My Prayer for 2022

The past few years have been a blur, and 2021 seems to just be part of 2020 in my mind.

Some of it's biggest challenges of 2021 include:

• Physical health issues
• Battling THE virus ourselves and almost losing Miguel
• Still grieving the loss of dad as well as grieving the loss of life as we knew it around us (and the ever-changing country and world)
• Miguel's extremely busy schedule and insane hours all year long (and the feeling of being a single parent while trying to hold down the fort and work part time)

Yet this years biggest blessings of 2021 include the following:

• the gift of an amazing new church to be a part of and the sweet ladies community at Bible study
• Spiritual lessons and refining
• Blessing and miracle of a NEW HOME in the crazy housing market
• Healing from THE virus 
• Mom's generosity to let us stay with her longer while Mr. Cabrera kindly remodels our new home.
• A new job for Miguel with much better hours and more time for family
• Sweet family times and new memories towards the end of the year
• God always providing for our needs just when we need it

Looking back on 2021, I can truly say that God was faithful to His loving and forgiving character even when I was not faithful to follow Him whole-heartedly. I do not deserve His love and grace and mercy. I humbly thank Him and praise Him for the way He held me in His arms and went after my aching heart this year.

"Never once did we ever walk alone/ Never once did you leave us on our own / You are faithful God, You are faithful." 

I will be honest and say I am very anxious when looking ahead to this new year. I anticipate more shutdowns, more government control, less freedoms, and more signs of the End Times. It can be scary but God is still teaching me to have a right perspective on life and this next year.

Thus, despite my concerns that this year may bring, I am looking forward to these in the new year:

• Finally being able to move into our new home in a few months
• A new baby on the way
• Lord-wiling living more for eternity 
• Trusting God in the scary changes around us and taking my worrisome thoughts captive

My specific prayers for this new year of 2022 is to 

1. Grow in a kind heart and kind words. "Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing." - 1 Thessalonians 5:11
2. Draw near to the Lord and take my anxious thoughts captive. "Let us draw near with a true heart." Hebrews 10:12;      "Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--thing about such things" Philippians 4:8