Tag: hope

God will Inhabit the Timeline of 2026

On By Heather HensonIn Devotionals, Personal Reflections, Sharing from my Journal2 Comments

Enjoying time spent with God yesterday morning (December 30, 2025), I heard myself pray words that I had never expressed in that way before. The beloved Spirit of Jesus seemed to inspire and inform my prayer in a most wonderful way. I pray the Spirit of God might also use them to minister into your soul.

The words came vibrantly alive in my mind, “Daddy*, You inhabit the timeline of 2026!”

I went on to pray, “Would you please help Ross and I to keep hold of Your hand and walk through each day letting Your Spirit be the Choreographer—the Lord—of the dance of life as we journey together. I know that You will be there to usher us into each day; indeed, into the moments that we might not see coming. And I also know from experience that You’ll provide for us in ways that surprise and amaze us, even when we need to be patient and watch and wait to see what you will do! I’m confident that there will never be a time when You won’t be with us, or will not have prepared for us according to Your heart. It’s so good to remember this, so thank You for your gift of the inhabit word!” 

Then I remembered we’re about to leave 2025 behind… 

“And God, thank You that Your Spirit inhabited the timeline of my 2025. Ross and I surrender this year-already-lived into Your redemptive grace and Your plans which are, after all, ALL about the King of kings and Lord of lords: Jesus. You are the God of the second chance! You are not limited to the timeline that we are in, and You see and hear clearly what we do not, or what we see in part. You even see the unspoken cries of our heart. 

I seem to sense the Lord saying, “Leave it all with Me, beloved. I can wonderfully and redemptively fashion all things according to My plans designed to create in you the likeness of Jesus, My Son and your Kinsman-Redeemer. 

Relax and enjoy Me as we journey through each and every day. Some days will be filled with joy, but there will be others that will hold sorrow. Remember that in everything I AM actively with you—I am never a passive spectator. I AM your wise and compassionate Help in times of trouble. I AM your strategic Shepherd and Guide who provides for you in all sorts of creative ways. 

In this world you will experience troubles of one kind or another, but take heart because I, in Christ, have overcome the world!”

The writer of the Bible’s Old Testament book of Deuteronomy 31:6 (The Message version) says; Be strong. Take courage. Don’t be intimidated. Don’t give them a second thought because God, your God, is striding ahead of you. He’s right there with you. He won’t let you down; he won’t leave you.

*By the way, you might not already know this story about God and me… One morning about 20 years ago, while enjoying time soaking in God’s presence, He seemed to clearly communicate into my soul saying “Beloved, I want you to call me Daddy!”

His invitation into a heart to heart relationship of deeper intimacy seemed to unlock the door of a room deep in my heart. Immediately and surprisingly for me, there erupted a spontaneous flow of violent sobs! After my messy sobbing tears had subsided, not only did I feel that same deep part of me was at peace—wrapped up in the embrace of His heart—I somehow felt more gloriously free to be and continue to become who HE created me to be!

From my own lived experiences I know that with Jesus who is Immanuel, God-with-us, our story continues on; however, the living Saviour of the world who is eternally I AM (see Exodus 3:13-15) promises to inhabit the timeline of our lives—in 2026 and beyond!

Finally, Psalm 139:1-7; 10-11 says; 

Lord, you know everything there is to know about me. You perceive every movement of my heart and soul, and you understand my every thought before it even enters my mind. You are so intimately aware of me, Lord. You read my heart like an open book and you know all the words I’m about to speak before I even start a sentence! 

You know every step I will take before my journey even begins. You’ve gone into my future to prepare the way, and in kindness you follow behind me to spare me from the harm of my past. You have laid your hand on me! This is just too wonderful, deep, and incomprehensible! Your understanding of me brings me wonder and strength. 

Where could I go from your Spirit? Where could I run and hide from your face? Wherever I go, your hand will guide me; your strength will empower me. It’s impossible to disappear from you or to ask the darkness to hide me, for your presence is everywhere, bringing light into my night. —The Passion Translation (Emphasis mine.)

*If you need support—prayer, wise counsel, or just a listening ear—please reach out to someone you trust. 

2026 Photo Credit: BoliviaInteligente

2025: The Journey Continues

On By Heather HensonIn Devotionals, Life's Lessons, Personal Reflections, Sharing from my JournalLeave a comment

On 1 January 2024, I didn’t know how the year would unfold. 

Sure, I had a couple of signposts that helped me to plan for stages of the journey along with my beloved travel companion, my husband, Ross. The first signpost pointed to six weeks overseas in Greece—associated with our continued volunteer work with Hellenic Ministries. The second beckoned me toward the joy of celebrating my firstborn’s 40th birthday. 

But I didn’t know that I’d need spinal surgery preceded by scans, appointments and procedures; nor did I know I’d be supporting Ross through his urgent prostate surgery and rehabilitation.

I didn’t know about the bleeding disorder that had my haematologist telling me it’s a wonder I’ve lived for my 66 years and, ‘this is very serious, Heather’.

I didn’t know about the wonderful myriad of opportunities I would be offered to nurture and celebrate relationships with family and friends and neighbours-who-are-dear-friends. 

