The Lord asked me to put ALL of my trust in him over and over again last year. I'm not perfect. I often struggled to trust, but when I let go, He made changes in my life I couldn't have anticipated. Change and trust are exciting and scary. All I can say is...the Lord blessed me.
Over the last month, I often thought of my word for 2013, and one word would hover near my consciousness, but I would shoo it away. It seemed too painful to be my focus for the new year. Now, I know you'll probably screw your face up and think, is she crazy, how can that be painful? when you see my word. But truly, these five letters seemed too hard, like God was asking too much out of me.
You see, I lived this concept for four full years. I'd gone full out on it. I didn't hold back. And 2012 all but snuffed it out of my vocabulary. When that word came chugging along, I knew what was expected; I knew what God wanted, and I did not want to obey.
I even prayed several times to make sure this really was the focus God wanted me to dwell on. When I heard it over and over, I finally heaved a sigh and relented. Okay, You win. I'll do it.
My word for 2013?
If you click on the picture, it will take you to the blog, Only a Breath, where you will find links to other people's words for 2013. Special thanks to Melanie for creating this button. :)
As soon as I relented, my soul opened up. It was as if a missing part of me had been found. Now, don't get me wrong, we're only a few days into the new year. I haven't worked up to big dreams yet, but I have started with something simple--fantasizing about new bedsheets.
(I can't believe I just admitted that. Yes, I'd gotten to a point where I didn't even dream about having nice new bedsheets! That's just ridiculous!! No wonder I need God to shake me out of my stupor!)
Dreaming is fun. I've always been a dreamer. This year I'm dreaming about things I can easily obtain (like a quick trip to the art museum) and things that I may never get. On New Year's Day I surfed the web for real estate on Lake Michigan. Will I ever own a piece of property on this beautiful coast? Who knows! But it sure made me smile dreaming about it.
If you decide to focus on one word this year, pray for God to lead you to a Bible passage that complements it.
There are many Bible passages with the word "dream" in them, but few use it in the context I'm focusing on. They discuss actual night-time dreams. I skimmed and dismissed them, certain they weren't right, and I switched my search to devotionals.
As soon as I saw the following passage, I knew it was the right one. It doesn't mention dreams, but it encapsulates the meaning of my word.
Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV Bible):
"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."
Maybe new bedsheets is a frivolous thing to dream about, but in the end, if we can't dream for simple pleasures, how can we dream that God will use us to build his church? He is our Father. He does not want us to live a life of inner poverty, where we deprive ourselves needlessly. He can do "immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine." Why not ask and imagine for more?
I love surprising my kids with things I know will make them smile. Sometimes the treats are small, like a candy bar, and other times they are big. It gives me pleasure to do this. God is the same way. If I refuse to tell Him what I want, isn't that basically saying "I don't believe you will come through for me"?
Look at the phrase, "according to his power that is at work within us..." His power IS at work within us. How can I be gloomy, knowing God is using His power right now within me? I can't.
My word has already cracked open a light in my life, and the new year has just begun. Have you found a word to focus on in 2013? Are you willing to pray for God to send you a word? If you have, what is your word?
Have a blessed 2013!
So beautiful, Jill! Yes, I believe that God wants us all to dream. If you think about it, dreaming is the first step in bringing about something that doesn't yet exist.
ReplyDeleteWishing you sweet dreams and blessings in 2013!
I do too, Kathy, and I love the way you put it. Dreaming seems to go along with faith, doesn't it? Blessings to you this 2013!
DeleteBeautiful! My word for 2012 was "valiant," and I almost decided to stick with it for this year, as well. I don't feel I've even scratched the surface of what it truly means to be valiant yet. But then I thought that seemed a bit like cheating, and surely there was a word that would complement valiant.
ReplyDeleteSeveral words kept popping up as options, but the one I kept coming back to, and finally landed on, was "light." To seek the light, to be a light, to love the light. My verse that goes along with it, of course, is John 1:5, "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."
I could easily go back to Trust every year, so I know where you're coming from! But isn't it amazing how God leads us to the word we need, even though it's unexpected? Blessings to you as you shine your "light" this year!
