WITHOUT GOD

I really thought I could go into 2021 without God. I didn't intentionally decide to not invite him into 2021 but I definitely didn't surrender it to him. I played myself thinking I could tackle a year without giving up control, without bringing my heart to Jesus and allowing him to hold me through a new year. The thing about not inviting God into any situation makes you vulnerable to the attacks of the enemy, its like going into battle without your armor and expecting not to get hurt. I did that with 2021, I didn't pick up my sword, I left my shield and tried to walk into the battle without the only thing that could get me through it. So instead of walking into 2021 with peace and joy, I invited fear. Luckily my God chases me down and he reaches out, so after a day of crying (which is good, crying is a good thing) I knew I desperately needed God. The funny thing about this situation - was that it only lasted a day and the scary thing is - this could've lasted the whole year if I didn't immediately decide to bring it to Jesus, I believe a lot of the things we're facing, especially mentally wouldn't stand a chance if our first response was to give it to Jesus.

Jesus gave me a verse

2 Corinthians 10:4-6

4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 6 And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.

We take captive EVERY thought to make it obedient to Christ

My thoughts were waging war and I needed to take them captive.

As I was thinking of this verse and chatting to God I came to the realization that I hadn't given my thoughts to God, my thoughts were like ping-ponging around my head. - just floating around with their own pretences & presumptions, I had assumed just because they're in my head I had given it up to God, God reminded me that although he knows exactly what was happening in my head and my heart, speaking up and taking captive of my thoughts wasn't so that he would know what's happening but rather so that I would be able to let go and allow him to take control.

So that my thoughts wouldn't be floating around but rather taken captive and made obedient to Christ.

The gap between hearing those thoughts and giving them to God needs to shorten. - Tori Masters

This was the biggest realization and I knew that inviting God into my 2021 means making him the source, means intentionally spending time with Him and giving him my thoughts.

So on the 2nd of January 8:25 am I decided to do just that and wrote in my journal:

A new day!

Today I surrender control and trust God with my thoughts, fears and future. He holds my heart and he is fully trustworthy. Today I'm intentional with how I spend my time. Today I chose God above feelings, failure and overthinking.

On the 2nd of January I sang worship music as I cleaned the kitchen, I listened to podcasts and preaches and intentionally chose God, I had a friend over who spoke life over me and encouraged the heck out of me!

Something that really helped me get out of that funk was Mike Todd - Planted not buried

https://youtu.be/1cxlPcQrzuk WATCH THIS if you're feeling unmotivated.

So here's to taking every thought captive, inviting God into every day and surrendering control!

Happy New Year

-Ken