I am really taken with the story of King Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 18-20)

He was a King (of Judah) that really loved the Lord.

But….
His issue was that he kept compromising by making alliances with people that he was not supposed to and those alliances caused him to get in trouble with the Lord.

This year I don’t want to form any alliances without the permission of the Lord.

Lord, you tell us to trust you and not lean upon our own understanding but in all our ways to acknowledge you and you will direct our paths.

Order my steps, Lord.
Keep me, Lord.
You know the plans you have for me, You said.
Hinder me from making alliances with anyone that is not YOUR plan for me, Lord. Stop me before it happens. Snatch me back. Bind me to Your will for me.

Father many might not understand and I am okay with that. You created us all and we all have a purpose. There are different members of one body each with its own purpose. I get it – that part which is not easily gotten and causes so many to feel “some type of offended” when the connections they want don’t stay.

Regarding the parts that I don’t yet understand, Lord, help me to be still in your Presence and not compromise because of what I dont understand. Help me to recognize the moments where I need to be still. Help me to recognize when you say “NO!” so that I don’t waste time energy and emotions on throwing spiritual tantrums which in the natural looks like me pushing to open doors you closed.

I can’t open a door you close to protect me. I don’t want to open a door you close because I’m not ready to handle what is on the other side of it. So help me to be still and not form alliances with any one that I should. This says nothing about the character of the other person. Instead it says everything about the character you are building in me. One in which I trust You.

Faith without works is dead. But my work is not about what I can do with my hands – Cain’s offering. My work is to trust YOU Father with all that I am (Abel’s offering).

This year, Daddy, so far what I am seeing is amazing because of you. You are Awesome. You are Magnificent. Ive learned that I can walk on water as long as I keep my eyes focused on YOU and not allow the plight of the unfocused world to distract me.

You tell me to let my light so shine that men may see my good works and glorify You. Daddy I understand the light. I don’t understand the shine. I place my brightness in your hands. You turn me up or down as You so desire. I relinquish the emotion of wanting to control that and i give that part back to You. Its Yours. It’s always been yours. I don’t want to take anything that I am not supposed to have.

Dad, as long as You allow me. I will share my faith journey with others. But I also understand that my focus is to stay on You. I am not responsible for others. One plants one waters but neither the planter nor the waterer is responsible for the growth.

I think, Daddy, that when I pay attention to the what’s being planted and watered then I get distracted by the pain and uncomfortableness of the breaking process that comes with growth.

That painful process the pressure of trying to get up from the heaviness of the dirt that binds…
That painful process of pressing to push out some type of sign of life called leaves…
The chill of the winds the burn of the sun the drowning of the waters the dryness of the earth…
It’s all beautiful to those trusting in you and trialsome to those trusting in themselves.
However one chooses to walk their journey is not my responsibility.

This year, Daddy, I don’t want to be unfocused by the process of another to the point that I am hindered in doing what You tell me to do which is the same as everyone else – grow.

I have to grow too because You said that whatever is not growing you will chop off. I have the same process as everyone else. I have the pain and the trials of the elements like everyone else. It’s just I process it different. I count it all joy. Ive learned and am learning to trust You more.

I desire that YOUR voice is louder in my ears than the voice of man. That has to be so that I can keep growing. Ive discovered the truth that You are the source, the energy, the power, the strength… My growth is determined by my staying connected to YOU. Daddy, what I feel with you is so different from what I feel thru man. It’s different. Yet man would try to make me feel that what I’m getting from you is not real or can’t be sustained without being connected to them.

Daddy, you are True and every man is a liar.  I refuse to compromise. I’ll share but I won’t compromise. I’ll share but I won’t dim. So, Daddy, the brightness of the Shine , I don’t want to touch that. It’s not mine to touch. Its all you. And I want to continue to reflect You.

Im in your hands.
Order my steps.
I am where You place me
For the time length that You position me.

I go because You tell me to go.
I stay when You tell me to stay.

This is my faith journey.
You’re leading me somewhere.
I look forward to this journey.
I still say YES.

Father gave me 2023. Father allowed me to enter 2023.

Now I’m giving 2023 back to Father.

Show me, Daddy, like you showed Ezekiel when you brought him to the valley of dry bones.

Show me,Daddy, what You want me to do in 2023. I trust You. I’m called to Your purpose. So, show me, Daddy.