Can you imagine what the Wise Men felt when they saw that brand new star rise in the East? It must have been spectacular, but if I’d been there, I probably would have missed it. I’d have been too busy cooking on a wood fire or making sure my oil lamp was full.
Imagine the wonder those wise men felt as they followed that star to find Jesus. They had their very own supernatural GPS sent straight from God. If it had been me, I wouldn’t have made the trip. I’d have been too busy weaving clothes for my kids to go off on a wild goose chase to follow a star.
Many of us aren’t really looking for wonder. We grow accustomed to daily rhythms. We show up to work at 8:30 until it’s time to go home and get dinner on the table. At night we help the kids with homework and watch a little TV. We settle into ho-hum routines without thinking about wonder.
The magi probably had daily routines, too. But when they saw that star rise in the sky, they gave up their comfortable lives to go on a risky journey to search for a new King. Their decisions and attitudes set them on a wonder track for seeing more of God.
Rather than settling for a ho-hum life, I want to choose the wonder track this year.
I want to live alive to the wonder of God.
Matthew’s Story Shows Us Four Keys:
Seeking Heart
The wise men were willing to leave everything behind to go in search of the new king. I don’t know what compelled them, but I want to have a seeking heart. This year I’m going on a search for more of God. As I read and study His Word and meet with other believers, I want to do more than go through the motions, I want to actually expect God to show more of Himself to me.
Open Eyes
Those guys had their eyes open. They saw the star in the sky. Would we have noticed it? How often do we rush from task to task without even looking up to see what signs and wonders God has put in front of us?
Let’s be on the lookout for God. Let’s look for His hand at work, ordering our days, opening and closing doors, and answering our prayers. Let’s not miss divine appointments as He sends people our way.
Open Heart
Scripture says that when they saw the child, the Magi bowed down and worshipped Him. They humbled themselves. An open heart humbles itself before God, ready to receive His correction, ready to repent, ready to worship, ready to say, “Less of me and more of You.”
Open Hands
They opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts. I want to have open hands towards God, to be willing to give my time, my talents, my money, and my gifts to serve others. That’s worship at its finest, worship that glorifies God.
My word for 2016 is WONDER. I want to follow the wise men’s footsteps and set my heart on seeking more of God. I’m starting the New Year with this prayer: “Lord, lead me as I seek to discover more of you this year. Give me open eyes, an open heart, and open hands.”
Now it’s your turn: What is your hope for the New Year? Will you choose one word for 2016?
I’m linking up with Arabah Joy’s Grace & Truth, Susan B. Mead’s Dance with Jesus, and Deb Wolf’s Faith ‘N Friends.
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Love the word “Wonder.” And I hope to experience wonder as I seek Him this year. Our one word this year is “Portion.” He is my Portion–my everything.
Praying we all have seeking hearts and open up everything we are to Him this year–to see and experience Him in new and marvelous ways.
New Year Blessings to you, sweet friend!
Portion is a great word too, Sabra! I read it and thought, “Oh man, I should have chosen ‘Portion!'” (Just kidding, but it did cross my mind.) Here’s wishing you a fruitful New Year!
Betsy,
Wonder…great word. My word is “See” which has a lot to do with what you said about keeping our eyes open. I won’t see God and the wonders of His creation if my eyes are shut. Joining with you in being open to His leading and the awesome signs of His love He wants to reveal to us in this new year. Happy New Year sweet friend!
Blessings,
Bev
I like “See.” I really have been thinking, “Would I have been looking up at that sky to see the Star in the first place?” May God open our eyes, friend!
These are beautiful ways to experience wonder in our relationship with God – thanks, Betsy.
Thank YOU, Jeannie. I so appreciate your reading my blog. 🙂 So fun to make new friends online.
Blessings, Betsy! Welcome back from your break! Trusting that it was fruitful and family-filled! May your eyes and your heart be filled with wonder in 2016. Looking forward to the blogging journey along with you!
I had a wonderful break. I wish you a fruitful new year, Michele. Glad to know you!
I love your word for 2016. I often do wonder what it was like for the Wise men to finally come upon the Lord Jesus.
My word for 2016 is Intentional. I want to be intentional in living out love to my family, friends and church family.
Have a wonderful New Year!
Intentional is a wonderful word, Lillian. May God bless you as you seek to be more INTENTIONAL. May He make you more and more effective in His Kingdom!
I love every word of this, Betsy. What a perfect theme for 2016! I so want to be taken away with wonder again. I miss it greatly. I’ve been completely tied up in my to-do list and daily schedule for far too long. Thanks for this wonder-ful inspiration :).
Oh thanks so much, Candace. You’ve made me smile. I know what it’s like to get tied up in that to-do list!
Aiming for the wonder, the miracles, the hope … no resolutions or goals on paper, just some intriguing stuff floating around in my heart and head.
We’ll see what He wants to do with it.
Happy new year, friend!
