"And A Happy New Year"

Well, I know this is kind of cliche, writing a blog to end out the year, but it must be done, by me and many others lol! I had this thought this morning, " Is my/your new year going to be a happy one?" To me, this is a pretty easy answer, but to many not so much and to me before this year it would not have been an easy answer at all. A lot of us are moving forward in our lives, making great progress, reaching goals etc. etc., while still stagnant in some areas, we are still moving. For a lot of us, very little has changed and we are still struggling with the same ol, same ol. And for some of us, absolutely nothing has changed and we are just trying to survive, whoop-ti-doo another new year, right?

I would consider myself to be in the first category. I am moving forward, making progress, but yet there are still some things that haven't changed. There are also some new things that are not so great, but oddly enough spurring on forward progress. But, in the midst of all of this, I can honestly answer my question with confidence. My new year is going to be a happy one!

If there's one lesson that I have learned that I could pull away from this year, although there have been many, is the way I feel, in any area of my life, mentally, spiritually and/or physically, does not change who God is or what He has said in His Word. Number one lesson without a doubt. I have been trying to live my life this whole year that way. I find myself winning MOST days, lol, but obviously there were many days I just needed to go to bed and start over!

God's Word has become the most important thing in my life this year. This is why I can answer my question with great confidence. I am going through a lot, more to even say, physically and spiritually, but because of God's Word, I am going through it with peace. I have two top favorite scriptures that have gotten me through this year:

Proverbs 3:5-8, " Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones. "

And that it has been, "health to my flesh and strength to my bones"...off of ms meds for a year and half, spent the year singing, the summer going no-stop with my boys, started homeschooling, finished a short version of the cd we've been working on and so much more.

Philippians 4:6-7, "  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;  and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

If this scripture is living and active in our lives, how can we not move into the next year with peace and joy? Trust me, I am having to work through my flesh and look past my flesh in a lot of areas of my life to obtain this peace and keep it. It's a fight everyday. But when I fight for it, He fights for me, resulting in peace and a knowing that He's got it all. 

I have no idea what this year holds, but I know that if I stay submitted to the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, it doesn't matter. Nothing can touch me that He doesn't allow if I stay within His perfect will for my life. How do I do that? Again, I stay submitted to His Holy Spirit and the Word.  

So, to conclude, from my family to yours, Happy New Year! It's our choice whether it will be happy or not, just remember that. Love to all of you and yours!