What If I Let God Be God This year?
We just embarked on a brand new year. Besides parties, fireworks, and count downs to midnight, the term “brand-new” conjures up all kinds of hopes and dreams.
Although a new year brings excitement about what lies ahead. It may also bring uneasiness about what’s expected of us. Or, what we expect of ourselves.
For instance, I wonder, Do people presume I will do great things?
Likewise, do you ever sense this kind of unrealistic pressure?
Then we make grandiose resolutions and plans and dream bigger and bigger with each passing year trying to top the previous one.
But if you have followed this blog for a while, you know I never make resolutions. There’s too much burden in making, keeping, measuring, and probable failing at my resolve to change or better myself or an area of my life.
Yet, I like to reflect on the preceding year. Reflection helps me process areas of my life, and consider how to pursue my passions with a passion in the upcoming twelve months.
Still, I realized any new year is not all about me. Or even if I do great things. Instead, it requires roots in something or someone greater than me. And so during my contemplation, a thought would not let go of me:
What if I let God be God this year?
What will the new year hold if I simply let God do His job as God? And what if I let the Almighty reign over my decisions, circumstances, dreams, and life?
Most importantly, isn’t He the only One who perfectly fills the role as God? No other person or god meets the requirements like our heavenly Father. He’s the most qualified and the most trustworthy.
Therefore, I’m noting 3 ways we let God be G.O.D. this year.
G – Give God the reins and complete reign.
“God reigns over the nations; God sits on his holy throne” Psalm 47:8.
Often, we take the reins in particular areas of our lives. And it leads to less-than-best outcomes—even turmoil. Instead, we allow the Lord to take the reins, hold the reins, and keep the reins in everything.
This supercharges His Lordship over us as we surrender total control to Him.
When we give up the reins, God reigns supreme. The Lord takes His rightful place in our hearts and lives.
When we give up the reins, God reigns supreme. The Lord takes His rightful place in our hearts and lives. #NewYear #God Share on X
O – Obey the Lord and His Holy Word.
“But this command I gave them: ‘Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. And walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you’” Jeremiah 7:23.
- Obedience leads to the abundant and spiritual life the Lord intended for us.
- Obedience was crucial for God’s people to inhabit the Promised Land, and it’s crucial for us to inhabit God’s promised life.
- Obeying helps us thrive on the Christian journey, not just survive.
- Obedience unlocks God’s power and amazing wonders in our lives.
- Obeying is always for our good and God’s glory.
D – Desire God and His dreams above all else.
“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart” Psalm 37:4.
The requirement to receive our heart’s desires is to delight in the Lord. In addition, a closer look at the entire chapter gives more understanding: Trust in the Lord (verse 3); Commit your way to the Lord (verse 5); The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way (verse 23); Wait for the Lord and keep his way (verse 34).
When we pursue unhindered, unabated, and unadulterated desire and passion for the one true God above anything else in this world, powerful things take place.
- Idols fall from their pedestals in our heart.
- The gap narrows between the desires of our heart and God’s desires.
- We dream big with God. He’s the biggest dreamer of all. Dream with God, you and Him dream best together.
Prayer
Lord, forgive me for making plans without considering Your plan, and for failing to obey Your Word. I repent of the many times I deny Your Lordship by placing myself, other people or things above You. I’m sorry for dreaming on my own. The best dreams are when we dream together. Help me give up the reins and give You reign in my heart and life. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
Which of the 3 ways resonates most with you?
*Scripture ESV.
*Photos from a daytrip to the mountians with my husband.
*Last year’s blog post, Hello New Year: 3 Things That Really Matter
*Sometimes I participate in these link-ups:
Legacy Linkup/Inspire Me Monday/Kingdom Bloggers/Literacy Musings/Tell His Story/Purposeful Faith/Abounding Grace/Welcome Heart/Recharge Wednesday/Porch Stories/Worth Beyond Rubies/Tune in Thursday/Sitting Among Friends/Heart Encouragement/Embracing the Unexpected/Fresh Market Friday/Faith On Fire/Dance With Jesus and Faith and Friends.
© 2020 by Karen Friday, All rights reserved
This is such a great post! During this new year, we should let God do as He plans and trust in Him always!
Julie, thank you. I pray we let God be God over every area of our lives!
This is my prayer for 2020 and every day: that I give God full reign over my life. Thank you, Karen! God bless you!
Great prayer, Jessica! “Lord, help us give You the reins and complete reign. Amen.”
I love, love, love this post Ms. Karen. What a mantra! “Let God be God!” I think if we give ourselves over to Him some amazing things will happen in our lives. Absolutely love this concept my friend. If I give myself to His love completely, then surrender, obedience, and praise will all come so much more easily. Great post ma’am!
