Peace Through The Storm

Some people say 2020 is a new decade and some say 2021 is a new decade. I do not know which one is technically correct, but I would like to think that I am starting a new decade.

I start 2020 with sadness, having lost my mom to cancer on Christmas day and my dad to cancer on Christmas Eve 5 years ago. I imagine that Heaven is a majestic place on Christmas Day with angels singing and trumpets blaring, where all our pain is gone. People keep saying that Christmas will be hard for me now. I would like to think otherwise. My parents left us with great memories and traditions for Christmas. Instead of being sad at Christmas, I will carry on these traditions with my children, so the birth of Jesus will hold great memories for them too.

Five years ago, I was not so optimistic, after my dad passed away. Now, I realize that each day is a gift. We need to treasure each day and cherish those we love. We need to spend time with people we love and who love us.

Nobody lives forever. You can’t take material things with you, when you die. You can have an everlasting life in heaven, if you believe in Jesus in your heart. I would love to leave behind a trail filled with God’s love and hope. Instead of dwelling on what I have lost, I look forward to what 2020 holds for my family and me. I hope there will be joy in life and new opportunities to serve the Lord.

I hope to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will for me. I pray God gives me wisdom and understanding to discern his will. I want to walk worthy of the Lord. I want my thoughts, words and actions to please the Lord. I want to do good works for God, not expecting anything in return. I want to grow closer to the Lord and increase my knowledge in the Lord each day. I want God to strengthen me with all his might, according to his glorious power. I pray for patience and for suffering to turn to joy. I thank God for letting us partake in God’s light. I thank God for delivering us from the power of darkness. I thank God for forgiving my many sins through Jesus, because Jesus died on the cross for us.

Preeminence of Christ
For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
–Colossians 1:9-14 (NKJV)

God, I will praise you through the storm. You have carried me this far, you are not going to leave me now. No matter what I walk through, God is with me. When God is with me, walking through the fiery flames in life, I will not burn. God’s hand will protect me.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,
Nor shall the flame scorch you.
–Isaiah 43:2 (NKJV)

God, thank you for being so good to me and giving my heart peace through this storm in my life.

Song

Raise a Hallelujah by Bethel Music

Lyrics
I raise a hallelujah, in the presence of my enemies
I raise a hallelujah, louder than the unbelief
I raise a hallelujah, my weapon is a melody
I raise a hallelujah, heaven comes to fight for me

I’m gonna sing, in the middle of the storm
Louder and louder, you’re gonna hear my praises roar
Up from the ashes, hope will arise
Death is defeated, the King is alive!

I raise a hallelujah, with everything inside of me
I raise a hallelujah, I will watch the darkness flee
I raise a hallelujah, in the middle of the mystery
I raise a hallelujah, fear you lost your hold on me!

I’m gonna sing, in the middle of the storm
Louder and louder, you’re gonna hear my praises roar
Up from the ashes, hope will arise
Death is defeated, the King is alive!

Sing a little louder (In the presence of my enemies)
Sing a little louder (Louder than the unbelief)
Sing a little louder (My weapon is a melody)
Sing a little louder (Heaven comes to fight for me)
Sing a little louder (In the presence of my enemies)
Sing a little louder (Louder than the unbelief)
Sing a little louder (My weapon is a melody)
Sing a little louder (Heaven comes to fight for me)
Sing a little louder!

I’m gonna sing, in the middle of the storm
Louder and louder, you’re gonna hear my praises roar
Up from the ashes, hope will arise
Death is defeated, the King is alive!

Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Jonathan David Helser / Melissa Helser / Molly Skaggs / Jake Stevens
Raise a Hallelujah lyrics © Bethel Music Publishing