Fireworks zoomed around us in all directions whilst Italians threw caution (and fireworks) to the wind. Small children clutched lit rockets as though they were waving a sparkler, family and friends gathered in the market square, each group with their individual firework display jostling for position. Paper Lanterns were lit and released randomly at the mercy of the wind, we gasped as one landed on the hotel balconies above our heads wondering if the hotel chalet was about to burst into flames. The irony wasn’t lost on us, the safety-conscious Italians who had insisted on covid face masks being worn for skiers whilst struggling through turnstiles, juggling lift passes, skis, and goggles where we had acres of snowy slopes and fresh air ventilating the atmosphere, now displayed a carefree abandonment for all safety regulations. From the hideout of our hotel and bottles of prosecco, we sheltered with our family and friends discussing how we Brits follow the letter of the law no matter what it takes when it comes to fireworks and issues of health and safety and finally counting away the last minutes of a pandemic fuelled 2021 with some relief.
And so we survived the covid restricted 21/22 Artesina New Years Eve celebrations,(the government ban on New Years Eve celebrations due to Covid hadn’t dampened the celebrations we’d seen) the next morning we surveyed the beautiful snow top mountains untouched and the market square with smouldering firework remains minus my youngest son Sam’s snowboard that had disappeared after being left outdoors in the celebrations.
The positioning for these fireworks seemed incredibly dangerous, fortunately, the ambulanza which was usually ferrying skiers off to l’ospedale was not needed that evening.
Positioning is always important, whether it’s a firework display, a football team, or the direction of my sunbed, it really matters. It can also be incredibly unsettling when you’ve been in a position such as running a project or in a work position and it suddenly changes without warning, this happened to so many of us during the Covid pandemic and lockdown.
So how are you feeling about your current position and purpose in life at the start of 2022? I would like to share a few thoughts and encouragements for you around this theme that I found helpful. As part of my seeking God’s direction and guidance for 2022, I felt that he suggested I look up chapter 20 verse 22 in the Bible. I wrote some of the verses down and then looked over them, of course not every book has chapter 20 and or verse 22, but a few really spoke to me (not the one where someone’s head was cut off) Both Judges 20:22 and 1Kings 20:22 are about positioning.
“But the Israelites encouraged one another and again took up their positions where they had stationed themselves the first day. ” Judges 20:22 They had experienced the horror of a terrible tragedy 22,000 Israelites had been killed, If ever there was a time to say let’s call it a day then that was that day, but, they encouraged one another and took up their positions, went back to where they had been before ready to advance. We’re going again, taking up our places and positions again, running together in this life journey. The way that the Israelites managed to reposition was down to encouragement, we’re not designed to do this life alone. We need to give and receive encouragement from and to other travellers and from our creator. Some people are choosing to make big changes in their positions, We can encourage each other to again take the places where we had been stationed(spiritually physically, or work and ministry)but may have moved from through disappointment, disillusionment or constraints of the pandemic. We can call out the gold in others who might be struggling with their position and life purpose.
“Then 1Kings 20:22 The prophet came to the King of Israel and said…’Strengthen your position and see what must be done because next Spring the King of Aram will attack you again.‘ ” So once we’re in position we’re called to strengthen it, dig deep, stand firm. Heaven’s throne room and God’s Bible and presence have all that we need and we only need to ask our Dad, joy strengthens us, and being in Gods love brings joy, God always brings us back to the place of his heart, his love for us.
The King of Aram did attack but he was defeated by the Israelites. The enemy will always look to unsettle us We can live with our invisible armour on for protection but its Gods job to fight for us, the only things we are called to take captive are our thoughts, as we line them up with Christs loving thoughts and actions towards us. We stand battle-ready as the enemy will always look to bring us low and throw us off position but God’s power enables us to see what must be done and to stand firm.
2Chronicles 20:22 reads “As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah and they were defeated.“As we take position whether that be physical or spiritual and prepare to move forward, one of our keys to victory and strengthening our position is through our worship. The Lord sets ambushes against the enemy as we worship, he lifts us up close to him.
So as we take up our positions again, strengthened by encouragement from others and worshipping in battle what else does our God do for us? In John 20:22 “Jesus says ‘Peace be with you ! ‘And verse 22 breathed on them and said ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.‘ ” So we can receive all the help and love that we need for this year and beyond.
So lets reposition and strengthen our positions this year. Life is short and we can choose to stand at a distance from our creator and watch other peoples adventures, a bit like me frowning at the Italians fireworks. Or we can reposition, worship, receive the Holy Spirit and step up and into our dreams and destinies, stand firm igniting our fireworks of hope and faith to see the brightness of heaven come to earth in 2022.
Ali Beal 