The God of 2023

2023
We took the bold step into your embrace
We had the confidence that your embrace was going to be the best we have ever experienced
The word assured
The prophecies made it more tangible

We had experience in 2022
Knowing our God as Amazing, Dependable, Eternal, Faithful; Immanuel
The one who is Just, Kind, Loving, Merciful, Peace, a Qualifier, Restorer, and Shepherd
Our Truth, Our Understanding, Victor, Wonderful Father, Xtraordinary
Above all our Yahweh.

It looked as though we had experienced all that He is
Perhaps we know His true nature and all there is to know
Yet, you embraced us, held our hands and took us on the 12 months journey

The first room we entered was all green, beautiful and amazing
We could spend our entire life in just that room
But the journey ahead looked very promising and beautiful
You picked us up and journeyed us through many other doors

As we moved
We desired to experience God like we have known Him
We wanted to experience His love
The true love we daily enjoyed and discovered
Through the journey,
we experienced a love Valentine couldn't compare to
Experiencing it each day felt like a chocolate day
Each second felt like a relationship between newlyweds
The Smile, the Laughter, the Joy, the Peace, the Beautiful, the Answered Prayers
It looked and felt so unreal

We thought of the buts,
yet we had no fear of the future
You kept taking us through these doors and journeying with us
2023, You smiled through it all
But, after a while you left us in a room
A room filled with books, filled with scrolls, scripts and alone chambers
As though we had come to a place of study, healing and growth

Some stayed without studying, healing or growing
Others entered the 'alone chambers'
Others? They went through the scrolls identifying, searching and building

Reading the scrolls and researching, we discovered our identities
Our journeys
Our assignments
Our associations, life and the society we live in
At this point, we looked prepared to face the world and enter the new doors ahead of us

In these chambers, we met one,
who taught us about our God
He opened our eyes to see Him differently
Opened our minds to understand his truth,
Brought us to the place of study, enlightenment and growth
In this season, we never wanted to leave his presence

As we entered, we were hit by opportunities and encounters
Alas! This is the year
The big things were finally manifesting
But we got overwhelmed, lost focus and started losing ourselves in the process
We picked up the good at the wrong time
We felt entitled, and our 'thank you' wasn't enough

In this state,
we got stuck in the womb of waiting
A waiting we created
A waiting we purported
Because we could see the right doors at the wrong time and season

Yet,
as the One leading us,
You took off the scales from our eyes
And we were once again opened to the light
The light we captured in the waiting room

Yes.
Our season may have taken time
But this time around we could see it
Our hearts were filled with love other than hate
Our minds filled with good, than pain to retaliate
Our lips filled with Thanksgiving
Our faith increased
Our belief and Confidence could no longer be shaken
We saw the light and we were willing to go all out
No matter who we lost or what we lost

Focused on this journey,
You delivered us daily from the grip of death
From the coals of anger
From the pain of bitterness
From the room of disappointments
From the place of defeat and opened a new door of life unto us
We didn't mind the challenges we faced
All we knew and know is that
There is God.

A God who is for us
And we had His backing
Journeying through these doors,
each second, minute, hour, day felt like a miracle

We gave it all to you
To see You do your will
Our daily study of the Word gave us faith
Our prophetic journals kept us in faith
You always sent men to encourage, bless and help us
Especially when we least expected
Each turn made us know that The Lord was for us and There is a God

There,
The womb of waiting opened
The season opened up and presented its doors of goodness upon us
We gladly embraced our bundles of Joy
Our new jobs
We said 'yes' to the 'will you?'
Our homes were filled with laughter
Some were faint but this time around we didn't see a challenge
We saw a God who was with us through it all

In total dependence,
You made the right provision upon the arrival of every opened season and new door

Our God of 2023
Indeed you proved to us that Your existence was eternal
You showed us how close and attentive You are
A God who reveals His person entirely when His people are willing to know Him and become who He has ordained them to be

Moving through the year, the economy was never smiling
The fundamentals were shaking,
And the exchange rate was nothing to write home about
The wars were countless
The bitterness, pain, and anger were unending
But each time You came to deliver
You came to help
You provided
You encouraged
You empowered
At the tunnel
In the tunnel
In the sky
Above the earth
Beneath the earth
On the sea
In the air
You were there

We all look back and there is something to be grateful for
We may not have all we dreamt of
But this was indeed our year of 'Thank you, Jesus'
Our Year of 'Congratulations'
Our Year of 'There is a God'

Each moment in the thought of the year 2023 ,
The only thing we can think of is 'Thank You, Lord'
With our hands on our heads shouting 'Jesus Iye'
We exclaim that the Lord has done us well.

Our God of 2023
You have been our Supply
You have been our Teacher
You have been our Healer
You have been our Father
You have been our Friend
You proved to us There is God

The God of 2023
We waited
We experienced the seasons
We gathered our Stories
We kept the Faith
And today our mouths are filled with testimonies

Our God of 2023
Yes, there is God.