Thanks so much, J.D. Love your enthusiasm. And, yes, looking for those amazing things that only come from His Lordship in our lives when there’s complete and total surrender to God as God. I often say, “God is CEO, am I in His seat?” Which was another blog post several years ago. But still true in every way. I pray we let God be God!
Karen, I prayed your prayer at the end of this post and incorporated Psalm 37:5 as well.
This is very powerful… if we allow it to be.
Blessings in 2020 as we ‘Let God be God.’
Beckie, I like incorporating Psalm 37:5 into that prayer. “Lord, help me and Beckie delight ourselves in You, THEN You will give us the desires of our hearts…which by then will line up closer to Your heart’s desires for us. Amen.”
Let God be God!
This was very helpful for me to read. Thank you so much, Karen. All three parts of this resonated well me. One thing that concerns me these days is the pushing of extreme self-reliance – the idea that YOU can do or create anything all by yourself, just because YOU want to. This idea is especially being shoved at women. I understand teaching women to develop their own personalities and interests (instead of only being defined as __’s wife or ___’s mom). But I think there is a line between that and trying be God for yourself.
Robin, so glad this article spoke to you and encouraged you. I agree how that mindset of being and doing anything we want with our own power is distrubing. It’s humanistic. But I don’t want what’s only available to me in the natural realm, I want supernatural. And supernatural only comes from the One true God of the universe. There is a fine line there where we cross over into being lord of ourselves.
Instead, I’m praying to let God be God this year…to give up the reins and let Him reign supreme.
Thanks for making this point and adding to the conversation.
Great reminder and something I will try to accomplish this too in 2020. Thanks and God bless.
Glad to have you join in on letting God be God this year, Yvonne.
We absolutely should resolve to let God be God in this new year, Karen. You are so right that when we submit to Him, He can do marvelous works in us.
Blessings for a great 2020!
Amen, Martha! We often take the reins in particular areas of our lives. And it leads to less-than-best outcomes—even turmoil. Instead, we allow the Lord to take the reins, hold the reins, and keep the reins in everything. This supercharges His Lordship over us as we surrender total control to Him. I pray this for us in 2020 and beyond.
Amen. Give up and give everything to God. He is waiting with open arms.
He is waiting with open arms, Melissa! And there’s no better, safer, or stronger arms to place ourselves in than those of the Almighty!
This is so refreshing. Thank you for the timely reminder that God is God and I don’t need to do his job.
Stephanie, I’m reminded that there’s a God and I’m not Him! So it makes perfect sense He’s the only One who perfectly fills the role as God. No other person or god meets the requirements like our heavenly Father. He’s the most qualified and the most trustworthy.
I love this, Karen! Such practical steps we could all take to let God be God.
Thanks, Heather. May we let God do His job as God this year. And let the Almighty reign over our decisions, circumstances, dreams, and life!
I love this. I never make New Year’s resolutions. I agree it puts too much pressure on me. I try to pray and let go and let God. Have a blessed New Year.
Thank you, Jann. We are kindred spirits. 🙂 I pray we pursue unhindered, unabated, and unadulterated desire and passion for the one true God above anything else in this world,
A great way to view resolutions. Love this post!
Nancy, I have “resolved” simply and powerfully to let God be God.
“God reigns over the nations; God sits on his holy throne” Psalm 47:8.
Karen, I love this post, but I love your third point most of all:
#3 Desire God and His plans for us above all.
Idols fall from their pedestals in our heart.
The gap narrows between the desires of our heart and God’s desires.
We dream big with God. He’s the biggest dreamer of all. Dream with God, you and Him dream best together.
This is so true! As I’ve surrendered and surrendered and surrendered my goals for his, my way for his, my strength for his, God has done exceedingly abundantly above all I could ever hope or imagine. Silly me, to think my puny dreams could even touch the hem of his garment! Thanks for speaking the truth in the first week of this new year.
Appreciate your encouragement, Lori, and how this post encouraged your heart. Oh, how I relate to this powerful thought from you, “Silly me, to think my puny dreams could even touch the hem of his garment!” So true! I pray we really let God be God over every area of our lives this year!
Lori, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart” Psalm 37:4.
I love your acronym and the spirit of this post. How wonderful it would be if we gave up our control and let God be God. Thanks so much for linking up with Grace and Truth this week
Thank you, Valerie. While I always ask the Lord to partner with me and inspire messages in my writing and speaking, I felt this post was on another level…like the Lord Himself dictated this to my heart. And I’m so glad He did…because I really need it and it has resonated with others. When we give up the reins, God reigns supreme. The Lord takes His rightful place in our hearts and lives.
Your prayer at the end resonates with me. That is the heart attitude I aim for at the end of each year and the beginning of the next when I consider what’s coming in the new year. I, too, don’t choose a word or make resolutions. It’s more of a time of waiting upon the Lord for me.
