkling cider.
When I got married, my husband and I started our own tradition of making delicious food, watching the ball drop, and drinking that same sparkling cider. However when we added children to our family this tradition transitioned to family game night, eating swedish meatballs and other appetizers, and then watching the ball drop.
Saying good-bye to one year and hello to a new one. I know many of us are ready to say good-bye to 2020. It's been filled with so many things.
For me, 2020 has been filled with reflection, growth, trusting in Jesus, lots of prayer, and time with my family.
I asked the Lord for specific things in 2020, and He answered those prayers.
Let's look back at answered prayers and blessings of 2020.....
In February 2020, I traveled to Milwaukee, Wisconsin to help with my first Women's Conference as social media manager for Infinitely More Life. It was an AMAZING time. The first night of conference was incredible as the Holy Spirit showed up in a mighty way. Our team taught about the armor of God and how important it is to wear your armor in these times.
The second day was filled with moving into victory with my friend Tracy Loken Weber speaking on CTRL ALT Delete and shifting our thoughts.
Then conference closed with Evangelist Kiena Hackworth with her powerful "I Made It" message.
I left conference feeling revived, excited and we even had 2021 conference planned out before I left as Carrie, Ara, and I sat in Carrie's living room. I knew it was going to be a powerful year - A Year of Victory.
Then March hit and the world shifted....I had heard about the coronavirus on my flight but I didn't think it would hit close to me. I was so wrong. Fear hit like a tidal wave when I heard about the magnitude of this virus. I had sleepless nights of worry about having no food, especially when the grocery store shelves were empty. BUT GOD.
God's provision overflowed for our family in 2020. I remember one night sitting in our living room wondering how we were going to find toilet paper, chicken, and even tried to buy a cow as I watched the evening news. A text came to my phone and suddenly at our door was food - more than enough.
My daughter had been so excited for a pagent that she wanted to be in for special needs girls. I remember getting her fitted for her dress. The excitement on her face and then everything cancelled. My kids were suddenly home from school, and I was teaching them full time. I had homeschooled them previously so it wasn't as bad as I envisioned by my senior in high school now had a low key graduation, my sixth grader who was looking forward to his graduation to 7th grade - instead ended up with a fun party. Life shifted as the world shifted.
Our family had been saving for a HUGE trip to Disneyworld and like many of you - we canceled it and found ourselves sitting at home.
So How did we survive 2020? Clinging to these 5 verses and standing on the promises found in the Word of God.
1. Proverbs 3:5-6, NIV says to Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
God definitely made our paths straight as we trusted Him in 2020.
2. "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10, NIV
Do not fear - 2020 was filled with fear. In fact in many ways it felt like a bad twilight zone movie. Groundhog day every day and pj's and zoom meetings became the norm.
3. Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
Psalms 91:1-2, NIV
I don't know about you but I rested more than I have in 2020. In the paused moments of life, some of our best ideas were designed and I can't wait to see God bring them to pass.
4. God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.
Psalms 46:1-2, NIV
5. Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2, NIV
Fixing my eyes on social media, the news, reports of the virus, nope fixing my eyes on Jesus. I did something in 2020 more than I have ever done - I consistently read my Bible. It was my lifeline on most days. I wanted to know what God was saying to me, what was in store for us, and just wanted to stay close to Jesus.
Did 2020 have it's struggles? Absolutely. My son Brighton suffered an infection and had 2 surgeries on his knee. It was very scary but I saw God work in his life in an awesome way while he was in the hospital. And I'm so thankful for praying friends who prayed and held my hands up from a distance when I didn't have the strength to carry on.
2020 was a year - a year that we will remember and a year that I hope we don't repeat the strife and struggle again. However, I choose to remember the blessings of 2020 and count them as a blessing.
What verse did you cling to in 2020?
I'd love to hear it. Share it in the comments below.
Be blessed!!