DeleteSuch an encouragement here today! Dream--love it!
ReplyDelete~ Wendy
Thanks, Wendy! I love it too--something I've sorely missed. :)
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ReplyDeleteI love your word and your heart. And hey, nothing wrong with dreaming about bed sheets, especially Egyptian cotton! :) Dream on, friend! I'll be right there with you!
ReplyDeleteOoo, I'm adding Egyptian cotton sheets to the dream! Ha! Thanks!!
DeleteHappy New Year, Jill!! May all your dreams come true.
ReplyDeleteLast year my word was "joy". This year my word is "restore".
I love that word, Monica! It's like bringing back all the good. :) Blessings to you!
DeleteI just love your honesty. Your word is a good one. I think God's got great things ahead for you. I truly, truly believe that. You have spent so much time and energy pouring into other people (me included) and I just know He's going to bless you for that.
ReplyDeleteMy word surprised me too: Rejoice. I figured it would be Trust or something like that, but no...rejoice. I'm aiming to rejoice whatever happens...Philippians 4:4 is my verse. :)
Rejoice! Isn't that a beautiful word?? I'm rejoicing with you already! (And thank you so much for the kind words. You're a blessing to me!)
DeleteI LOVE your one word, Jill. And I love that once you accepted it, you plunged right in. Those verses are some of my faves too. And I get so excited when I see how God really IS doing more than I ask or imagine--in my life and in others. He's so good.
ReplyDeleteI have a one-word, too, and I shared about it at my blog. My word is "embrace."
I just got back from your blog--I am so excited for you to embrace everything this year has to offer! Woo-hoo!!
DeleteI selected a word for 2013 as well. Mine is GIVE.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely word to focus on! I get so self-centered sometimes. Give is a good word!
DeleteLove it, Jill! Sometimes I think we're afraid to dream, because we don't want to be disappointed, but that's the enemy's tactic to prevent us from asking. Jesus said you have not, because you ask not. When we dream, it opens up a whole new area for God to work in our lives. If we have a dream He doesn't fulfill, then we can still be at peace, because we know our Father has something different in mind. What I remember when I'm dreaming is not to get discontent. That's when I know I've stepped over the line from dreaming to striving.
ReplyDeleteMy word for 2013 is Hope. Jeremiah 29:11.
I couldn't agree more. Nicely put! And what a terrific word to focus on this year!!
DeleteThere's nothing better than dreaming big and knowing where all the good outcomes came from. That verse is one of my absolute favorites too! Here's praying you have a wonderful year of dreaming, and being blessed! My focus this year is relationships! What can I say...I'm feeling lovey. :)
ReplyDeleteI agree! I'm working on memorizing the verse, but it's been a while since I've memorized anything! Enjoy your loved ones!
DeleteJill;
ReplyDeleteI love your word for 2013. And whatever you dream about is neat. My word for 2013 is GRACE. I reviewed a book by Max Lucado last fall. I fell in love with the word. My blog posts this month are about GRACE. My favorite verse at the moment is Ephesians 2:8.
"For it is by grace you have been saved,through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-"
Oh, Ephesians 2:8 is one of my favorites! To me it sums up Christianity. How blessed are we! Enjoy "Grace" this month!
DeleteLove your word, Jill! Last year it was JOY for me. This year, REJOICE!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
Woo-hoo--let's rejoice!! I hope you're feeling better, Loree!
DeleteLove this post - I'm a dreamer. Sometimes, too much of a day-dreamer. The bigger the dream, the bigger the opportunity for God to swoop in and the less likely you'll be able to take credit for what He does. :-)
ReplyDeleteYes, I can day-dream a little too much sometimes! :) But that's what makes us good storytellers, right? Thanks so much for coming by, Jennifer!
DeleteTwo HUGE things jump out at me with your word - one, your verse...it's one of my "peripheral verses for the year, and two, how so many people this year did NOT want their words! Which just means, God's about to do something big, right?? :)
ReplyDeleteLoved your post. Dream BIG my friend!