January 4, 2022

Happy New Year - 2022
I have always loved the beginning of the year.  It’s an opportunity to close that last year chapter, while opening a new chapter in my life with a fresh start. So many of you enjoy it also, anticipating a new year with new beginnings, new creation and, reigniting old attempts and looking for challenges that stretch us.
 
Welcoming the year, so many have already shared their word or verse, for the year that God has led them to, as they embrace this new year.  I remember my word for last year, “risk”, which was an unusual word to mediate on for a whole year. Actually, “risk” is a scary word.  God led me to several “risks” last year. I won’t recount those here but will only share that I did them and survived. 
 
This year, I felt led to a word that I had a couple of years ago. God led me to a verse that supported my word, trust.  Jeremiah 17:7 (NIV) says “Blessed is the one who trust in the Lord and whose confidence (hope, KJ) is in Him. 
 
My trust is in Yahweh (who is self Existent/Eternal) and my hope /confidence isa refuge, security, and assurance in Yahweh. I am blessed when my trust and hope is in Yahweh, the Lord. 
 
Honestly, I get a little nervous when I get a word for the new year…. like I am already thinking what’s going to happen that I need to take a risk or trust God.  But as a Christian, I should be living my life in total surrender of my trust in the Lord and full confidence in Him.  No trust or confidence in myself. It’s all in Him. Come what may this year; the Lord is Yahweh, and I put my trust and confidence in Him. 
 
What’s your word or verse for the year?  I would love to hear it and pray for you as you begin the new year. 
Blessings, Karen
 
Additional scriptures for encouragement: 
Jeremiah 17:7 - “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord And whose trust is the Lord.
Psalm 34:8 - O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!
Proverbs 16:20 - He who gives attention to the word will find good, And blessed is he who trusts in the Lord.
Psalm 40:4 - How blessed is the man who has made the Lord his trust, And has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood.
Psalm 84:12 - O Lord of hosts, How blessed is the man who trusts in You!
Psalm 125:1 - Those who trust in the Lord Are as Mount Zion, which cannot be moved but abides forever.
Isaiah 30:18 - Therefore the Lord longs to be gracious to you, And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you.
For the Lord is a God of justice; How blessed are all those who long for Him.
Psalm 146:5 - How blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, Whose hope is in the Lord his God,
Isaiah 26:3-4 - “The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, Because he trusts in You.