Who Gets the Last Word in Your Life?

Raise your hand if you’re ready to kick 2020 out the door and usher in 2021. The roller coaster ride of the past 9 months has tried everyone’s patience. It’s certainly revealed things deep in the hearts of men — and to bring it close to home — things deep within my own heart.

It’s become a test. Can I maintain a good attitude, a hopeful outlook and can I encourage others with the same? It’s the old adage of choice under pressure. What does my life look like when the fire burns hot? 

Disclaimer here — our lives and what we “endure” are nothing like those in persecuted countries or oppressed societies. Our problems pale in comparison and appear petty and shallow. But nonetheless, no matter the level of difficulty we face in our here and now, each of us must decide how we are going to live through adversity.

I made a decision the other night that God was going to have the last word on this year.  In fact, I wrestled the year out of the hand of the enemy of my soul and made a declaration of how 2020 was going to end for me. It was not going to end in depression and frustration. It was not going to be remembered, or forgotten, as a loss. 

The Bible says in Psalm 65:11, “You crown the year with Your goodness, and Your paths drip with abundance.” (NLT) And that became my declaration as I walked through my neighborhood praying and announcing to the airwaves and to my soul that GOD has the last word on my life, the final say on this year. He crowns my life and He crowns my year with GOODNESS. With abundance. One Bible version of this passage reads that His paths drip with fatness! 

I would not be true to myself nor to my Lord if I let a pandemic or politics or anything else steal the glory of this year. Remember this life is a fight of faith, my friends. Together, let’s declare and announce and decree that 2020 belongs to the Lord and that 2021 is going to be better than we can even imagine. Let’s usher this year out with thankfulness and the new year in with praise. 

“What might praise, O God, belongs to you in Zion… You faithfully answer our prayers with awesome deeds, O God our savior. You are the hope of everyone on earth…” (Psalm 65: 1, 5)