There is nothing magical, or even spectacular, about the new year. Last night at midnight it turned from 2023 to 2024. Over the years, we’ve spent the moments watching years pass from one to another in various ways. We’ve spent them with friends and we’ve spent them alone. We’ve spent them with just our family. We’ve had game nights and worship nights. Some years we toasted in the new year with sparkling grape juice, laughing and cheering, while other years we sat solemnly, hanging on by a thread just waiting for a new year to come because the last year was so rough.
My husband went to bed early last night and I was awake and alone at midnight, which doesn’t always happen. As I sat quietly witnessing 2023 hand off to 2024, I found myself reading a section of scripture in Song of Solomon that has been ministering so much hope to my heart lately and quietly talking with the Lord for a few moments. Then I nodded off to sleep.
It wasn’t spectacular. I didn’t get a major prophetic word from the Lord for my year or my life or my family. It was quiet. It was peaceful. It was full of God and yet so soft. It was more like a whisper than a mighty rushing wind. It was real-life relationship with God. It was perfect.
After a short sleep when I realized I wasn’t getting back to sleep, I slipped downstairs and decided to start the year with communion. I lingered in some of my favorite passages in I Corinthians 11, Colossians 1, Hebrews 10, Isaiah 50 and 53. I reminded myself of all that belonged to me because of what Jesus did on the cross.
And I recommitted my life to Him afresh and a new.
It’s true – all He is and all He has belong to me because of what Jesus purchased for me on the cross. Because of the covenant He cut and paid for on my behalf. But it doesn’t end there.
All He is and all He has are mine. Praise God! But also ALL I am and ALL I have belong to Him. And when I take communion, I also remember that. It’s not just about what He can do for me. It’s about my life being laid down as a sacrifice for Him.
In Song of Solomon 2, it says that the barren winter has passed. The time of singing and pruning has come. Boy has this past season felt like a long, dry, barren winter for me. I’ve been on a journey, how about you? I’m so thankful that is turning into spring. But I noticed he says the time of singing is accompanied by the season of pruning. And pruning cuts. It can hurt. Why does singing and pruning go together?
It’s because what the pruning works in us is greater than any pain it may cause our flesh. It will always draw us closer to His heart. It will always make us more like Him. It will always make us more effective in His work. It will bring us into deeper intimacy with Him.
You must catch the troubling foxes, those sly little foxes that hinder our relationship. for they raid our budding vineyard of love to ruin what I’ve planted in you. Will you catch them and remove them for me? We will do it together.
Song of Solomon 2:15 (passion)
And I prayed, “Use my life this year, Lord, as You see fit. I hold nothing back from You!” This was an invitation for Him to come and prune away. I want to be as close to Him as possible and I don’t want any thorns or dead limbs or sly little foxes to hinder our closeness. I want it all revealed. I want it all cut away. Prune me Lord! It all comes back to intimacy.
(Intimacy. I ministered a message at my church titled Contend for the Deep Places about this yesterday. If you’re interested in listening, you can click here to watch it on YouTube.)
Once I gave Him permission to prune, ever so softly I heard whispered in my heart – “Reset.”
Reset. It’s time to reset. Break some patterns of the past and start fresh. New eyes. New energy. new excitement. Fresh revelation. A closer walk. More of Him.
Reset
Refresh
Rekindle
Run
How did you start your year? What did He whisper to you? I’d love to hear it. That’s how we encourage one another.
I was reminded of this old hymn today as I sat with the Lord. May this be our prayer for 2024. Not just what He can give to us but what we can give to Him.
Take my life and let it be
consecrated, Lord to Thee.
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in endless praise.
Take my hands and let them move
at the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
swift and beautiful for Thee.
Take my voice and let me sing
always, only for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
filled with messages from Thee.
Take my silver and my gold.
Not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
every pow'r as Thou shalt choose.
Take my will and make it Thine.
It shall no longer be mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own.
It shall be They royal throne.
Take my love, my Lord, I pour
at They feet its treasure store.
Take myself and I will be
ever, only, all for Thee.
Ever, only, all for Thee.
