The past few weeks have been full of “this time last year” followed by random memories of the last day of school, quarantine starting, the last things we did before the country shut down. Having graduated in 2019, not last year, mine are different from other peoples’, but that’s not what I want to talk about today. Let’s forget what our physical eyes have seen and open our hearts to what the Lord has done. 

  This time last year, I knew I was saved, but I didn’t know what that meant. I knew I was “in,” but had no concept of what I was in and what I had gotten out of. 

  This year, I know the goodness of the Lord and His salvation from a heart of darkness and coldness to a heart of flesh that is open to His touch and His love. 

  This time last year, I knew Holy Spirit existed, but He was and abstract concept, a footnote in the theological compartment I had tried to shove God in. 

  This year, I know the personhood of God, the Holy Spirit in triune unity with the Father and His Son; I know His voice, His character, I’ve seen Him move in tangible and unmistakable ways. I know that He is bigger than I could ever conceive and that I get to spend eternity learning more about Him. 

  This time last year, I had heard there was a room in my Father’s house with my name on it, but I didn’t know how to believe it. I’d been told I was a daughter, but I couldn’t let my mind comprehend what that could ever mean. 

  This year, I get to take my rightful place at the right hand of the Father at the wedding feast of the Lamb; I know what He’s named me, what He calls me, and I know that anything else comes second. 

  The change that can happen in one person in a year is crazy; the way the Lord moves might seem loquito and inefficient and straight up weird, but it’s good, and His way is this only one that makes sense anymore. How have you changed in the last year? What has He done to make you more like Him?

  Love y’all bunches,

  Claire