Restart My Heart

Beloved friend,

As I turn my eyes toward a new year that brims with possibility and unfurls the hope of a fresh start, I want to let you in on what's happening over here at A Grace Narrative. The blog will soon be moving to a new site, although you will still be able to access the content at www.gracenarratives.com. My prayer is that I may be able to continuing serving you with encouragement and support in your walk with the Lord.

To begin the new year, I am making a list of all the ways my heart longs for a restart--and because I know that not a person in my life can afford for me to be asleep--I am sharing the following with you...

Take it as a bit of soul refreshment, a restart on the face of time, because this right here is the day of our salvation. It's the mercy of God in this moment, to awaken to Jesus right here, now. Don't let the moment pass when you make the decision to invite God into your story. Take hold of the call he has put on your heart to let him in and let him give you the new heart he is longing to create in you.

So here are 5 things we all need to restart our hearts for 2017. I've included examples of what this might look like for me personally:

Peace -

• remove apps with notifications
• clean house – I'm reading Sarah Mae's book Having a Martha Home the Mary Way
• say “no” - check out Lisa Terkeurst's book The Best Yes
• process internal thoughts externally (via journaling, prayer partner, create art, etc)
  
• get up early
• be outside

Joy -

• choose to not complain for 24 hours (whether or not you succeeded, try again the next day)
• keep a gratitude list – if you haven't read Ann Voskamp's One Thousand Gifts, put it on your list!
• celebrate small things
• play on the floor
• exercise – it releases endorphins
• be goofy - laugh at yourself, with others! (don't take life so seriously)

Love -

• brave through the brokenness with others
• reach out to one person each day – write their name down at the top of your to-do list
• smile at strangers
• praise others often
• pray for others, including your enemy
• call family on the phone
• find out your spouse or child's love language – see Gary Chapmans book The Five Love Languages

Creativity -

• write, paint, draw, photograph, cook, craft, sing, dance, play your instrument
• share your art with others
• give someone a spontaneous gift that you created
• use your art as worship to God
• do what makes your heart come fully alive - I love Emily P. Freeman's book A Million Little Ways
• let yourself dream for 15 mins; write it down and pray over it

Presence -

• invite God's presence in the midst of the above
• get up early for quiet time in God's word
• record scriptures that speak to you
• read old theology and deep thinkers – try Jaime George's book Poets and Saints; Oswald Chambers; C.S. Lewis; AW Tozer, etc
• pray “heart” prayers – ask God for his heart in your current situation
• worship while you work – play music that uplifts your soul
• walk outside and be silent

I was reading today, January 5th, in Oswald Chamber's "My Utmost for His Highest", where he so perfectly states this about making resolutions:

All our promises and resolutions end in denial because we have no power to accomplish them. When we come to the end of ourselves, not just mentally but completely, we are able to "receive the Holy Spirit" [John 20:22]. "Receive the Holy Spirit" --the idea is of invasion. There is now only One who directs the course of your life, the Lord Jesus Christ.

What goals have you made for yourself this new year? Have you invited God into the story? Maybe there is one thing that stands out on your list of what you hope might change in 2017. Bring it to the Lord. He is the author and perfecter of our faith. Give God full access to that part of your heart and let go. Give him permission to do in your life exceedingly, abundantly more than you could even ask or imagine.

Blessing to you in 2017!