By now we are almost half way through January and probably settling into all the new year has in store for us. For us as a family this is a year with some new seasons on our doorstep. We have just celebrated 7 distinctions in matric results with our eldest daughter. Time flies. It feels like yesterday when we were taking her to Grade 1! Now she has a driver's licence and in a week's time she is moving to the residence for her first year at University. Our youngest is going to grade 10 - also a new season for her. Some of this brings really big changes for us, having to take several steps of faith in various directions.
I am sure we all have different expectations and maybe uncertainties about the year to come. It may be that we are sometimes discouraged by some of the news reports and challenges we have to deal with. I think we are all aware of the potential storms ahead, on different fronts of life.
As I was praying and contemplating all this year may (or may not) bring, I believe I heard Holy Spirit ask a question:
"What do you immerse yourself in?"
And so the question set off a quest to firstly do some introspection in terms of what I immerse myself into, but also to go to scripture and see what did the people in the Bible immerse themselves into? Although this is not by far a completed journey, in fact, I suspect that I will journey with this question for the rest of this year, here are some of my thoughts so far:
What we immerse ourselves in is a choice - and it has consequences:
What did Adam and Eve immerse themselves in?
The presence of God in the cool of the evening breeze as He came to walk with them...
And then: The doubt the enemy brought...
What did Noah immerse Himself in?
Fulfilling the task in obedience to God's word to him...
And then: Overindulging in wine...
What did Abraham immerse Himself in?
In his covenant with God...
And then: Into making his own plan to fulfill the covenant..?
What did Moses immerse Himself in?
The presence of God in the tent of meeting...
And yet there was the moment of 'Will I bring water out of this rock for you..?'
What did David immerse himself in?
Worship of a Sovereign God, being a man after God's heart
And yet there was Bathsheba...
And so I can go on all though the Bible and right into my own life...
What is it that God wants to draw my/our attention to or warn me/us about? Maybe many different things but surely He wants to make us attentive to staying immersed in Him.. in His presence... His love, His plans for us. (Jer 29:11)
In John 15:3-4 (NKJ) He encourages us with this:
'You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless it abide in Me"
As this year progress and unfold, let us keep this question in mind:
"What are you immersing yourself in?"
Let us immerse ourselves in Him completely, and let us guard our .hearts against the if's, why's and but's of this life...
Let us continuously immerse ourselves in His Hope, His presence, His promises to us, in Faith... In Him as the Vine, the Bridegroom and King of Kings.
May 2020 be an immensely blessed year for all of us.
Much Love
Gerda
free2celebrate@gmail.com 