Often I choose a Bible promise for the new year. For whatever reason, I didn\u2019t this time. Maybe because of last year\u2014so wild, chaotic, and unexpected, leaving me feeling a bit trampled. But the precious habit has always blessed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Skimming journal notes, I found this, written four years ago:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve chosen my verse for 2017. \u201c\u2026Test me in this, says the Lord Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it\u201d (Malachi 3:10b).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What would \u201cso much blessing that you will not have room enough for it\u201d look like? I couldn\u2019t fathom what God has designed, but I feel confident\u2014since he led me to that verse\u2014it will be amazing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But I\u2019ve learned to be attentive because his amazing<\/em> packages don\u2019t always come in shimmering paper with billowing bows. Some come in rough wrappings\u2014brown paper and twine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019ve had plenty of those surprise gifts, haven\u2019t we? Hidden blessings. Treasures in unexpected places. Disappointments the Lord used in amazing<\/em> ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He has a way of turning baffling bits of life into something beautiful, adding value and worth to our story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I choose to remember this\u2014when a package comes wrapped in brown paper and twine. The gift doesn\u2019t seem pleasing\u2026but later, after I look closely, deep in the crinkled wrapping I find a blessing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I choose to remember this\u2014when a package comes wrapped in brown paper and twine. The gift doesn\u2019t seem pleasing\u2026but later, after I look closely, deep in the crinkled wrapping I find a blessing. <\/a><\/span>Click To Tweet<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n The year is young. While I pray and plan, I won\u2019t attempt to guess what\u2019s coming. I\u2019m satisfied knowing this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Looking back, God did some beautiful work in my life in 2017. What will he do in 2021? I don\u2019t know. But I\u2019ve ask him to renew and refresh my vision. Proverbs 29:18 comes to mind. \u201cWhere there is no vision, the people perish.\u201d The Amplified Bible calls vision \u201crevelation of God and His work.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n I love that word vision<\/em>, probably because I\u2019ve always been a big dreamer. To have a vision is to have a dream, plan, or goal\u2014a mental picture of something for the future, the ability to see beyond today, ever watchful for the revelation of God and His work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To have a vision is to have a dream, plan, or goal\u2014a mental picture of something for the future, the ability to see beyond today, ever watchful for the revelation of God and His work. <\/a><\/span>Click To Tweet<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Vision is looking forward. Sometimes I get so caught up in future plans that I miss out on today. I\u2019ve learned some balance, but I\u2019m often thinking about the future, and I have a vision of how events will turn out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Being an optimist, I expect a happy outcome. I expect life to go according to plan. Sometimes, of course, it doesn\u2019t. Sometimes treasures come wrapped in brown paper and twine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even knowing events may take an unexpected turn, I\u2019ll keep on dreaming. Without vision, life is dull\u2026humdrum\u2026lifeless. Vision adds sparkle to our days. We can use a little sparkle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Do you have a vision for this year? A plan for next month? A goal for today?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Vision is all about seeking God and his will and trusting him to bring the plans to reality. It\u2019s about trusting him in big things and small.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I don\u2019t know about you, but I\u2019m ready to shake off last year\u2019s dust and align my expectations with God\u2019s immeasurable power. Whatever he sends, even if it comes wrapped in brown paper and twine, I can be sure it\u2019s good. And if I look hard, I may find it\u2019s amazing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s late, but I\u2019ve chosen a favorite verse as my anchor for the year. \u201cBehold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert\u201d (Isaiah 43:19).<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019ve chosen a promise for the year, please tell me about it. And I\u2019d be grateful if you\u2019d share this article with your friends!<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00a9 Dianne Barker 2021<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Often I choose a Bible promise for the new year. For whatever reason, I didn\u2019t this time. Maybe because of last year\u2014so wild, chaotic, and unexpected, leaving me feeling a bit trampled. But the precious habit has always blessed me. Skimming journal notes, I found this, written four years ago: I\u2019ve chosen my verse for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3],"tags":[650,9,97,652,649,648,651],"class_list":["post-1510","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-general","tag-baffling-surprises","tag-dianne-barker","tag-disappointment","tag-hidden-treasures","tag-malachi-310","tag-treasures-wrapped-in-brown-paper-and-twine","tag-vision"],"yoast_head":"\n