Quieting the World & Leaning into God for 2020
In case you didn’t know, I’ve claimed you guys as my friends so let’s get honest for a second. How are you feeling so far in this New Year? Are you feeling bombarded by all everyone is saying you should or shouldn’t do, all you should consider starting or quitting in 2020?! Is there an area of your life that even with planning & dreaming you still can’t seem to get clarity on? Or in the midst of whatever your season and reality looks like- are you just craving more of the Lord? Is something in you longing for more, for quieting everyone else’s voices and maybe even your own so that you can lean into God, be refreshed in His presence and receive clarity for what HE is wanting to say for your life specifically?
I don’t know about you, but I’m a PRETTY good binge watcher when it comes to lifestyle youtube videos, morning routines, simplifying and going after your goals blog posts haha! Like it’s probably an issue we can talk about later... not now ;). BUT here’s what I’ve felt this year that I just can’t shake- that I don’t want to become a woman who at the end of December has to say, “Lord, I couldn’t do what you asked this year because I was too busy with what *I* decided was most important for my life.”
Oh friend, here’s the truth: the Lord has something so powerful, specific and intentional that He wants to speak over and do in you this year. He wants to satisfy you with His presence, make His voice known to you. He wants to bring you freedom and empower you by His spirit to use what He has given you for His glory and the good of others. But what He wants to do, is simply too important for us to be able to decipher it from someone else’s New Year’s Resolutions, or from someone else’s word from God.
You are too unique and He is TOO passionate about you to simply copy and paste His plan for someone else into your life.
So what would it look like if we took some intentional time, over a few days, to quiet the world and lean into Him? To silence everyone else’s expectations, and maybe our own, and simply fix our gaze on Jesus and what He wants to say? What kind of breakthrough could it pave the way for in our lives? What burdens would He lift off of us? How could our year be different & how might our goals or days shift moving forward?
I believe you were created to hear His voice and encounter His presence powerfully and clearly. So here are a few ways you can lean into God for what He has for your 2020:
1. Start by getting alone with the Lord and simply worshipping Him and thanking Him for being good and faithful- with no other agenda.
Scripture says, “When we draw close to the Lord, that He will move even closer to us.” Play those songs that you’ve encountered Him deeply to in the past and create space to encounter His presence and rest in it for a bit. Fill up your soul and see how simply BEING in His presence will answer some of the longings and questions you have.
2. Lay out your fears, doubts and hopes for what 2020 could (& you think should look like) before Him and ask Him for His perspective.
Imagine surrendering them at His feet in Heaven and asking Him to speak into those areas of your life. How does He respond in love? How does He shift what you’re feeling to line up with His Word? What mindset or narrative is He wanting you to re-write with HIM and His love as the focus? WHY is He wanting you to surrender?
3. Ask the Lord to show you His big-picture perspective for these 4 key areas of your life: spiritual, personal, relational and work.
Ask Him to give you clarity or give you an arrow for the direction He is wanting you to head in- write down what you feel nudging in your spirit EVEN if it’s not a step by step plan. Remember that obeying the Lord is never a waste of time. (Tip- His perspective will alwayssss point back to glorifying Him. <3)
4. Throughout the year, continue to surrender your goals over and over again to the Lord.
Allow Him to speak re-direction, truth and comfort over the areas that you are ignoring AND holding really closely.
5. Spend a few days fasting & praying with our Quiet the World Challenge!
Fasting is a spiritual disciple that enables us to FUEL our longing for God, to hear God clearly, receive wisdom and freedom. This is why you see so many Churches doing 21 days of fasting & prayer at the beginning of each year! And over in our community, Becoming Ministries, we’ve been doing this for 3 years straight as a free 3-Day Challenge and each time I am BLOWN AWAY by how powerfully hundreds of girls deeply encounter God and hear Him clearly for their lives.
When you sign-up for this 3-Day Challenge, you’ll get a guide I wrote that walks you through formats for each of the 3 days including: Scriptures to read, prayers to pray, action steps, questions to ask AND a video each day of me getting in your corner with practical tips on how to fast, lean into and listen for God, recognize Him, dive deeper & SO much more!
So if you’re craving a sort of virtual retreat away with the Lord- this is for you, friend! I’d love to walk you through it; come join us! You’ll get everything you need right to your inbox <3! We love you, friends, & believe that this will be your BEST YEAR YET if it is your best year SPIRITUALLY. Lean into Him, quiet the world- because you were created for more and it doesn’t come with hustle. It comes with resting in the Father.
xo, Lanissa
