PREVAIL
Beginning a new year traditionally brings hope for change. We declare resolutions to fuel our resolve. Maybe you set a weight loss goal, a prayer goal, a Bible reading goal, or something different. I do this too, and of course, there is nothing wrong in setting goals and resolutions, but many times our resolutions are broken and our goals dismissed before the end of January.
This year, we enter 2021 on the heels of a traumatic 2020. Are you tired and weary? Too many Zoom meetings, online schooling for your kids, social distancing, mask-wearing, and political fighting kind of exhausted? Life as we knew it changed in 2020, and entering 2021, we are still in the midst of the turmoil.
Maybe you feel like Chippie the parakeet. Max Lucado shares his story in his book, In the Eye of the Storm.
“CHIPPIE THE PARAKEET NEVER saw it coming. One second he was peacefully perched in his cage. The next, he was sucked in, washed up, and blown over. The problems began when Chippie’s owner decided to clean Chippie’s cage with a vacuum cleaner. She removed the attachment from the end of the hose and stuck it in the cage. The phone rang, and she turned to pick it up. She’d barely said ‘hello’ when ‘sssopp!’ Chippie got sucked in.
“The bird owner gasped, put down the phone, turned off the vacuum, and opened the bag. There was Chippie– still alive but stunned. Since the bird was covered with dust and soot, she grabbed him and raced to the bathroom, turned on the faucet, and held Chippie under the running water. Then, realizing that Chippie was soaked and shivering, she did what any compassionate bird owner would do . . she reached for the hairdryer and blasted the pet with hot air.
“Poor Chippie never knew what hit him.
“A few days after the trauma, the reporter who’d initially written about the event contacted Chippie’s owner to see how the bird was recovering. ‘Well,’ she replied, ‘Chippie doesn’t sing much anymore; he just sits and stares.’
“It’s hard not to see why. Sucked in, washed up, and blown over . . . that’s enough to steal the song from the stoutest heart.
Are you feeling like Chippie? No longer a song in your heart? Afraid of the future? Here is some good news for you in 2021. You don’t need to be frightened!
History teaches we do face difficult seasons in life, but because of our relationship with Jesus, we will not only survive, we can thrive. In the New Testament, we see the Church established during difficult times. The book of Acts has stories of persecution and just plain troubling circumstances, yet the Church grew in number and influence. Miracles occurred; divine provision was unmistakable. Prion doors opened, people healed, the good news of Christ preached, and lives changed. While we don’t know what this year will bring to us individually or corporately, we know that God will be working His plans for our lives. When we face challenges, God is with us. That is His promise. Psalms 41:1 God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. NLT
How do you want to be defined in 2021? I love these words about the unnamed yet famous woman in Proverbs 31:15 “She laughs without fear of the future.” NLT
I want to be like her, don’t you? Smart, classy, and a little sassy in 2021.
Our theme for this year is PREVAIL, based on I Corinthians 16:14 “Let love prevail in your life, words, and actions.” (The Voice)
This year, could it be that allowing love to prevail can help you laugh without fear of the future? The pressure of life will squeeze you, and what’s inside tends to come out. The saying, garbage in/garbage out is correct. This past year squeezed the life out of us!
We can determine that 2021 will be different, even if circumstances, at least initially, haven’t changed.
Paul wrote the scripture to the Corinthian Church, established in Greece. Just like today, bad behavior was rampant both outside and inside the Church. The environment was not “church friendly,” and new believers were guilty of allowing the environment to affect them rather than affecting the environment. In this context, Paul admonishes the Church to allow LOVE to prevail.
Love to prevail amid hardship
Love to prevail amid ungodliness
Love to prevail amid unfair treatment
Love to prevail amid disagreements
How do we show love in 2021? The answer is pretty simple; in our WORDS and ACTIONS. Twitter rants and unending Facebook arguments don’t lend themselves to allowing LOVE to PREVAIL. Real conversations where listening is more important than speaking, help LOVE PREVAIL. I am craving real conversations with real people. How about you?
We can rest in the fact that Jesus is building his Church in 2021. He promised He would.
“I will build my church, and the gates of hell[b] shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18 (ESV)
My prayer for 2021 is that He trusts me to partner with Him as I pursue love to prevail.
I am looking forward to the new year!
Liz
