“And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.” Luke 1:80
Christmas is over and 2025 is here! While many have mixed feelings about New Year's Resolutions, I personally find it meaningful to reflect on all that has happened in the last calendar year- I make a habit to record the biggest challenges, best moments, new friendships, areas of growth, etc. This journaling inevitably causes me to also think about failed resolutions and ways I have fallen short.
The verse this week is a refreshing reminder of where our focus should be as we ponder growth and goals for ourselves. Luke 1:80 says John grew, becoming “strong in spirit.” This means the Holy Spirit was working powerfully in him, equipping him for the challenges that lay ahead for him in his ministry. Other descriptions of “strong in spirit” include inner fortitude, spiritual maturity, and a robust spiritual resistance. (Berean study bible) Strong spiritual fortitude means being filled with the Holy Spirit to be equipped for whatever may come at us. We have no idea what 2025 holds… but God does. So when our self control and best laid plans fall short, His Spirit is still there to guide our path and strengthen us along the way.
Therefore, while goals and resolutions of various kinds are still admirable and good, I encourage you to think about what you can do for yourself and your family to become strong in spirit this coming year. The good news is that the spirit does this work on our behalf, but we can employ habits and a posture that invites the Spirit in to do this work for us.
We are taking a break from our standard user update section this week as a lot of this week’s focus is quite personal, but I hope the verse and questions provide a good template for reflecting on what the Lord has done in the previous year and looking ahead to the New Year.
-Rectors ringing in the New Year at the beach… inner fortitude was being built as one sibling smashed the sand creations of others-
This week concludes our series on the Benedictus, and we will start working through the Psalms next week. If you are a paid subscriber continue to scroll down for devotional and coloring sheet.
Thanks!
Anne