S8 E31: Welcoming a New Season + New Year

It’s the last Sunday of the year.

“Welcome Winter” is the weekly focus for week 2 in the Winter Journal.

This week has us simultaneously saying goodbye to a calendar year and saying hello to a new year.

For some of you, you have been eager to close the door on 2023 and are excited about the fresh perspective and start that welcoming a new year brings to our lives.

The season of Winter is a mysterious mix of Solitude and Wonder.

The darkness and chill of a winter day can cause us to question and doubt God’s faithfulness and goodness. Yet these words found in Psalm 23:6 are a beautiful reminder that  no matter how dark and alone we might feel “God’s beauty and love chase after me every day of my life.”

How wonderful is that? No matter how dark things seem no matter the season or circumstances God’s beauty and love pursue us every day of our life.

The stillness of a Winter is an invitation to be still with God and with ourselves. It is in the space of solitude and stillness that we are transformed. 

Spiritual transformation is full of mystery. We surrender ourselves to the invitation and say yes to the participation yet it’s something we can’t accomplish for ourselves.

Here are some prompts for you to think, pray, and journal about this week…

What are you expecting this season?

Do you struggle with getting still?

Do you find it difficult to trust God’s faithfulness and goodness?

I’d love to offer up a prayer for us as we head into a new week as well as a new year.

Spirit of God we welcome you into this moment and into this new year and season.

May I have an open heart and hands to surrender my agenda, expectations, and plans in exchange for total trust that your ways are not my ways and surrender and trust in your faithfulness and goodness towards me!

Thank you for pursuing me with your love and may I receive that love in the quiet stillness that Winter can bring. 

I choose to surrender to the wonder that is to be discovered and developed in me during this season.

We love you and we are looking to you…

always.