"JESUS, CALM my Heart" as You did and do ...

in 2024 and more

Keep me steady and CALM.

With a heart that seeks You first always!

For the year of 2024, God whispered "CALM" for me as my One Word to focus on, but as first I was reluctant and did not quite understand why. Mid-year, I discovered why. I also found out that had I been more in-tune with God and this One Word, I might have been better prepared for how the rest of the year from July to December and better learned how to remain CALM - no matter what I (and others) might face. I still have much work to do with being CALM yet I am thankful that God provided me with this One Word and I intend to keep CALM close as we all move into another year that seems to be far from one that will be CALM. In fact, I dread 2025 even more than the unexpected of 2024 and what the future may hold. However, most of us are familiar with the following: "it's not what the future holds, it's WHO holds my future". No, we don't know what any of our futures may hold, but if you know JESUS than you know WHO holds yours. Of this we can be assured. When we find our hearts or lives shaken, Jesus CALMS us, just by holding us near and closer. 

Most years, in the last week of the year, people (or I) tend to take the time to re-evaluate the past year or review their progress or lack and so I generally try to summarize what God taught me about my One Word. As with most of the One Words that I have done, I am never really finished with them and I continue to accumulate more and stay aware of each One Word. Each one of the One Word seems to be another "stepping stone" in my life journey of each chapter that Jesus is walking through with me; pointing at another aspect that I need to add in my life - a little better, a little more - filling me with more qualities that His Word teaches and personalizing the ones that I need tweaked and refined to be more of a reflection of Jesus. IF ONLY ... So I have chosen the following image to best summarize some of what I'm learning:

 

as well as the Bible verse of Matthew 11:28 (my 2024 mantra)

and Psalm 107:29 in the NLT version:

"He (Jesus/God) CALMED the storm to a whisper and stilled the waves." NLT

but there have been so many that contain CALM (229) and ones that don't 
but still speak to me about the peace in the CALM.
So that I hope and pray this:


"...CALMNESS to a LIFE LIVED
in GRATITUDE,
a QUIET JOY..."
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So many lessons still to learn
I cannot adequately
summarize
CALM
as
My One Word
but it
brought "the perfect peace" that I so needed
each and every day
(not so much the nights, but there were more than what I expected)
and when the nights were not
I used Isaiah 26:3 as a
"BREATH PRAYER"
and
at times music or a special podcast
of a special author of
PRAYERS of R.E.S.T.
{she probably prefers that I not listen to her voice toCALM my night and put me to sleep, but it works}
as well as the beautiful prayers (and her book)and now a new one that I've started only{mentioned in last blog post}
I probably should have worked on my own
PRAYERS of C.A.L.M.
using Max Lucado's acronym and the verses
{another project to store away for now, but by the time I get to doing it,someone else will have done it.} My life story (lol)
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If you read my Advent CALM series, particularly the last one, I mentioned another book at the end of it, a recent discovery acquired but not yet read, and I am wondering if anyone can help me with "what JOY-UP means"? Just my curiosity, which a search did not really answer for me. I did not intend to do an Advent "series", but once I inadvertently did the first one and then the second one; I quickly attempted that last one where I combined the remaining two themes - and did not do a very good job of any of the themes, yet I was hoping that they would serve as my summary. {Not quite. Actually they did not at all.} I was just inspired to find CALM throughout Advent, as I knew the end of the year was quickly approaching. 

My main book, that a sweet, generous sister in Christ "gifted" me with last year was the one that I turned to each evening: "JESUS, CALM my Heart" ... which was my prayer each evening as previously mentioned that I chose the verse from Isaiah. Some of the prayers (out of 365) where ones that I needed or could relate to, but if not, I know that there was "someone" as Ruth Schwenk (the author) began each prayer each night with "Lord, I pray for the woman ..." who is ... (something) ... some need, some feeling, some situation ... so if it didn't fit me, I know that there is/was someone who needed that prayer and to be lifted to God, so I prayed for whoever ... and then each night there was a Bible verse preceded by a prayer prompt like this: "Lord, go before me and prepare me for a new start with ..." (day 362) Isaiah 43:19 - this is a good one for the New Year, now quickly upon us AND I'm not ready, but it's OK because I take the entire month of January to PRAY (and I'm offline) so I become better ready for the year, better equipped and hopefully empowered with God's new One Word for 2025. I must admit that reading some of these prayers from "Jesus, CALM my heart ..." did anything but CALM me for the night and became more of a marathon night, wrestling and going from one thought and that prayer concern to another and another and another. There is never a shortage of prayers to be prayed. Personally. Worldly. For our nation and others. For the lost ("still unsaved" and also the ones who think they're saved but it seems questionable). But who am I to know or judge, so I just pray. I appreciate the time it took for Ruth Schwenk to compile and pray for all the women that she ministered to with this book and before this book. It's one that you can go back & read or use over and over again. I know I will when I need a prayer and just can't find the words to pray. God's Word never fails (and I believe her book is based also from God's Word). It was an excellent choice for this full year and years to come, thanks to my special sis!  

So my prayer and hope is: "JESUS, CALM each heart of each person, who reads that book or my words or Your Word. We all need CALM in our hearts. My heart (with high blood pressure) really benefited from Your CALM and healing touch many nights this past year of 2024. I can't thank You enough for the CALM You whisper just when I need it. So speak CALM, speak LIFE, speak into each soul and meet them right where they are and bring them right to where You are and You desire for them to be - as they finish 2024 and start 2025, be near and guide with a steady CALM every choice, every step, every thought and keep them in a "quiet joy" filling them with gratitude each day for a new day or a new breath or just bringing them through that day or that situation; and may You carry them and all their burdens and needs; holding each one closer and loving them more. In You sweet Presence, I thank You & pray. 

🙏

Leaving a couple of days' room to post

in case

God 

stirs me with s'more

Otherwise

Happy New Year!

[image credit: Tourword]

May God Bless You!

and

CALM

your heart

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See ya' the first weekend in

FEBRUARY

here or at

You Version

(Bible app)