January 2020 - It's a New Year!

The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. Proverbs 16:9

I love the beginning of a new year! It’s the time for new vision, new goals, new plans for the days and months ahead. Frankly, though, I love the time spent alone with the Lord and in preparation with our team as much as I do the plans and goals set in place for the new year.

The preparations begin with our team retreat in June or July. It’s a time of prayer, worship, brainstorming, and, eventually, setting goals. We give our plans to the Lord and seek his guidance and then seek to follow his steps as we embark on this renewed journey to bring hope to women around the world and across generations.

In the time that I spend with the Lord, I ask God for a single word that captures the theme he wishes to implant in our hearts and that will drive all of TWR Women of Hope’s ministry for the upcoming year. As I pray and seek God in solitude, prayer and Bible reading, I come away with our Scripture passage and word for the year.

For 2020, our word is “rest”! The passage we will be studying is Matthew 11:28-30.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

What does the word rest mean to you? Is it sitting quietly alone by a lake or in the forest? Is it taking a nap and resting your body from physical activities?

In the months ahead, we will be exploring several ideas as we dig into this passage in Matthew. What does it mean to find our rest in Jesus? What does it look like to take his yoke? What does it mean that his burden is light? What can we learn from Jesus when we rest in him?

Let’s dig into the Bible and really understand the rest that Jesus is talking about as he gives this invitation to those who put their faith in him. I’m excited about TWR Women of Hope’s journey in 2020, and I encourage you to travel with us as we grow in understanding the biblical meaning of our focus word – rest.