Hello Everyone. I just wanted to check in with you to say hello and share a little bit with you. At the beginning of the year, I told you that I didn’t make any new resolutions. My goal was to continue to make the inner changes that would bring about continual progression in the direction of my God given dreams and goals. I quote me, “Yes. Yes. My goal is to progress on my journey while God continues to deal with me and reveal Himself and myself to me so that I can fulfill the call of God on my life.”
Whew! Who knew what that would set in motion? Who knew the war that would start by my stepping more confidently in the direction of my destiny?! Who knew that it would seem as if everything in my life would be shaken?!
However, in the process, God has been revealing Himself and myself to me. Because of the battles I’ve been in, I have gotten to know God better as Jehovah Tsebaioth- the Lord of Host! He wields His sword and commands an army of angels! When the enemy stepped in and tried to steal my peace, I got to know God more as Jehovah Shalom- the Lord our peace! When I made wrong decisions, God revealed Himself as the One who forgives, because I sure needed it. When I faced those times when I thought no one understood, God revealed Himself as Jehovah Shammah- The Lord who is there. He never left me! Oh, believe me, I could go on.
In the midst of God revealing more of Himself to me during these times, I discovered that I could press forward through wherever I was- through whatever I was facing. I didn’t have to get off track. I didn’t have to stop progressing. I discovered that I could finish strong! Finish what strong? Whatever God started in me. Whatever I was doing that would bring God glory!
I wore a bracelet for the majority of the year that simply said “Finish Strong!” When tough times came, I tried very hard to stay in God’s word in order to remind myself that greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world! I will finish and I’ll finish strong. I had some tough graduate classes this year. But I didn’t quit. I’m finishing strong and coming out on top! I met up with… umm, ok, let me word this right… I met with some unexpected challenges from people and places that I had poured myself into for years… but guess what? It didn’t break me. I’m finishing strong. I lost over 50 lbs and gained 15 (give or take a pound or 5 
But you feel me!), but Yall, I’m finishing strong!
Although the challenges have been intense, God has been so good. He has been the strength that has enabled me to stand and progress. He has been the comfort that I’ve needed. He has been the friend that I needed. He has been right there cheering me on- right there providing me with divine strength, divine favor, divine connections and divine opportunities. I can honestly declare that I’m standing stronger than I was at the beginning of the year!
October is right around the corner. When that occurs, we will be in the 4th and final quarter of the year. A new year is right around the bend. I want to encourage you to finish strong! Whatever you’re facing- be it difficult or easy, finish strong! Keep looking to God who is the Author and Finisher of your faith (Hebrews 12:2). We must keep in mind that it is God wh
o enables and empowers us to finish. It is only God who defines us! It is God who promotes us (Psalms 75:6)! It is God whom we are in Covenant with (Gen 12:1-3, Heb 8:6)! Because He is true to His word, we can finish strong! I believe we are getting ready to walk in extraordinary times. Now is the time to keep pressing.
Now is the time to pursue, pursue, pursue! However, in all our pursuits, we must make sure that we are pursuing God first and foremost with all our hearts (Matthew 6:33, Jeremiah 29:13)! We must stay in a state of worship to God. Worshipping God will keep you from being consumed with you. Worshipping God will keep your focus off of your circumstances. Worshippng God will keep us from worshipping and idolizing people and things and will keep you from falling apart when those people and things turn on you (Hmmm, where did that come from? Who was that for?). Worship will keep you in remembrance of God’s greatness and of the fact that one word from God can change your life! He will in turn keep you planted in the direction of your destiny.
Keep that in mind as we finish up the last quarter of the year. I challenge you to finish strong. Let’s finish strong knowing that God is for us. He is our Champion and He will complete and perfect what He started in us (Philippians 1:6 amplified)!
Just something to think about today.
Stay encouraged and in God’s presence!
Wendy M. Reynolds