May the Lord guide you as you begin a new year, Linda. I don’t have specific goals yet either. Just doing some brainstorming today. 🙂
Eyes, heart and hands open. This is my wish for the New Year as well, Betsy. Thank you for this beautiful reminder. I need it – daily! 😉
Thank you Katie! Let’s go for it! Open eyes, hearts, and hands!
I love the word, wonder, and I look forward to keeping my eyes open and alert to seeing His wonder in and around me in 2016. Love and blessings to you and I look forward to your posts in the new year.
Thank you Sandy! May God bless you this coming year with more of Himself in your life!
Love your word, Besty! I’ll be looking with anticipation of how God is going to use it throughout your year. Great post, too! Happy New Year, my dear friend. Much love!
Happy New Year to you, too, Julie! I’m right with you on your word choice of Believe! Let’s believe God for more!
Not settling for ho hum but keeping heart and eyes open for the wonder of God – great perspective that I hope to keep this year as well, Betsy.
Wonder. What a great word Betsy! It is easy to think sometimes that the “wonder” is reserved for those in Bible times but I’m learning when we do the things you shared in your post, we can see the wonder of God working in our lives each day! Thanks for sharing this thought provoking post my friend. blessings to you and family in 2016!
Thank you, Horace! May the Lord show more of Himself to you in 2016! Blessings on your ministry.
I love your One Word and it’s outworkings. I have felt a similar call to awestruck wonder…especially in the past month in returning home to beautiful New Zealand. So true that openness is a key. I almost chose “open” as my One Word, but felt the Lord impress upon my heart that it is He who does the opening. So, my One Word is “Behold”, as I felt Him calling me to keep looking up, keep beholding His Face in joyful expectation in all I do…so similar to yours…because in looking upon Him, we cannot help but be filled with “wonder”.
Anna, you are blessed to live in New Zealand. I’ve heard how beautiful it is and seen pictures too. You and I must be kindred spirits, friend. I chose a word for December, and it was “Behold!” For the same reasons you describe. 🙂 I wrote a blog post about it in December called “When You Want to Hear God’s Voice.”
I live in the Netherlands now, but was home for a month (my little sister got married). I’m going to have to read your December posts!
Love that thought, Betsy, that we would have open eyes, open hearts and hands to wonder at God. Not what He does for us, but at Him. Looking forward to seeing how the wonder of God fleshes out for you! 🙂
Thank you so much, Lisa. I’m looking forward to it too. Blessings on you, friend, as you start a new year in GRACE.
Betsy,
I love this post. And what a great word – wonder. Yes, we need to be aware, to seek, to look and to actively involve ourselves in His plans for us. Hoping you link this to Word of God Speak and http://www.janiscox.com
Thank you so much, Janis. I appreciate your sharing this on Twitter. I’ll check out your link.
Hi Betsy! I think your word is going to make this year a very special one for you. Looking forward to hearing about all the wonder-ful things that God will put in your path, all because you are willing to look for them. Wonder is related to Discovery isn’t it…
May we both be ready to drop the ‘usual’ and set out for the newness of God’s blessings, just like the Wise Men did.
Blessings,
Ceil
Amen to that, Ceil. May you be blessed as you set out on a new journey this year!
Wonder is a fantastic heart posture toward God and I’m excited to follow you through the year to see how God grows you in that. This is an excellent post, Betsy, and I’d love to feature it on Friday for our next round of Grace & Truth if that’s ok with you!
Thanks so much for featuring this post, Holly. I appreciate you. Blessings on your weekend!
Betsy, I just love this post! I think this may be my favorite message from you thus far. What a wonderful word you shared here, Love. Your words have deeply blessed my heart. Thank you! I’m going to be using this as my feature for tomorrow’s blog hop and I pray that my readers will be greatly blessed by your words as well. Happy New Year and GOD bless you, beautiful friend! 🙂
Oh, thank you, Tai! I appreciate your sharing this. God impressed this deeply in my heart in January, and it was a a blessing to be able to write it.
You are most welcome, sweet Betsy! 🙂
I love this – and love your word ‘wonder’! Can’t wait to hear how it unfolds. I’ve really connected with this story of the wise men this year – following God’s moving target to an unknown destination – but certain it’s leading somewhere wonderful. I don’t want to miss where it’s leading!
Following God’s moving target to an unknown destination! That about describes our lives, doesn’t it! Blessings to you as you continue your journey, Kathryn.
Yes! This is great, Betsy. I want to have more wonder in my life, too. The wise men are a great example of where that leads.
Thanks for linking up with Grace and Truth this week. (I’m a new host there)
Dawn! I hadn’t realized you were a new Grace and Truth host. That’s great!
Loved every word of this post. I am so glad that it was share over at Faith ‘n Friends. Somehow I had missed it. This resonated with me because my word this year is “See”. I want my eyes to be opened to all that God is doing each day right before me. May your year be filled with the wonder of God as you embrace the word He has brought to you. Blessings!
See is a great word, Joanne! I’m right there with you, friend. I want to see more of God this year too. Blessings back atcha!