Who wants to erase last year’s script? Whew, I don’t know about you, but I’m glad 2017 is in the past. It was the worst year of my life. Goodness, I’ve loved until it hurt, laughed and cried and now it’s time for me to live a new life.
Maybe third time is charm. Instead of a resolution I choose a word each year. Three years ago I started this tradition but this year I intentionally chose a hard word, because life’s been hard. Two years ago my focus word was believe. Though I learned much about belief, it wasn’t what I hoped. I believed God would restore my marriage, He didn’t.
We pray so hard for the hearts of others, when maybe the miracle God wants to do is in our own lives. The truth is when God asks me to believe He can do the impossible, it’s not about what He does in others; it’s about me. It’s personal and it’s about me believing God is enough.
We pray for the hearts of others when the real miracle God wants to do is in our own lives Click To TweetRomans 10:10, “One believes with the heart resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth resulting in salvation.” HCSB
Joy was my word for last year. Searching for joy in a season of heartbreak, I tweeted #joyhunt truths in 2017. Usually joy comes naturally to me; I feel it, write about it and speak about it, but once I committed to focus on it, joy became elusive. Like I said, life’s been hard, but it was definitely full of opportunity.
James 1:2, “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.” NLT
Fizzled resolutions
Around April I fizzled out. That’s the natural life span of my resolutions, so this year I faced tough times head on and chose a word I know will be a challenge since challenge is a theme for me anyway.
This year I chose LISTEN. Not only do I plan to listen more, I plan to listen better.
Listen to people who think differently
Listen to my friends and family
Listen to those who oppose me
Listen to wise advice
Listen to the Lord
I think God’s been trying to get my attention anyway, for a while I was silenced by vocal cord paralysis. It was pure torture, but it grew my faith in a new way. Complete dependence on God makes me complete.
James 1:3, “Knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.” HCSB
Shhhhh
Actually, I am a good listener. Did I just hear you snort? Seriously, I hear everything you say and can repeat it back twenty years later. Wait. Maybe that makes me a good hearer. This year I need to work on making sure people feel heard.
At the end of the day, people won’t remember what you said or did, they will remember how you made them feel ~ Mayou Angelou
If you experienced a tough year, make sure you allow God to use it for good. I’d love to hear your resolutions or word of the year.
I have several resolutions, but the main one is to long for God to be glorified— instead of longing for my own personal relief, comfort and vindication.
My word(s) is “stretched out” from Psalm 88 – hands that release the things I’m clinging to, open in surrender to receive from God alone what brings Him glory.
Sounds like an impossibility and I may fizzle out by April or before, but my desire is to be more God-focused and less self- focused.
I commented awhile back about the knowledge that comes with silence I’m about to embark on my second Silent Retreat. Sorry about your vocal cords but happy you had that experience It is so fruitful and healing
You know, I’m happy I had it to. We learn from struggles and silence. I remember your silent retreat. Still considering my options. Happy New year!
Stretched out is rich. I have stretch marks on my faith from this season of life. The Lord will let you stretch out or He will stretch you. Can’t wait to see what this year brings.
Listening and actually hearing what the other person is saying are two different things. I am guilty of listening to my husband’s words but hearing what I think he is saying, and often I get it wrong.
I need to hear what is being said, not just hear the sound of his voice.
Guess I have selective hearing.
Guilty! I make too many assumptions but I’m going to truly work on listening
I’m finishing up a book called “The Stranger in the Woods” about a real life hermit who lived 27 years in complete solitude in the woods of Maine. It has really challenged me when it comes to listening and being distracted. It’s not a spiritually geared book but at the same time, you can’t walk away from it thinking about anything but spirituallity. I highly recommend the book 🙂
Love this blog! Further affirms where I’ve been seeking lately.
Thank you. Love you and thanks for your encouragement
Loved your transparency in this post and the truths you shared. It’s been a hard year for me, too, so I’m glad to move into a fresh, new year. I haven’t chosen a word yet, but I usually do, so I’ll be thinking about that tomorrow. I often think of the Maya Angelou quote. It’s one of my favorites. And last but not least, I love you! Blessed 2018, my friend.
Blessings to you too dear lady. Hoping for a better 2018 for both of us.
Trust – trust that as I create and listen, I’ll be led 💕
God gives wisdom generously to those who ask. Keep on creating
Vickie, this is a wonderful word for the year. So excited to read what you share in the weeks ahead. if you haven’t read The Listening Life by Adam McHugh, I want to nudge you to add it to your reading list. I just finished it in December, and it was AWESOME. I wrote about it in a book review post I did a few days ago on the blog.
Listening is a weakness for me, and I am praying God helps me to grow in this area.
Happy New Year to you! 🙂
I’ll definitely check it out. Thanks so much