On January 1, 2015, it was while in my morning quiet time when I read:
I remember asking “what business?” But as the year rolled on, the Lord made it crystal clear the business He was commanding that I engage in! The business of Interior Inspirations. For me to NOT have done what He was opening door after door after door for me to be doing, would have been deliberate acts of disobedience on my part. BUT as the Interior Inspirations business continued to grow, the “engagement” became more involved.
From working after my 8 hour day job, only to put in 2-5 more hours before calling it a day, I’d come home tired and worn out, but God sustained me through it all …. and now has brought us to here. To this time and this place in our life that we can look back and praise Him for quite a year!
When the time came that the Lord positioned me and my husband for His obvious NEW door, we, (in much faith), have walked through it….and are still walking through it. One step at a time.
Interior Inspirations started out as a few videos from Rip and I to inspire “life at home.” But as these past 2 years have shown us, there were more gifts, talents and skills that He wanted at work and utilized in the lives and homes of other families. Rip and I needed to get busy engaging in a more extensive work than just blog posts and videos.
Which leads me to sharing with you this —
You know how each year, for as long as I can remember, I have spent New Years Eve and New Years Day sitting alone with my Father and asking Him,
“What do you want me to have from You as a new year direction? A new year ‘word’ from You?”
Well, last year it was the direction of “engage in business until I come back.” No doubt in my mind that THAT word is still very much prevalent.
But this year, I was somewhat surprised and at the same time delighted in “the word” – the direction of His heart to mine as I prepare to serve Him in 2016. The word that kept surfacing, kept that little tug in my heart, & the word that seems to be prompting me to stay so calm, so at peace and totally content is this –
Whatever.
When I read it in Scripture, it’s the spirit of the word, “Whatever,” in each context that brings such incredible peace, joy, excitement and fresh enthusiasm for the NEW DAYS that are ahead! I feel surrendered to the NEW THING, to the whatever that He promises will spring up!
That one word empowers me to look forward, to look ahead, to forget the former things and to not dwell on the past. That one word literally lifts my chin, strengthens my bones, fuels my focus, and ignites a zeal in me that I know that I know that I know only the LORD can say such a word with the intimacy it is having in me!!
“This is what the Lord says— he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43
I know these are several verses, but each one of them have such power and promise packed in them. Each one speaks truth, and speaks a very specific command to your life and mine. And each one will create in you, (if you are willing) an energy for the future that can only be produced by the inspired Word of God.
So, will you take just a moment and read (un-rushed) these verses and maybe even come back to them later and study them in context. THEN, let them read you. In other words, let the “LIFE” of each verse become your life. Meditate on them prayerfully. Then, I can pretty much assure you that your prayer will be, as you enter into 2016,
“Lord, just give me Whatever”
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“Whatever the Lord pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps,” Psalm 135:6
“And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” Matthew 21:22
“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours,” Mark 11:24
“His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” John 2:5
“So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.” John 11:22
“But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” John 5:19
“Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” John 14:13
“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” John 1
“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.” John 15:16
“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.” John 16:13
“In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.” John 16:23
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Philippians 4:8
“Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.” Philippians 4:11
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17
“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” Colossians 3:23
“…and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.” 1 John 3:22
“And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.” 1 John 5:15
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I desire the whatever life! Don’t you? Because when we’re living smack dab in the middle of whatever, then …
Whatever living IS living!
Whatever work IS worship!
Whatever service IS ministry!
Whatever prayer IS power!
Whatever doing IS eternal!
Whatever asking IS receiving!
“Lord, just give me Whatever”
