2010 was life-changing. And awesome. The Lord was so up close and personal with us last year.... getting into our business and onto our cases like never before. I'm hoping and praying for more of the same in 2011.
And I think I'll get it because...
I had an interesting little exchange with the Lord one day a couple of month ago. I was driving down the road - praying. About my faith...about the doubts whirling around in my mind. And as I was praying and pondering - I had a tornado of quotes and thoughts filling my brain....from theologians, books, articles, and preachers that I had listened to recently.
"Well this pastor says....."
"But this theologian thinks that..."
"And this author believes....."
It was so noisy. And overwhelming. When all of the sudden I felt like the Lord said...
"But Kate, who do YOU say that I am?"
Immediate calm flooded my mind. And then I thought about the Bible passage where Jesus asked the disciples the very same thing. It's in Luke 9:18-20, if you're interested.
Ever since...I've been repeating the question over and over in my mind. Who do I say that Jesus is?
The only way to answer the question is to know Him personally. Through scripture. Through prayer. Through worship. Beth Moore can't do that for me. Ravi Zacharias can't do that for me. Max Lucado can't do that for me. My pastors can't do that for me. While they are all excellent Bible teachers and while I do learn from them and enjoy their teachings (and while I will probably quote them often this year here on my blog).... I have to find out who Jesus is my own self. I have to get my own nose into The Word. I have to get on my own knees and pray my own prayers. I have to lift my own hands in worship. And friends, when I do those things, when I position myself at His feet (through serious Bible study, prayer, fasting, fellowship, quiet, stillness, service, obedience, etc...) I'm able to give Him an answer to the, "Who do YOU say that I am?" question that pierced my heart that day.
And that's important. For me. And for you.
So this year, please join me. In the Word. On your knees. In worship. Out in the world - serving and seeking. For I'm beginning to understand that in these things ...a person does a lot of finding. Revelation happens. Our eyes are opened. Our faith is strengthened. Our influence is lengthened. We are guided, girded, and hoisted up to catch His wind in our sails.
Oh friends. I'm thankful for you. And for this new year. And for a God who wants us to know Him. Really know Him. In 2011, may the Spirit break into our lives, homes, hearts, churches, and communities like never before.
Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory, may give to you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power. - Ephesians 1:15-19 NKJV
