2024 - A Year of Celebration!
by Michele Husfelt
I shared with a friend last week over lunch the journey of discovering my word for the year. After a week or so of asking God what it might be and not hearing anything, I reminded myself that the concept of having a word of focus each year is not necessarily biblical and is even a rather new “spiritual practice” that has gained popularity in recent years. Not wanting to box God in and expect Him to speak or act in a way I thought He should, I carried on trusting Him to lead me whether He gave me a specific theme for 2024 or not.
That morning I shared a quote on Facebook I’ve been reposting for the last eight years. I was in a bit of a hurry so after quickly skimming several lines, I remembered why I loved it and posted it on my page. I sat and read my devotion for the morning and though I’m not sure if God spoke through the words I read or through my time of sitting, listening, and abiding, but the word celebrate came to mind. I wrote it in my journal and thought of it throughout the day. I went back to read the quote I had posted and a few of the lines read, “Expand your horizons. Accumulate experiences. Enjoy the journey. Find every excuse you can to celebrate everything you can” (Mark Batterson). From various conversations to Scripture and other readings, I felt God confirm that 2024 is to be a year of celebration.
A year of celebration. This doesn’t necessarily guarantee great things are going to happen this year. I pray there will be much to celebrate in big ways, but more specifically, I believe the focus will be on celebrating the small things. Searching in the everyday and mundane to find glimpses of the Holy. Finding cause for celebration when circumstances would not normally warrant bringing out the sparkling cider and balloons. Celebrating small wins that may eventually lead to big wins, but if not, remembering the celebration of the small was still worth it.
I recently finished a book called The Power to Change by Craig Groeschel. In it, he encourages us to note our “wins” throughout the process of forming and implementing new habits. We don’t have to wait until we accomplish a big goal to celebrate a win. Each time we choose a right response, we can check that off in the “win” column. I haven’t written a book yet, however, every time I choose to sit down and write, I win! Most of our goals require moving through a process. And most every process is filled with many opportunities to celebrate small wins along the way. There are few examples where there is no cause for celebration until the very end. (Except, perhaps the book of Job!)
Yesterday we talked to our daughter in Africa. I celebrated technology, her safety in a vulnerable location, and new friends for my grandchildren to play with. We went to lunch with a new couple after church. In my heart, I celebrated new relationships and the finances to be able to treat our friends to lunch.
Today I have written a blog. Win! My house is not clutter-free, but my living room is. Yay! I haven’t put away all the dishes, but I washed the crockpot and put it back on the shelf. Good job! And I haven’t read the Bible through, but today I completed Day 9 of my year-long plan. Yes! What a day to celebrate!
What do you need to celebrate today?