We begin a NEW SEASON of the church year today! It’s Epiphany! We celebrate the Light, Jesus, coming into all the World, for ALL THE WORLD, for EVERYONE!!! This Saturday, January 7th is Orthodox Christmas. I love both because we can keep the celebration going longer and we can retell the story of God with us again. This is especially good for those of us who felt like December 25th got here much too quickly this year or if you missed the celebration due to weather and travel messiness. So Happy Christmas and Happy Epiphany!
I love new beginnings! But I believe that before we can go forward, we need to look back and consider where we’ve been. This helps us notice what God has been up to in our life and encourages us to pay attention going forward. Below is a meditation you can do on your own, or with your family, church community or small group. I’ve included a PDF at the end that includes several photos of doors to use to consider what door you might need for the year ahead. At thinplace house church this week, we began our time together with a lectio divina listening to Revelation 3: 18-22 in three translations
“Look at me. I stand at the door. I knock. If you hear me call and open the door, I’ll come right in and sit down to supper with you. Conquerors will sit alongside me at the head table, just as I, having conquered, took the place of honor at the side of my Father. That’s my gift to the conquerors!
“Are your ears awake? Listen. Listen to the Wind Words, the Spirit blowing through the churches.”
After listening to the passage, we considered the doors and what Jesus is I have always loved doors! So I take photos of them when I travel. You might start a collection of doors in your neighborhood or on your adventures in the new year to remind you of the God who opens doors!
OPENING THE DOOR
MEDITATION
OPENING THE DOOR to the NEW YEAR
Crossing the threshold into what God has in store for You!
Consider this past year .
Where have you been?
How was your journey?
Was it a season of open doors or closed doors?
Was it a season of slammed doors or one of doors opened in invitation?
Talk to Jesus about this. Take some time.
What kind of door represents your last year?
Closed Doors?
Open Doors?
As you approach and cross the threshold, and as you open the door to the New Year, what do you need to leave behind?
What do you need to drop?
What do you need to drop or leave behind so you can follow more closely to Jesus?
Author CS Lewis says that you cannot receive the new gifts God wants to give you if your hands are filled with too many packages.
Are you carrying too many packages today?
What packages do you need to drop or let go of? Talk to God about this.
Allow Jesus to show you what you need to put down and what you need to let go of in order to move through the new door of the New Year.
Are you carrying too many packages?
DOWNLOAD OR PRINT OUT THESE PDFS of DOORS
DOORS A PDF.. DOORS B PDF DOORS C PDF
What is God’s Invitation?
Which door inspires you?
What is the invitation?
Which door is being opened for you?
What Is Jesus inviting you to in the New Year?
Choose a door from the PDFs
You might cut out the door and carry it with you to consider how you can open the door to Jesus this year.
Watch for NEW DOORS
As you open doors in your house, going in and out, or opening closet doors or doors at a shop/store…consider the doors Jesus is opening for you. Consider and ask Jesus to open new doors of creativity, hope, inspiration, joy, compassion for you in the New Year! Watch for NEW DOORS!
I will give him the key to the house of David–the highest position in the royal court. When he opens doors, no one will be able to close them; when he closes doors, no one will be able to open them. Isaiah 22:22
©lillylewin and freerangeworship.com