God is within her, she will not fall… Psalm 46:5 (NIV)
I often choose a word that directs my focus for the new year. This year it is “Wonder”. I want this to be a year that I pause to marvel at and soak in the awe of every move of God in my life. I want to be surprised by him every day as I learn to intermingle my life with his empowering presence. When we are curious, ponder and seek God in new ways, we find him. That is the beauty of wonder. It allows our eyes to capture God’s heart and see from an elevated perspective.
Do you know it is true that what we look for we find? I think we often do life wrong. We are so preoccupied with the negative “what if’s” that we rarely experience the positive “what if’s”!
This phrase spotlights the Shine Mentality’s focus for 2019, “What if I fall? Oh but my Darling, What if you fly?” I want flying to be my focus this year not fear of falling. I felt the Lord nudge me that this is the year to take risks for him because he wants me to experience the wonder of what can happen when I leap! Why is it that we tend to focus on the falling instead of the flying? Especially since, where we focus, we land. We think it keeps us safe, but does it really? Or does it just keep us small, afraid to leap, and stuck in a restrictive nest when the entire sky was meant for us to explore?
This week I’m proud to say I leaped! I officially launched the Art of the Pause workshop. I’ve been working on this message for over two years now and the other night I went public with it! I shared my heart and passion in front of others. Oh, don’t be mistaken, it wasn’t without fear. The months leading up to it were torturous at times. I questioned what God was doing in me and feared I’d get up there on stage and flub it all up. The battle was intense and fierce at times. Part of me was encouraged and ready for this new stage in my life and another part of me was doubting that I was made for this at all.
But what I found when I was faithful to release what God placed on my heart to share, he was faithful to show up and strengthen my wings so I could soar. It was one of the greatest experiences of my life thus far. If I hadn’t taken the leap, I would have missed the wonder of the moment. The word that kept coming to mind at the end of the night was it was “magical”. It isn’t a term I would normally use but then I realized the synonyms fit the night perfectly. It was “extraordinary, remarkable, unbelievable, inconceivable, astonishing, unimaginable, marvelous, breathtaking, brilliant, unparalleled, mind-blowing, wondrous, beautiful and delightful”. It was everything a moment can be when we partner with the wonder of God’s presence inside of us and leap!
Pastor Bill Johnson says that “We take such small risk because we live in ignorance of what we possess.” I believe when we focus on the “what could go wrongs” in life, we fail to experience the “what could go right” and forever live ignorant of the wonder of what can happen when we partner with God and simply trust. He promises he won’t let us fall!
So decide with me that this is your year take risks for Jesus. He is so worth the risk! This is the year to stop focusing on what could go wrong and start focusing on all that could go right! We cannot afford to live ignorant of what we possess. God’s divine nature has been deposited in us to partner with us and help us accomplish more than we could ever fathom (2 Peter 1:3-8).
Why live small, when we can soar? Will you leap with me in 2019?
I’d love to hear your story and for you to share on our Facebook page where you feel God is asking you to take the leap of faith this year. I believe we grow and find the courage to leap in the presence of a community of like-minded beautiful believers who are willing to engage in experiencing the wonder of God’s heart.
Be Bold ~ Take the Leap