I didn’t know about the wonderful experiences in which I would be able to make new friends at home, in Athens, on Lesvos and Crete, in Liverpool and Enniskillen (Ireland), and through my social media groups! 

I didn’t know just how much this can be true and has been for me: “Courage is moving forward in the face of fear.” (Original author unknown.) Or Corrie Ten Boom’s well-known words: “It is safe to trust an unknown future to a known God.”

I didn’t know just how true were the gently whispered life-giving words into my soul that seemed to come from Father God during a conversation with Him on the first day of 2024, “You treated it as a burden, but I gave it to you as a gift.” (The it being my writing.)

I didn’t know just how much I can procrastinate because of the distant echo of voices demanding that everything—that I—must be perfect… 

But this I do know: through it all, God the Holy Spirit has been helping me to trust more deeply that Father God is good all the time and that His plans, which are actually not all about me, but rather, all about Jesus, are good and right ones designed to promote my wellbeing and freedom to be the real me—who He created me to be.

Photo Credit: Unsplash – Ch Photography

I might not know what is around the corner—what will happen in my life, in the lives of my family and friends, and in the world in this new year, 2025…

But this I do know: with Holy Spirit’s grace at work in me, I am able to practise the truth in 2025; it is wise, right, life-giving, and an act of worship and loving obedience to God for me to keep hold of the hand of His Son and my beloved Saviour and Lord, Jesus Christ.

And I know, and have experienced, that to remain intimately and vitally connected into the life of Jesus is to agree with Him because God made Him, Jesus; the Word, to be Wisdom itself (Read 1 Corinthians 1:30 and John 15, especially verses 1-17.)

Thankfully I know, and have experienced, that His mercy means that no matter what, the Spirit of Jesus will never leave or forsake me. He will gain my focus and gently woo me back to where I am the most secure—in the centre of His heart!

And so, I will keep going… 

I choose to journey into 2025 with the word, gentle accompanying and guiding me because it comes with peace and hope, and resonates in my soul. I sense that gentle has travelling companions including (but not limited to), Rest. Relax. Go forward slowly and mindfully.

For years now, I’ve been asking God for a word or phrase to serve as a compass point directing me toward Jesus who is True North. I know from the past that I will explore life with all of its adventures as I walk with Jesus, but I will never be lost because I know that this is true: Jesus is “…the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through (Him).” (John 14:6 NLT – paraphrased). And, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8 – NLT)

As I journey gently and mindfully with Jesus into 2025, I see and know that healing will come—transformational healing from the inside out! Let it be, Lord, because this is for your glory and my good. I also know that others who come near will somehow be impacted too! 

Did you notice the sign nailed to the tree on the left in the photo? Having being a very significant Scripture verse for me for a very long time, I did! I saw it as Ross and I walked the road to the retreat centre, our accomodation in Ireland.

The words of Joshua recorded in the Bible say it better than I could ever do: “…be strong and brave, Do not yield to fear nor be discouraged, for I am YAHWEH your God, and I will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9; The Passion Translation)

Dear reader, I pray that you will know and experience the truth: you are wonderfully created, deeply loved, and wanted! I pray that you will know that the Father planned for you to be born and that your life, (created by Him) and how you live it, really does matter to Him. God has made a way for you to be in intimate relationship with Him through faith in Jesus, His beloved Son! His Spirit will help you to come to Jesus, or to come back to Him; or to even draw closer into the Father-heart of God to enjoy Him forever—in spirit and in truth.

Reach out to Jesus. There is no valid reason for you to walk the journey of life alone.

It seems to me that Jesus is reaching out to you and says: Come to Me. Come and don’t delay. Test Me and see that I will not fail you. Walk and talk with Me along the way that is the journey of 2025 and beyond. I—who am Love, Truth and Grace—AM faithful and will never leave you or forsake you. Trust Me! I AM trustworthy!

I pray that you and I will feel free to be active and engaged in this part of our life’s journey—2025—a year of peace and increasing freedom in Christ.

All is Well

On By Heather HensonIn Personal Reflections, Sharing from my Journal2 Comments

“Beloved, I see your heart—your beautiful and tender heart!

I long to be THE ONE who, alone, gathers you up and draws you into the shelter of My presence. 

Within the beauty and serenity of My peaceful and joyful presence, the reign of My holiness creates an atmosphere where all is still. 

All is calm. 

It seems like the pause button is on and the endless hurry and driven rush and bustle of the world is silenced. 

In this ethereal silence—filled with the sound of My love and majesty—you breathe deeply of My hope, wisdom, confidence and joy carried in an endless stream of loving grace and mercy.

In this place, you are secure in your identity in Christ.

In this place, you are free to explore life, hand-in-hand with Jesus.

In this place, fear takes a back seat because courage inspired by a kingdom-of-God mindset fills and floods the room in your heart where Hope now reigns.”

And I turn to You, Jesus and know that all is well!

There is a future that beckons me to enter—confident and assured of Your ever and very present moment-by-moment help and guidance through the stream of Your empowering presence. 

You, the only wise God magnificent and holy in all Your ways, is for me. Your plans for my wellbeing are always excellent and trustworthy in harmony with Your heart. 

And I hear You say…

“Be still and rest in My eternal goodness, and together, we will continue to walk through life—hand-in-hand—one step at a time!”