One Word: 2020

Do you make New Year's Resolutions? I used to. Until I realized, I didn't have a strong "stick to it" attitude growing up, so I was one of those that would set resolutions and then fall away from them after a few weeks. It's hard to change isn't it? Especially when the effort is to try to change for the better.

We have deep rooted characteristics that are sometimes impossible to change. Some are good, some, as we know are not helpful to our groove. Bad habits...

I had a bad habit of doing what I wanted, to suit my own comfort levels.This bad habit, created many subtle habits and behaviors  On the surface that isn't terrible, afterall, there's that saying "no one will take care of you, but you". We live in kind of a "survival mode" society. We all know someone who is just trying to get by, on auto drive. If we can get ourselves and our families moving in the right direction, then we are good right? We feel like we are winning at life.

Is that all there is to life though? Keeping up with the grind? Have you ever tried to go against the grind? Talk about a challenge!

I have a feeling I am not the only one suffering from living in this "every man for himself" society.

I hope I'm not alone when I say how lonely it is to live in a world where everyone is on auto pilot. It feels mechanical and cold and isolating. And if you look at the faces of those around you, you may be see the misery of their stress. It's hard to hide when we are in the thick of it.

It's everywhere too. At church, at family gatherings, in stores. Even in my own home (though I battle against it, we fall victim too).

We are looking at a new year ahead of us. A new year is a chance to look at your past and define what turning points you are going to grab hold of.

If you are like me and you struggle to stick with resolutions, I encourage you to look at it through a different lens. If you have a desire to make a change, seek a healthy solution. I'm a big fan of looking to God in prayer. I KNOW He's listening, I KNOW He answers prayers. So why not ask Him to help you change the things in your life that aren't quite making sense. If you are feeling the weight of our world, try praying for more peace. Try praying that God will open your eyes and your heart to thankfulness in the midst of your everyday. Try praying that He will surround you with people who seek His will and will fit the role of wise counsel. (That's my current prayer)

One thing I find to be doable, is choosing one word each year. A word to focus on and see where it leads me.

God gave me my word this year. It's not like that every year, but this year, it was a clear word, and I might add, it's not a word I use very often, which is why I find it so perfect.

I am magnifying the word "Examine" for 2020. I've been kind of pondering the word "Examine" for a few days, and then the validations came in. I was reading scripture the other day and fell upon Acts 17:11 "Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so."

It's interesting because through this word, I also see the opportunity to dive into reading the Bible even more. I'm craving the Word, I'm craving TRUTH. I'm craving being a light in the social circles God has placed me in. "I can do all things through him who gives me strength" Philippians 4:13

Yesterday, in church, it was revealed to me how different my heart is now vs. when I was younger. When I was younger, doing things my own way, I was fine, or so I thought, but my soul was dehydrated by my flesh. I looked around me at the families I've been worshiping with and having fellowship with and I felt gratitude in knowing what wisdom looks like. I wasn't wise then and to be honest, I still don't have all the answers. But I have the resource with all the wisdom I could ever need, it's The Bible. I have it in my possession, free to read it anytime. It's full of insight and revelations and validation which builds my confidence in surrendering everything to Jesus, who saved me from myself. After communion, I wanted to read Ephesians 6, "The Armor of God." Instead my eye was pulled to Ephesians 4:17-24 (Verses 22-24 really hits home) "17Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. 20But that is not the way you learned Christ! ---21assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness."

This gives new meaning to the "New Year; New You" saying. What's imperative to know is we can not change in our own strength. Changes occur on a heart level. So allowing your heart to be Examined by God and allowing Him to refine you, that is something to see. It's not simple, infact it's much more complicated than we can ever fathom. The intricate details of His work that's already in your life begins to become more clear and, in His Almighty Perfection, amazing things are happening. So, if you do anything this year, just let Him who is Holy work in you. 

7 reasons not to worry...

My home has a lot of worry in it. If one person isn't worrying or stressed about something, someone else is going through emotions. We kind of all take turns being stressed. Sound familiar? It's neverending, so I turn to the Word to help me weather it while clinging to God and knowing He calls us not to worry, but what does that look like? With a long history of anxiety, worry feels like a part of my DNA!

Matthew 6 is rich with reassurance!

In my study bible, I found a great verse reference list titled "7 reasons not to worry"

I encourage you to use this list as a reference point and follow up with some study time on your own.

6:25......"The same God who created life in you can be trusted with the details of your life."

6:26......"worrying about the future hampers your efforts for today."

6:27..... "worrying is more harmful than helpful."

6:28-30......"God does not ignore those who depend on Him"

6:31, 32....."worrying shows a lack of faith in and understanding of God."

6:33......"worrying keeps us from real challenges God wants us to pursue."

6:34....."living one day at a time keeps us from being consumed with worry."

This list is tangible evidence of God's will. I don't know about you but sometimes I struggle with what battles God wants me all in on and what battles are not welcome in His will. My habits of worrying have brought more stress and unrest into my life and I see in my family, they struggle with the same. Anxiety is heavy, and very very common. Verses 31 and 32 get me in the heart. Even when I think I am faithful and gaining understanding about God, I still struggle with discerning His will and what to do as we "sit in the mess". What I do know is the here  and now. What I know is the more I pray, the more I get to know God. The more I seek Him, the more He opens my heart to find more peace. The more I read and study the Word, the more life makes sense. The more I work to keep my heart open to God, the more I can let go of my worries.

It's a constant decision and there are countless opportunities for changes in the life of a busy mom. One step at a time. For today, I am going to soak up the 7 truths listed above and see where that takes us. More surrender, more peace.