33

It’s said that Jesus was probably about 33 when He died on the cross; so in just 33 years He accomplished so many great things-miracles, healing the sick, feeding the poor, and being the sacrificial lamb that we may have eternal life. Wow!!! Now, I’m not comparing myself to Jesus AT ALL!!! Being a Christ follower He is my example, my benchmark, the blueprint of how I wish to live my life. So to me 33 is symbolic of greatness, great accomplishments, and/or life changing moments. Considering all those things I’m believing this year will be an AMAZING year; a year filled with miracles, signs, and wonders. A year filled with “eyes have not seen, ears have not heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man the things God has in store for those who love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9 See it was year 32 that I heard God say “I’m proud of you.” He was proud of me for acknowledging the hurt, acknowledging the damage it did, but most importantly letting it go. The years leading up to 32 I did a lot of self-reflecting but I always seemed to snatch the bandaid off before the wound was completely healed which led to infection and then a longer recovery time. It wasn’t until 1 Peter 5:7 ”Cast your cares upon Him because He cares for you” became an action and not just a scripture I had memorized; no longer just something I could recite or quote when someone was feeling anxious but an action I engaged in that I was healed. Self-reliance was probably my biggest struggle often times relying on myself to get things done and although I know I need God I felt it was up to me to make it happen. Self-reliance is built on pride-pride in yourself, pride to not ask for help, pride to just push through and do it and we know pride goes before destruction (Proverbs 16:8). I had to see God as my Source of everything and with that He had to take a lot from me and when I say a lot I mean A LOT! However, He’s so loving and faithful that even when He took it He didn’t allow it to break me. I often felt like I would break but He kept me. So it was 32 that I FINALLY got it, I finally let go of everything that I felt I had to hold on to; Everything I felt I needed to fix, to resolve so it fit the expectations and the vision I saw for my life. God said, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 My plans weren’t lining up with His plans and I even tried to make some poor decisions fit into the masterpiece that He had planned for me even in my mother’s womb (Jeremiah 1:5) but it was when I finally let go of my plan that His plan began to fall into place. So here we are at 33 and to say I’m excited would be a complete understatement. I’m excited for God to move with no restraints, no limits or boundaries. May God get the glory for everything that happens in my life-not by my might but by His Spirit! (Zechariah 4:6) Happy 33rd Birthday to me! ❤️