Moving Forward

2023 has passed quickly.

My spiritual walk with God has had many challenges in 2023. There were days I knew I was close to him, and others when I drifted away not wanting to read and meditate upon his word. Sometimes God’s revelations to me took days and weeks to process. Meditating upon certain passages for a week at a time I could feel that there were mysteries I was not ready to see. Eventually, with perseverance comes understanding. I can personally say that meditating over verses for a period of time has revealed a deeper understanding of God’s will in my life, as well as my own growth as his child.

Regardless of the spiritual ups and downs – God was always with me and like a sculptor slowly chiselling away my rough edges.

I thank God for taking care of my family, friends, and especially my readers and me throughout 2023. Personally, his hands guided me to be a more mindful and loving person. Guiding me to be a more understanding mom to my kids, and a supportive wife to my husband of over 40 years, sister and daughter.

I pray that the hand of God will guide each of us in the coming year. I believe 2024 will be a challenging one for many in every facet of life including the spiritual. Guard your hearts to the rumblings within the church. Remember the Pope still sits in the seat of the Holy See. No one is perfect, and if we recall, St. Peter also denied Jesus 3 times and was at times faint of heart (walking on water, and as soon as his eyes were off Jesus, he sank). Keeping our eyes on Jesus is the key that will help us discern in our chaotic world.

Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Pray for the graces of God (which grace do you need in your life?):

When my students ask me to define “Fear of God,” I tell them that God abhors sin, and I think about keeping on his good side by staying away from it. I don’t want to be standing before God upon my death having all my sins recounted.

All the graces of the Holy Spirit (the helper) are free, we only need to ask. It’s that simple.

It’s a spiritual battle in our world, in our lives and in our spiritual walk with God. Stand firm in your faith wearing the armour of God: Ephesians 6:10-18

The Armor of God

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,but against the rulers, against the authorities,against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.¹³ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit,which is the word of God.

¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

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Concerning Prayer

Rejoice and pray all the time:

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Matthew 6:5-15

⁵ “And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. ⁶ But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.^[a]

⁷ “When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. ⁸ Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

⁹ “Pray then in this way:

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
¹⁰ Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
¹¹ Give us this day our daily bread.
¹² And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
¹³ And do not bring us to the time of trial,
but rescue us from the evil one.

¹⁴ For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; ¹⁵ but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

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My prayer for all is that we can rejoice and give thanks to God for guiding us as we move into 2024 with our eyes wide opened and focused on Jesus. May our walk with Jesus draw us into a deeper relationship with him. May the hand of God to help us discern, stand firm in our faith and withstand the false narratives of the evil one. May the peace of God descend upon our world. May the light within us draw others to know Jesus.

Amen 🙏

1 Chronicles 4:10

…Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.”

Amen 🙏