2026: THE PURGE
The purge. With the new year of 2026 just around the corner, I had prayed for awhile what my focus would be on…and the word “purge” came to my thoughts. And so it began in my sock drawer. Over the the last few Christmases my family was convinced I didn’t have enough socks…well, it looks like I did. Room to room I will go through the drawers, closets, shelves, pantry, storage, garage ( ok, maybe I can’t touch much in the garage) until every nook and cranny is cleared of all clutter…of all things that are not useful or adds any value to our lives. In time we may add new items that matter to us now. But, it starts with the decluttering process. Isn’t this similar to what God does in our lives? He goes from room to room, checking every drawer, every hidden corner, every closet, too rid of those things that weighs us down from the race He has set before us. Hebrews 12:1 says it best “ Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us”. But God doesn’t do this without our permission. We have to submit to the request. And this is the hard part, right? What area(s) in your life has God been asking to “ clear out” in order for you to be your best, to rid yourself of those things, lifestyle, sin, that is keeping you from true JOY, true PEACE, true YOU? As God is given permission to remove all things not good He will add things that will help you finish the race that is set before you…so at the end of our life God can say “ Well done, good and faithful servant”. If you’re like me, when I am not in sync with either my diet, exercise, activities, time with the Lord, finances, or what I know is SIN, I am troubled. Like this picture, the dark and the light are all mixed together, in a ball, going nowhere. Are you ready to give God permission to rid you of the dark places and replace it with the light? It isn’t easy to start making those changes, but when you know the person who loves you is directing you, it becomes a little bit easier. 2026 can be your BEST year yet….you just have to decide if the one who loves you, God Himself, can clean out the dark corners of your life and add the light….to shine the way to the end of our race. May God bring you to such heights of JOY this new year that it you will be the “YEAR TO REMEMBER”….Happy New Year everyone!!!