How has your year started? What are your thoughts and feelings about what has occurred already in 2025? For me, I have felt like the first eight weeks of 2025 have raced past.
Every year, I ask God for a word or phrase for the coming year, and my phrase for 2025 was ‘Expect the unexpected’. Many unexpected events have already occurred, and I am finding a new ‘nothing phases me’ type of lifestyle.
Every year, I also ask God to give me a word/phrase to describe each month for the coming year. Sort of like a ‘heads up’. My word for January was ‘coming ready or not’, with February being ‘hidden surprises’. (By the way, I have updated the fantastic resource ‘Hearing God for the Year Ahead’ for you to use as a free 30-Day devotional download to help you hear God for the year. )
January flew past, beginning with the Scripture Union Family Mission team I was on. My daughter and her boyfriend were directors, and I loved assisting them and being there to help relieve them and make life easier for them. I headed up the team, ministering to the parents and being a ‘parent’ for the team. Our son was home from the RAAF in Darwin and was also a team member. I loved how he showed me extraordinary care and kindness and assisted me in numerous ways without asking. Gary, my husband, doesn’t go as this is his downtime after a massive finish to the year with his gardening business. Still, he assists most days – setting up, packing down, two trips to replace damaged gazebos, baking slices, bringing forgotten supplies, etc. All in all, it was a fabulous but extremely tiring 12 days of laughter, fun, tears, heatwaves, rain, wind, and hospital visits (this year, I had two team members at the one time as patients at the hospital), great conversations, yummy food, heaps of coffee and copious amounts of Zooper Doopers. There were fantastic morning and evening activities, as well as engaging Bible and serial dramas with great connections with the unchurched. I must admit, though, that I was exhausted at the end of the twelve days and definitely needed a break to rejuvenate.
February has seen several unexpected occurrences and a few hidden surprises. Our daughter Sarah started a new job, and I had been praying for five things she wanted in her next job (distance from home, how many days per week, days working from home, etc), and her new job met all five criteria. She is enjoying the change while she commences her honours degree. If you don’t keep a list of your prayers (I can be remiss), I encourage you to start recording them. It is encouraging to see them answered and a great reminder of exactly what you prayed for. I asked Sarah back in October what she specifically wanted me to pray for her in her next job, and she had forgotten the details, but since I had written them down and prayed regularly, it was a great confirmation and a time to build faith that God cares about the big and the small things in our life.
God has opened several opportunities to connect with other parents of Defence Force members; a highlight was praying with two other Defence Force mums last week. I took the initiative to commence a luncheon for parents of defence force members, and it has been exciting to see how God works in this area. Another mum was challenged by my doing this, and she began a group for Christian parents of Defence Force members to pray for their children. Within 24 hours, over 30 parents joined.
February had another hidden surprise for me when I attached the launch of a friend’s ministry (applesofgoldministries.com) as I caught up with a friend I hadn’t seen for over ten years, and the time was so rich.
On the family front, Sarah graduates next week with her double degree, and Josh is flying home from Darwin for the week to attend. I am so excited.
Do you ask God for a word or phrase to underpin the year for you?
Two years ago, I asked God for a word/phrase for each month of the year. I write down the months of the year and the first thought that comes to me as I ask God in connection to each month. I don’t labour over it, spending less than ten minutes. At the beginning of 2023, I had sensed a ‘crow’s nest’ for October that year and thought it was unusual, but wrote it down. In June 2023, Josh was selected to crew the Young Endeavour Tall Ships program for October. As we considered it, I realised that the ‘Crows Nest’ I had sensed from God six months before was an affirmation that it was the right timing and the right thing for Josh. God works in mysterious ways!!
An example from last year was in December when I felt to put the word ‘change’ next to March 2024. At that stage, we didn’t know that Josh would be leaving home and commencing his career in the Air Force at the beginning of March. I find it so encouraging and timely when I see words for the month line up and assist in our decisions months later.
Hearing God Podcast:
The Hearing God podcast has been on a break for a few months, but Gary and I are about to begin recording for season 3. This year, we aim to interview more guests and answer listeners’ questions. We have several questions we are planning episodes around already, but if you have any questions about hearing God, please email us ([email protected]) and we will endeavour to answer them in an episode.
We have found it exciting to see how many people have listened to episodes over the last few months while we have been on a break from recording. The feedback from people encouraged in their faith journey, especially with realising that God has been speaking to them but they haven’t realised it before, is enormous. We feel privileged to help people on their journey of hearing God.
If you haven’t yet listened to the ‘Hearing God’ podcast, you can find it either at garyandjane.co, or here or on your favourite podcast listening site. We would love to know your favourite episodes and any suggestions you have.
Unlocking the Gold Blog:
This year, I intend to resume blogging on this website, ‘unlocking the gold. ‘ I realised the other day that the ‘burden’ I had placed on myself by creating five new prophetic activations in each blog hindered my blogging. Thus, a change I am implementing in the future is to create one prophetic activation/exercise for each blog. Also, for those who receive the ‘Raising World Changers’ blog over at www.raisingworldchangers.com.au, I am endeavouring to recommence blogging there as well. The monthly prayer calendars for our children were a huge hit when I created them, so I hope to recommence them as well as the occasional blog concerning relevant parenting topics.
Writing:
I am currently organising my week to create time and space to write more as I sense to write a devotional book on ‘Hearing God’, similar to the book ‘Ministering like Jesus: How to grow in Healing, Deliverance and Miracles” – a 30-Day devotional from Mark’s Gospel.
I am excited and looking forward to the next few months, especially as we are heading to Darwin as a family to see Josh soon.
Prayer:
What are you looking forward to over the next few months? Is there something you would love Gary and I to be praying for you? Feel free to let us know.
As always, we value prayer for our family, my writing, and the ‘Hearing God’ podcast and its reach and impact.
I would significantly value your prayer concerning my left knee. I damaged it again recently, and it would be easy for me to get frustrated with it, but I am believing for a complete healing while living in the tension of that not being realised yet. I wonder if you are living in a tension of believing for something, but it hasn’t yet come to fruition? It can so easily be frustrating, but I am encouraged by James 1:2-4 with the fruit of perseverance coming forth and focusing on joy in my life.
Prophetic Activation:
I encourage you to have a blank piece of paper and some writing/drawing implements at hand. Quieten your heart before God and ask Him to show you His thoughts about your 2025. As you spend time with Him, I encourage you to begin drawing or writing and let it flow without critiquing. Go with the flow and enjoy God’s Presence as He reveals His heart through your writing/drawing and your heart postured towards Him. After some time, stop and reflect on what is now on the paper before you. Is there a deeper or a different meaning God has revealed through your creativity?