If there’s any truth I want you to internalize this year, it’s that God wants to bless you! Many of us who were raised in church, especially in legalistic environments, wrongly believe that our Lord is a killjoy and that we should expect nothing more from Him than our salvation. That said, we approach Him with fear and an underlying conviction that He will bring calamity upon us if we don’t “measure up” to His standards. Thankfully, this is not the truth! In fact, David wrote in the Psalms that although we endure difficulties and hardships, we can be confident that we will see His goodness manifest in our lives on this earth. Though our outcomes may not always be what we want them to be, because the Lord of Creation lives inside of us and His essence is love itself, we can always expect favor to find us. In fact, one of the most effective ways to experience His joy and power is to allow ourselves to dream bigger. When we invite the Holy Spirit to share our hopes and aspirations and ask Him to guide our plans and make them “God-sized,” He will speak to us, inspire us, and fill our imaginations with the wonder of His might.

My friend, your Savior is wild about you! He wants to stretch your faith this year, and He invites you to confidently place your trust in His goodness. Love is the essence of His identity, and He is extending His Hand to you in fatherhood and friendship. Surrender the belief that He is indifferent or that He delights in bringing calamity, and turn your attention to the truth that He is compassionate, gracious, and kind. Yes, He is perfect and holy, but by the blood of Jesus, so are you. The demands of His righteousness were satisfied on the cross, and you inherited His neverending grace at the moment you said “yes” to His gift of salvation. In Him, you are sheltered, protected, blessed, and highly favored — meditate on that truth and the year ahead will be full of supernatural life and power!