Dear Lord,

In 2021, I want to worship more and worry less.

Worry less about the world, about my family and my writing and our workers and whatever else comes to mind (there is so much to worry about right now, Lord!), and instead, trust, trust, trust You with these things and these people.

And then I want to ENJOY the life You have given me and the way You have allowed me to serve You by serving others and writing truth. Enjoy and receive whatever other gifts You give me as an extra, unexpected, unmerited, gladly received surprise, gifts that are not needed, not grasped for in a desperate wanting way. May I die to entitlement and be reborn to joy in the simple goodness in life (Yes, there is still so much goodness in spite of how dark things appear! You shine the light! The Light!)

In 2021, may my soul be lighter (Your Light to make it lighter), not because life is easier (Oh, Lord, it seems to get harder and heavier!) but because I know You better, the Great Bearer of my burdens and of all the world’s. May I take Your gift of life, sacred, holy, salutary life, and twirl around in it and toss out the joy and the heartache and the redeeming love for others. May it spiral up like Hope. (Oh, how we need Your Hope!)

Lord, You know my anxious heart; You know my penchant for melancholy; You know my hard, stubborn pride, my mind that never stops, that runs to comparison and guilt and complaining and controlling.

But God.

You know, but You are bigger than my worried heart. In fact You are the BIGGEST and the BEST. Please take over my soul and spirit and the gifts You have bestowed on me so that I give them back with laughter and love and a bubbling joy that this, this, THIS is Epiphany: Worshiping and adoring the Baby who became Savior and Lord and Who sits on the throne.

Please, Lord. Even in such a time as this.

Amen.

ELIZABETH MUSSER writes ‘entertainment with a soul’ from her writing chalet—tool shed—outside Lyon, France. Find more about Elizabeth’s novels at www.elizabethmusser.com and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and her blog.