Looking Back at PLAY in 2021

At the beginning of 2021, when I decided that my word for the year was PLAY, I wrote, “Play develops freedom, joy, trust, faith, boldness.” And looking back, I can say a huge YES to all of that.

Play has looked like:

Dancing around in a dress in a public park for a photo shoot with my sister, Karlie.

Allowing and coaxing the curls on my head to come back. (If you knew me from 8th grade thru college, you know these curls.)

Faith to believe and hope for crazy and impossible things.

Singing some things on the @maryanntheband EP that were out of my comfort zone.

Continuing the journey of experiencing even more freedom in worship.

A profound revelation about joy that God showed me.

This sounds like a lot about me. But what I really want you to hear is that none of this is about me.

It’s about God going before me, giving me a word and preparing my heart for what he wanted to do. It’s about the transformation of the Holy Spirit when we have open hands, when we give ourselves over to the Word daily, and when we obey. I can’t make anything happen for myself in the way that God can.

My hope is that you take time to look back and see the work of the Lord in your own life. My hope is that you would open your hands to him. Ask him what he wants to do in you. Give up whatever that thing is that you hold onto so tightly. Offense. “Control.” Plans. Dreams. Anxiety. People. Possessions. Composure. Status. Opinions of others.

Give it to him. And he will give you something far greater in return! Freedom is found in him. True, abundant life is found in him.