Make Way for The New

As I look back over the last few days, I’m overwhelmed with a gazillion emotions. Memories of Christmas’s past and present bring tears of sadness and tears of joy. Moving forward I think about what the New Year will bring. Oh, I know we’re supposed to live in the here and now and that’s true. But God put the ability within us to also look to the future. Lord willing, we will see it come. God does say he has plans to give us hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Corinthians 5:17

If only it was that simple, right? If we abide in the Spirit of the Lord, it is, that simple. We as humans complicate it.

Over the last year many changes have taken place for Bob and me. I’m sure for you as well. Bob and I made a big move from South Florida to North Florida. I mean that is a huge endeavor. Selling a home and buying another one, right in the middle of price wars, homes going only to the highest bidder…it was surreal but with the help of the Lord it all came about. Anyway, I don’t want to drag this out. So, onward to the point.

Like I said emotions have been skyrocketing. I’ve tried to write but nothing would come. I was struggling and would cry out, “What’s wrong with me God?” I’ve felt unconnected and kind of lost. Maybe that was still from the stress of the move.

My calling is to write and to pray I mean that’s what I do and who I am. God called me to it; I didn’t call myself. But something was off, and I couldn’t shake it.

This morning I heard my father’s still small voice. Finally. I hear him say, “Divine Pivot!” I’ve only heard that one other time when my friend Amye Still, said it. I leaned in to hear what he was saying to me. On Christmas day my family and I gathered around the food and my son Abram said, “Mom, I want you to pray over the food.” I was a little surprised. I thought either he or my son, Mark or Bob would pray. I looked at Bob and said, “Do you want to pray?” But Abram spoke up and said, “No, I want you to pray, Mom! It’s already decided.” I felt a little nervous and unsure, I wasn’t myself. But I opened my mouth, and I knew I was in the presence of the Lord. I prayed a simple prayer and felt as if it was not very significant, but I could feel the Holy Spirit. I finished praying. It was short and to the point. But something happened. This morning when the Holy Spirit said, “Divine Pivot!” I had a flash back of that prayer and I said, “Lord, I feel like that prayer didn’t really get past the ceiling.” But he spoke to me and said, “You and your family and friends were there together. From your very first words you entered my presence and there was a holy pause, all of heaven was listening, there was a moment in history that was forever changed, all because you prayed. I heard you! I saw you! Time stopped for that brief moment. It was a Divine Pivot even though you didn’t realize it. Once you said, amen. The pause was released, and everything went back to your normal.”

God reminded me this morning that when we pray, we enter another realm, His Holy Realm. It’s not just some religious practice of bowing the head and saying words. It is a Divine moment where we as humans encounter the supernatural realm of the living God. The God of all creation. The one who created all things, we are granted permission into the Holy of holies and He hears us because of the one who was born, His son, Jesus the anointed one! Through Jesus, God hears and answers our prayers.

I could have said all kinds of scriptures and words of how Jesus was born etc. to sound pretty and “spiritual, not that there’s anything wrong with that, but I spoke what was in my heart. All God wants, is our heart!

I haven’t asked Abram why he was so adamant that I pray. But I believe God put it in his heart because God knew I needed it. We are all on a journey. We may not realize it or understand it. But God calls us and when we answer that call, we are forever changed. The adventure is more than we could ever think or imagine.

As you enter a new year, it’s a new season nothing happens any differently between December 31st, and January 1st except the date will change and time will continue. But it gives us hope to think that there is a holy pause, and maybe, just maybe something new can change and we will be better, stronger, healthier, kinder, braver and more loving to our neighbors and to each other.

“Divine Pivot!” Make it count!

God bless you and may your New Year be one of blessing and divine pivots! Amen.

~Marla Shaw O’Neill December 28, 2022