So here we are – new years eve 2021 – another year gone by and a brand new year just around the corner.
I’ve been spending some time this week reflecting on the last year – sometimes with deep thankfulness, sometimes with quiet reflectiveness, and also with confession for those things that weren’t quite so great!
And in the midst of this reflectiveness, there has been a deep sense of the quiet, gentle presence of the Spirit of God, His gentle peace, assurance and grace – all of which have covered every moment of this last year and will, I know, carry me and and cover me and my loved ones through every moment of the year ahead.
In Psalm 36 we read: “Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,
your justice like the ocean depths … How precious is your unfailing love, O God!
All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings. You feed them from the abundance of your own house, letting them drink from your river of delights. For you are the fountain of life, the light by which we see.”
As we head into 2022, my prayer is that you know the truth of these beautiful words for you and your loved ones – that you can find shelter in the shadow of His wings, feed from His abundant Words of Life and drink regularly from His Fountain of Life and Light – His presence and Spirit. And that you will know the truth of His unfailing love, faithfulness, righteousness and justice – His unending love for you, His child in whom He delights.
I want to end this year with an invitation to come, be still and drink from the river of life – and invitation that is extended to us from our loving God each and every day – an invitation that is extended to you here, at the end of this year and as you head into a new year.
An invitation to stop, and be still:
Stop and be still – enjoy being still.
Enjoy being in the present, without concern about what might happen if you stop a while –
What won’t get done – won’t be ticked off your to-do list.
Stop and be still.
Take my yoke upon you.
Live in my unforced rhythms of grace.
Listen to my invitation to rest a while in the green meadows, by the streams of living water.
In my oasis of peace.
Stop and drink, my thirsty, dry and weary child.
Come – drink from the cup I’m offering you.
My living water – water to refresh, restore, heal and cleanse.
Water that turns deserts into flower gardens, the wilderness into green pastures.
Water that goes deep – into the dark caverns of your life to bring my life to those deep places.
Come, drink from my cup that never runs dry.
Come – stop a while with me and be still.
As we end this year, why not take time to stop a while and have a cup of tea with the One who longs to spend time with you? To drink from His cup that never runs dry and allow Him to restore your soul, water the garden of your heart and lead you in His unforced rhythms of grace in this new year.
Have a Cup of Tea with God 