May we not charge off on our own, grabbing our own goals as our pursuit, but waiting for Jesus to show us the way we should go, to lead so that we may follow. This: “When we pursue unhindered, unabated, and unadulterated desire and passion for the one true God above anything else in this world, powerful things take place.” Amen, sister! May we have the Lord God himself as our sole and most important and precious pursuit!
Hey Melinda, I wrote that prayer out of how I often fail to let God be God over all areas of my life. I relate to your thoughts on not charging off on our own, “but waiting for Jesus to show us the way we should go….” The wait is not easy, but oh, so tough. It’s much easier to take the bull by the horns, to take the reins, and hope for the best. Yet, I’m learning the hard way the best never happens that way, not God’s best. I pray we pursue the Lord with “all” this year and surrender fully to Him.
I have fallen victim in the past of setting my plans and goals and then asking God to bless it without inquiring of him ahead of time. This is really good Karen because we need to put the new year in perspective and let God take charge of our lives, and rest in his promises while staying obedient to his word. So often I can find myself trying to step ahead of him while all the while he desires intimacy so my will will line up more with his. I have had false starts because of my running ahead without allowing him to take control. May this new year be exciting for us as we venture to rest in him and allow him to do what only he can do in and through us.
Valerie, so have I my friend. It’s like we formulate plans, then take them to God for His blessing…and maybe we don’t even bother doing that, just hope He approves. I love how you mention “false starts” and how you said this, “So often I can find myself trying to step ahead of him while all the while he desires intimacy so my will will line up more with his.” Amen, sister. I pray we let God be God!
Great Post Sister I will definitely do just that and let God be God in my life this year!!! Powerful message God Bless You and Yours!
Stephen, glad you’re joining me on this journey to letting God be God! Hallelujah! “Lord, be Lord of our heart and life in every way! Amen.”
Happy New Year, Karen! To let God be God is the best thing we can ever do. I appreciate you making me think more deeply about this. I am one who does make resolutions each year, so I need to make sure that I’m not omitting God from them.
Hey Lisa, I like how you said you don’t want to omit God from your resolutions. That’s good. Let’s let God be God. Happy New Year!
Karen – I struggle with letting God be God. I want to do it, but I tend to take the reigns. I loved this post with all its practicality. Thank you for sharing with Grace & Truth Link-Up. Maree
You’re welcome, Maree Dee. I enjoy and appreciate the link up! And I think we all struggle with not taking the reins and letting God have complete control. This year, let’s plan to simple but powerfully let God be God!
Oh, yes! Karen, like you, I need to “just let God be God” this year and always. I am not a resolution-maker either, but the beginning of the new year is a good time to take stock of where we are and where we want to go. Listening for the small, still voice of God is often hard for me. I never know if I am hearing what He wants me to hear.
Love the thoughts and insight you’ve added here to our conversation, Laurie. I agree in evaluating where we are and where we want to go. And we can even pray for the Lord to help us hear His voice and discern which voice and leading is His. The Bible is a good place to start. Happy New Year and let God be God.
Oh letting God be God would ease our burden of self-importance and control issues and always having to be right.
Oh, yes, Linda. Don’t we often want the control, to think we can do it on our own, and that we know best? Lord, help us. Help us let You be God.
Karen, what a powerful post! I loved each aspect of your acronym. I think the one I have to remember is to yield my dreams and ask God to bring His dreams to pass in my life. Psalm 37:4 has been a go-to verse for me for many years. This is a great post to contemplate at the beginning of a new year!
Thank you, Jeanne. Over the last several years, the Lord has taught be so much about dreaming with Him, instead of dreaming on my own. I want to delight in Him and dream in Him.
[…] *Last week’s blog post, “What If I Let God Be God This Year?” […]
Karen, I love this! What a perfect way to imagine beginning the new year, not walking in my strength or pursuing my dreams, but resting in God’s strength and seeking His goals for me. Powerful and profound. No gimmicks. No charts. Just Jesus Christ leading my life. God bless you in the year ahead!
I like this, Melissa, “No gimmicks. No charts. Just Jesus Christ leading my life.” Amen! God, hep us simply let You be God…let You do YOUR job.
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These are such critical things to pay attention to, Karen. I especially like the 3rd one: Desire God and His dreams…and the idea about dreaming with God. Love it! I think of Joseph, the dreamer who became a leader with vision and a savior to his family. His dreams were God’s dreams. Pretty amazing.
Joeseph does come to mind when we think of dreamers. And although he had a long road to get to the final dreams God had placed in his heart, he got there and he was willing to dream big with God when it seemed none of it would ever come true. Thnaks for that insight, Stephen.
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