As usual, birthday reminiscence is in order, as with every other year. 

Thinking back and reading through the posts one year ago, God gave me the assurance and reminder of the eternal joy that springs forth regardless of what I go through. 

For the most part of the year, it seems like I have forgotten that. But looking back, there is much to be thankful, much to be grateful for. He has seen me through yet another year. There has been healing, slowly but surely. Of the heart and of relationships with people. 

Granted, it has been a tumultuous year, one riddled with much pain and struggling, confusions and disappointments. But God has been faithful and He has been good. I have done nothing to deserve unmerited favour at work, nothing to deserve unmerited favour in my life! But God has deemed it good to sprinkle His wonderful blessings on me. Nothing that I can claim of my own, but that God has indeed been good, and therefore, deserves all glory. 

25 has come and gone. and 26 (and the rest of my life) awaits. As with every year, God gives a mission statement, a guiding truth, for the year ahead. And it appears that this year, it is this - that I am to persevere and be a faithful runner. I have been called not to run the fastest or be the best, but to be faithful and to complete the course, that God may be glorified through me. Indeed, loud and booming is the message: be a faithful runner. 

So Father, help me and enable me. I run not for my own glory, but for You. Let me run with endurance, fixing my eyes on Jesus Christ. 

Heb 12:1-2

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, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

And one day, i can boldly declare before the Lord, "I have fought the good faith, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (2 Tim 4:7)

Thank You Lord for the friends that surround me, for the people that love me and for all that You have given me. Please light my path ever so brightly, that I may know each step that I need to take. Just enough light for the next step... 

And the prayer for my heart, as with every other year, may my 26th be for You.