Watch and Be Amazed

A new year has begun and I’m guessing when the new calendar year came around, some of us started with new resolutions and goals.

I usually enjoy the beginning of a new year with planning new objectives, reaching for new ideas and beginning new habits.  This year had a bit different feel to it.

For the last 5 or so years I have chosen a “word” for the new year. A word to focus my learning and place my attention. I have chosen words like courage, trust, love, welcome, to name a few. This year, I didn’t seek out a word but instead kept coming back to the idea of a verse.

Habakkuk 1:5 “Look at the nations and watch --- and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe even if you were told.”

Looking at our nations and what’s happening around our world, my mind is a bit boggled. I stand shaking my head as I read stories coming across my screen. I wonder, “God, what is happening?”  and this scripture returns again and again in reply… “watch and be amazed.”
We can become discouraged with the news of the day and the ever-changing environment of what we will face as the sun rises for a new beginning.
​
As I sit in my office typing this out to you, my eyes glance toward the blocks in my workspace.

---

Each block holds a different encouragement. The sides facing us today speak to us about what God is telling us about these days.

• DARE TO BELIEVE – Believe He will do things in our days that are beyond what we can see today.
• BE STILL & KNOW – Rushing through our to-do list and checking off the agenda can be satisfying yet also exhausting if that list never ends.  Mentally quieting our minds can bring our hearts back around to the purposes of God and believing that His stand. We can be still in our hearts and know in our minds that He has our days and situations under control. We can trust Him.
• PRAYERS MOVE MOUNTAINS – When obstacles stand in our way, and we can't see our way forward. Prayer plows through.  Prayer stills our hearts, re-establishes our focus, and prepares our minds to see the creative way God is working.

We can be overwhelmed by the day’s events but by focusing through these ways, we can move our attention towards what God is doing. We can watch and be amazed at what the Lord is bringing about in our lives. Even when we don’t see the changes today, God is moving and God is able.

Believing with you for amazing things –
~Rachel
 
JUMP INTO THE CONVERSATION by leaving a comment below:

• Do you have a ‘word’ for the year or scripture you are focusing on? Share with us.
• What are you believing for in these days?
• How do you practice ‘being still’ in the busyness of the day?
• How can we be praying and believing with you?