i reflect back on 2011. a year of growth, brokeness, intimacy, heartaches, joy, mourning, perseverance, and hardship. i came into this new year knowing what i wanted this year. not as a goal or resolution type but an actual lifestyle that is evident. there are 3 major things i’ve been praying for and will be fasting for this new year which i’m really excited about.

1. PASSION.

i want to be burning this year not that i haven’t been burning for the lord but i want this year to be about passion. i want God to start pointing out things that are not necessary in my life and just the things that i need to keep my walk with him going. i feel like i’ve been going deep and deep which is not a bad thing at all but i’ve come to realize that you can only go so far by going deep. but with passion, you can take that anywhere. i want to be burning and yearning for our abba more and more as i go deeper with him. he’s already started to do that but i can already tell this is going to be an amazing year.

2. FAMILY.

i want to pour back into my family this year. i don’t know what that really means or looks like but i know for a fact this is something that’s been in my heart for years and now i feel it’s time. i want to be a better son to my parents, brothers, and sister in my life. i look back and a lot of the times i wouldn’t initiate my talks with my dad (not that nothing was wrong) i would just simply “wait for him to approach me first’ type of thing. i’ve been initiating conversations and our hangout sessions. i’m trying to spend time with my mom as much as i can as she gets older as well and i just want to learn what it means to love on her more. we have our differences but we still love each other. for my brothers and sister, i want to be a good role model for them. i want to be able to be real and just continue to help grow in their walk and just being a brother to them. i feel as if at times the enemy attacks me by throwing in suttle lies but i’ve been coming against that. God is just breaking my shell and letting me be who i was meant to be.

3. RESTORATION.

relationships. it’s a sensitive subject to me but it’s something i believe God is calling me out to bring back in my life this year. i thought 2011 would be the year haha but that didn’t happen but i believe now it’s time. i’ve had people burn me out of their lives, i’ve burned people out of my life..it’s so hard yet it’s something i can no longer let the enemy use it against me. i am ready for this chapter in my life of restoration…all the hurt, pain, struggles, are settled in and taken up with God which i feel complete peace with it. it’s a big step but you gotta take risks and be bold.

i believe this year is going to be an amazing year not just for me but for our church as well. i’m excited to see what God has in store for us this year and esp. 2013 which i’m really excited about but i can’t get ahead of myself (and won’t share any details just yet :])..need to focus on what is now rather than the future.

SOAK is the word i got couple months ago during a prayer meeting…had a vision that we would know what it means to live out our lives soaking in His presence daily and pouring into our people. we need to learn how to receive before giving. how do we soak? what is it? it’s simply receiving not by works but who we are as sons and daughters of God. to be saturated and drenched that you’re just constantly burning with holy desire to be captivated by the father. are you ready for 2012?

let it not be your resolutions, goals, or achievements, but your every deep desire of your soul to be with the father constantly as you carry out His presence within you. let it be your lifestyle and not someone else’s. 2012 is yours. claim it. get it. receive it. desire it. got it?

THAT WILL PREACH.