23.

The moment I type this, I’m sitting on a rooftop looking at the brightest stars hanging over a volcano in Antigua, Guatemala. The Lord just sent me a little love note in a shooting star. And I’m overwhelmed with the goodness of God.

As I enter my 23rd year of life, I’m humbled by the faithfulness of Yahweh.

It’s less about turning a certain number & more about the reality that 23 years on this earth  means I’ve seen a whole lot of Him showing up. Him being faithful, when I was faithless. A whole lot of testimonies. A whole lot of breakthroughs. A whole lot of lessons. A whole lot of people & stories & moments. And Love (because He is Love). With every year that passes, I’m more deeply aware of Jesus’ desire for His people to live the abundant life (John 10:10). 

I’m learning what it means to see, receive, & live in the fullness of J o y (psalm 27). I’m learning that life with God is the only way to live.

One of my favorite themes about the Old Testament is that Israel was constantly being called to remember. Remember The Lord & what He had done for them. He deemed remembrance so important that He even called them to commemorate 12 stones to mark a place where they could remember who He is & declare His mighty works to future generations. These stones were remembrance of His provision. And over the course of my life, He has granted too many “stone moments” to not mark down. He is worthy of being acknowledged & remembered for His faithfulness. So here’s a list of 23 “stones” He has given me to remember. They speak of His providence, lessons He’s taught me in life with God, & how I’ve seen Him at work in all the moments.

23 stones:

1. God is faithful. Always has been, always will be. His character is sure & steadfast which means He will always act the same toward you & respond according to His goodness.
2. Pray. Pray. Pray. Pray ceaselessly.
3. Give yourself away.
4. LOVE LIVING. Feel the thrill of being alive, do all the things, & fully embrace the beauty & excitement of living in God’s world. (jump off the 40ft cliff, hike the volcano!!!!)
5. Inhabit the moment.
6. Love much. Love deeply. Love selflessly.
7. He can use us in spite of us.
8. Share testimony.
9. Boldly proclaim the Gospel.
10. Be part of the ‘cloud of witnesses’ that cheers others on (Hebrews 11).
11. Heavenly perspective.
12. The best is yet to come.
13. perseverance. Always, always.
14. His goodness is right around the corner & the enemy is often trying to get you to quit in those hardest moments right before the Light breaks through. Believe for the good He is up to. Much resistance means intentional positioning (by The Lord).
15. look like Love.
16. surrender. wholly. 
17. There is a Shalom peace that surpasses all understanding. And you can live in it. Daily.
18. Change your measuring stick. Reputation loses its importance under humility.
19. There’s nothing to prove. Just a secure identity to stand in.
20. Talk to God. Moment by moment.
21. He’s not finished yet.
22. Embrace discomfort & adversity, thanking God for the purifying work of refinement.
23. keep on keeping on.

 

The Lord recently gave me this verse from Habakkuk 2:3-

“For still the vision awaits its appointed time… it will surely come, it will not delay.”

2:3 is the theme of my life & what He’s putting on my heart for 23. to wait on The Lord. He has appointed His purposes for us & He will be sure to complete it. His timing is perfect & this gift of life is in His hands. What He has said will come to pass & His vision is that we walk daily in step with Him. ‘Waiting’ on God is an active posture & daily surrender to the purposes of God with intentional movement in His direction. That’s the cry of my heart this year- to hope in and wait upon The Lord, walking daily in step toward His vision for my life & this world.

I am because He is.