Our Lord is so good, isn’t He? In late December, with Christmas carol lyrics still streaming through my thoughts, I reclined on the sofa. Not because I wanted to, but I needed to breathe through level nine skull pain.
Writing thoughts wove through my mind. I had yet to pray about and record my goals for this new year. I hadn’t thought about this blog other than I was late getting it written.
What do I want to accomplish in 2024? I hadn’t thought about it yet.
I hadn’t come up with a word for the year yet.
And then it struck. ANTICIPATION. Anticipation sounded so much better that accomplishment, or expectation (that sets us up for disappointment). We Christians have so much to look forward to, don’t we? To me, anticipation takes focus off me and places it on the Hope I look forward to.
Generations before us thought the Lord’s Second Coming imminent. None before this current age have seen so much biblical prophecy fulfilled. Yet, we need to keep carrying on with the tasks before us. My driving force is to not be shy about where my hope lies. My greatest desire is for my loved ones to know Christ Jesus as Savior. The Baby born in a manger came to die for our sins.
Back to anticipation. There’s the old rock tune, of course. Carly Simon songs beat through my days ages ago in the 1970s. I identified with the ‘70s women. But those were my before Christ days…
As a believer I have the Bible, God’s words to me, revealing what will come in in future days. I don’t have to wonder. I know I will be with Jesus. Forever.
Anticipation sent me to do a word search in the Bible. I didn’t find it in my NASB. Turned to my Synonym Finder. Ah, hope.
Psalm 39:7 ― And now, Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in You.
Proverbs 23:18 ― Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.
Romans 8:25 ― But if we hope for what we do not see, through perseverance we wait eagerly for it.
Colossians 1:5 ― Because of the hope reserved for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel.
Hebrews 11:1 ― Now faith is the certainty of things hoped for, a proof of things not seen.
Hope is a good word. Expectation also, but I’ll stick with anticipation. I anticipate the release of seven written projects. Four nonfiction and a series. There will be a new Christmas novella as well.
On a personal note, I also anticipate our 50th Anniversary in July.
If I don’t write it or say it, I think it. In my aged, humble opinion, resolutions are hogwash. Setting manageable goals, taking into consideration your past history of what you consider successes, don’t end in defeat or failure. I remind myself I can’t make mistakes if I don’t try to accomplish something.
With that in mind, I wish you all a new year of anticipation, expectation, and hope. May you accomplish your heart’s desire, as long as it is the Lord’s desire for you.
Writing thoughts wove through my mind. I had yet to pray about and record my goals for this new year. I hadn’t thought about this blog other than I was late getting it written.
What do I want to accomplish in 2024? I hadn’t thought about it yet.
I hadn’t come up with a word for the year yet.
And then it struck. ANTICIPATION. Anticipation sounded so much better that accomplishment, or expectation (that sets us up for disappointment). We Christians have so much to look forward to, don’t we? To me, anticipation takes focus off me and places it on the Hope I look forward to.
Generations before us thought the Lord’s Second Coming imminent. None before this current age have seen so much biblical prophecy fulfilled. Yet, we need to keep carrying on with the tasks before us. My driving force is to not be shy about where my hope lies. My greatest desire is for my loved ones to know Christ Jesus as Savior. The Baby born in a manger came to die for our sins.
Back to anticipation. There’s the old rock tune, of course. Carly Simon songs beat through my days ages ago in the 1970s. I identified with the ‘70s women. But those were my before Christ days…
As a believer I have the Bible, God’s words to me, revealing what will come in in future days. I don’t have to wonder. I know I will be with Jesus. Forever.
Anticipation sent me to do a word search in the Bible. I didn’t find it in my NASB. Turned to my Synonym Finder. Ah, hope.
Psalm 39:7 ― And now, Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in You.
Proverbs 23:18 ― Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.
Romans 8:25 ― But if we hope for what we do not see, through perseverance we wait eagerly for it.
Colossians 1:5 ― Because of the hope reserved for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel.
Hebrews 11:1 ― Now faith is the certainty of things hoped for, a proof of things not seen.
Hope is a good word. Expectation also, but I’ll stick with anticipation. I anticipate the release of seven written projects. Four nonfiction and a series. There will be a new Christmas novella as well.
On a personal note, I also anticipate our 50th Anniversary in July.
If I don’t write it or say it, I think it. In my aged, humble opinion, resolutions are hogwash. Setting manageable goals, taking into consideration your past history of what you consider successes, don’t end in defeat or failure. I remind myself I can’t make mistakes if I don’t try to accomplish something.
With that in mind, I wish you all a new year of anticipation, expectation, and hope. May you accomplish your heart’s desire, as long as it is the Lord’s desire for you.
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