It's Time For A Trim: Start 2025 With Power!

https://rss.com/podcasts/janelletaveras/1845948

January should be the troubleshooting month of the year. It should be a time to discover what works for you and get into a good rhythm. Part of our failure is that we want to jump into perfect execution and go from 0 to 100 all at once. In this blog, I want to give a word of encouragement and instruction to help establish your January and the rest of 2025. Do not be discouraged, keep trying, the solution you're looking for is often simpler than you think. Your solution or breakthrough may be in plain sight, but you haven’t paid attention to it yet, may the Lord use this message to open your eyes to see the new vision, ears to hear the new instructions, and a heart for immediate obedience.

I am titling this message “It is time for a trim”.  Let’s go to the book of Genesis when Abraham, who was Abram back then, realized he could no longer live with his nephew Lot. Abram felt like he had a responsibility to look after Lot because Lot’s father had passed away but there was no longer enough space for them to live together. The shepherds of both Abram and Lot’s flocks started to complain as there appeared to be competition for resources and discord was rising between these relatives. Abram being the older and wiser of the two said in verse 8, “Let there be no strife between our shepherds because we are family”. Abram even gave Lot the first choice of preference as to where he wanted to go and take his possessions. See Abram chose peace over being right. Some of us are currently having arguments with our close friends and family or maybe lacking peace in our homes because we are not seeing eye to eye. It is time for a trim and to possibly part ways with our loved ones in this next season where God wants to take you. Most likely, you are the mature one in the relationship (this may not have to do with age), and it is up to you to let the arguments go for the sake of peace. Even if you are right and they are wrong, choose peace over strife and quarreling, like Abraham did. Hebrews 12:14 (ESV) reads “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord”. Sometimes we get used to dealing with dysfunction and start to think it is normal or we just rather keep things as they are, but this is a false peace and God is saying “It is time for a trim”. We must obey God no matter how hard the separation may be, or difficult the changes we have to make, but we have to let go.

The separation between Abram and Lot was necessary because we can see that Lot had no discernment which could have ended up being a stumbling block for Abram in the future. We can see this because Lot chose to settle in Sodom (verse 13) where it was known that the men of Sodom were wicked and great sinners against the Lord, but all Lot could see was “prosperity”. Now, look what happened to Abram after Lot separated from him (verse 14), God spoke to Abram, gave him a prophetic vision, and then ended with specific instructions (verse 17).

“Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, 15 for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever. 16 I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted. 17 Arise, walk through the length and the breadth of the land, for I will give it to you.” 

Now Abram did two important things after the Lord spoke that are key for our 2025. 1) Abraham responded with immediate obedience by taking up and moving his tent and 2)  He thanked God for this encounter by building an altar to the Lord. I know that God desires to encounter you in this season to share with you His vision for your life and provide divine instructions. Luke 19:40-44 describes a scenario where the enemies of Jerusalem overtook the city and its people because Jerusalem did not seek peace and because of this missed the time of their visitation. You will not be able to take everyone who is currently in your life with you in this next season.  How do we know who God wants us to part from? The answer is whatever is an encumbrance and holding you back. These are the scoffers, the blatant sinners, the ones who may negatively influence you, the ones you are arguing with or constantly justifying yourself or your faith. Hebrews 12:1 says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,” Anything that takes your energy or effort or focus away form where you are going, you must remove it. Anything unnecessary that entangles you in sin or discouragement you must strip off. This may mean it’s time to close the account, delete the number, exit the group, cut the commitment, unsubscribe, remove the temptations, unfollow, or clear the playlist. For some, the instructions may be even more drastic, it may be to pack up and move out, move geographic locations, or move out of that house or situation.

When we obey the word of the Lord and “get that trim” we will hear from God, see a clear vision of God's will for our lives, and receive directions to our divine destination. When we do hear from God, again we must immediately obey and give thanks to the Lord. We must partner with God in this way during this season and throughout this year if we want to do great exploits for the Kingdom of God. If you know God is calling you to greater heights, there is a race before us that we need to run with endurance, patience, active persistence, and steady pace. We cannot do this with anything or anyone holding us back and weighing us down. Keep your eyes on the prize, Jesus! Remember all he did for us and that this “trim” is the least we can do for him.

Reflection:

1.        What are the things that we put before God?

2.        What is stopping you from saying “yes” to God?