New Year, New Thoughts

New Year’s Resolutions. I don’t  keep them very well. However, at the beginning of the year, I was spending time with the Lord, and he gave me a word of this being a year of new confidence and boldness. He confirmed this continuously over the next couple of weeks through people in my life group, his Word, and just daily occurrences that used to make me insecure or anxious; I was now confident and relaxed. So, I am choosing daily to trust him; and I have been continuously blessed by this. This new season is not a result of a new year’s resolution; it is the result of the Lord’s faithfulness and hand in my life. This fact helps me know that this time, it is not changing; this time, I am changed, and am now seeing true freedom.

I wish that I could take the past  few years of my life and have a “re-do.” I wish I would have been able to walk with confidence in who I was, and find myself secure enough to let people get to know me—flaws and all. I wish I could have been able to say, “This is who I am,” and welcome people into my life, instead of walking in with guards up and walls up.

This reminds me of a conversation I had with a group recently where I work. We were talking about life: what we go through and the importance of community. In that conversation, the point was brought up that God is in fact the author of our lives and stories, but he wants us to take an active role in those stories. I wish things would have been different, but the truth is, I could not have gotten to where I am now if it weren’t for my story. I do not like where I have been, but I would not change it because it’s how I can now prove the Lord’s sovereign grace and faithfulness. I believe I have come a long way; and this journey I have with the Lord only gets better.

Does this mean that I have reached perfection? Absolutely not! In fact, more growth will happen. It does mean that I know what it feels like to be in a place of internal captivity, brought on by not trusting or believing the Lord, and I do not want to go back there. Will I have moments where my flesh fails? Yes. But I trust in those moments that the Lord is faithful to his Word.

All of this to say: I am grateful for the journey, and for the valuable people He uses to speak to our hearts. I am also grateful for those people who are kingdom-minded and want to see us reach our potential in the Holy Spirit, and create environments to thrive in the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives. I would not go back, but would not change my story, because it’s how the Lord works specifically in my life. It is good.

“I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” (Philippians 3:13-14, NLT)

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Rachael Montgomery is from Slaton, Texas. She is currently at Lubbock Christian University getting her Masters in Counseling. She wants to get her LPC (License of Professional Counseling) and work with children and adolescents. Rachael has a twin sister, and she loves coffee.

What kind of ministry are you most passionate about?
I have a passion for worship. I have a heart for seeing kids experience the Lord at a young age, and getting to know him early in life. Also, I have a heart to help facilitate children in learning who they are and their role in the kingdom early in life.

What is one quirky fact about you?
My wreck count is up to 6 with only 2 of them being my fault. 😉