No Buts Allowed

Today is New Year’s Day, 2017. Another year has flown by. Another year has past. I’m another year older.

What will this new year bring? The year 2017, what will it be like? What shall we expect?

Well for one, we’ll get a new president. After eight years of probably the worst president in the history of America, we’ll be relieved of Barack Obama. God has granted us a second chance. We were spared from the reign of Hillary Clinton. That is something to truly celebrate. I’m looking forward to January 20, 2017, when Donald Trump is sworn is as President of the United States.

I’ve been thinking what to think about for this new year. After walking away from a major car accident that totaled our car, I’ve been thinking about God in our lives. As He restored us to a better position, than before the accident, I am ever so grateful. A verse that keeps coming to mind for this new year is John 10:10.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

God came to this earth (the reason we celebrate Christmas) to bring us life. He came for the sole purpose of sacrificing His life for our sins. That anyone who believes on Him, will have eternal life. But He didn’t do just that. He came that we might have life, and “have it abundantly.” That’s a nice verse.

Trust me, I’m not a part of the name it claim it crowd or the prosperity gospel. But I am part of the believe in God’s word, literally. God said that we might have life, more abundantly.

Not that we all become millionaires and live in fancy houses. Although, it could happen to some. But I believe it’s that satisfaction in life. That joy that eludes most people. That peace that surpasses all understanding. That hope most people crave.

Coming through that accident tipped my world upside down. I wasn’t a back slidden Christian at the time. I wasn’t involved in some sort of secret sins. I wasn’t far from God or going through something. But God wasn’t at the fore front of my mind. I prayed every day, but it was such a habit, it was like I was just praying from memorization, rather than really talking to God. I know this, because I went through such stress after the accident that I ended up seriously sick. What God did in my life was to wake me up and have Him remember Him for who He really is. The great I AM. The one who speaks and even the winds and sea obey Him.

He asked me through this whole accident do you trust Me? I said yes…but. He asked me again, do you trust Me? I said yes…but. No, Wendy, do you trust me? Yes…but. God shook His head. My “but” was showing, that I didn’t really trust Him.

It took a day, an hour, of just spending time in His word, and praying, when I had to give up the “but.” Trusting doesn’t come with a “but.” The “but” in any sentence erases what you just said previously, before you said “but.” God wanted me to trust Him, without the “but.”

I finally did. Through tears, and prayer, I gave up the “but.” I finally gave in and said yes, I trust you, period, no “but.” The second I did that, I got a phone call from the other insurance of the lady who hit us. They had been dragging their feet about accepting full responsibility for the accident. My insurance was saying they would go to arbitration if they wouldn’t accept it, which would take two months. We had a rental car we couldn’t afford anymore. I didn’t know what we would do if we needed to wait for two months. But the other insurance did call. The representative introduced himself and than said (which seemed like hours, but it was only seconds) we accept full responsibility for the accident. I almost cried when he said that. But I had already been crying, so I think I was maxed out on tears. The relief I felt!

After the phone call, I thanked God over and over again. He spoke to my heart. All He wanted was for me to trust Him without the “but.”

So John 10:10 is my verse for this year, 2017. I’m looking forward to “life more abundantly.” I think it’s a really good plan. You can use this verse too. Just don’t be like me, holding on to “buts.”