But, then the Lord pricked my heart as I read this. Ann's words have a way of doing that to me. The Lord has used her time and time again to speak to my heart. I am so grateful.
You see, I don't need a "word" of the year. I don't need to pick something just to pick something. I want a theme...I want a focus...I want a word to return to when the moments are hard and the days are long.
There are several words that I have pondered over.
Pray.
Quiet.
Rejoice.
Worship.
All worthy of my focus and attention. But, when I thought of *the* word, I knew it was the one. I heard a gentle Whisper telling me that it was time for me to rest in Him. You would think with my word last year, abide, that I would have learned to rest in Him. :) But I still have so far to go!
This resting is very specific, though. I'm not thinking it will be a year of resting as in I don't accomplish anything. :) But, the resting I'm wanting to dwell on is resting in His goodness. I want to rest in His love for me.
This word, rest, means a lot of different things in my heart...
- This means that when my feelings tell me otherwise, I choose to rest in His love.
- This means that when I feel offended, I choose to rest in His protection for me.
- This means that when I am swayed by negative thoughts, I will pray towards resting in His goodness.
- This means that instead of trying to work or feel my way to happiness, I will choose to rest in the fact that He is enough.
- This means that when the old, familiar lies are whispered to my ear from the enemy, I will choose to rest in His truth.
More of Him, less of me. That seems to be a theme in my life...I often feel there is just too much of me all over the place. My words. My feelings. My thoughts. Me, me, me. I get so tired of me! I want more of HIM. His Words. His Thoughts. His Love. His Goodness.
Pray for me, friends. Pray that I will not choose the old, familiar path of dwelling on my feelings. My feelings are so all over the place. My feelings are up and down in one day's time in staggering amounts. I hate it. I need to stop focusing on the roller coaster and focus on His STEADFAST & UNCONDITIONAL LOVE for me.
Rest. Pray that I can rest in Him for my security, my peace and my hope.
"May Your unfailing love rest upon us, Lord, as we put our hope in You." Psalm 33:22
Absolutely stunning and so incredibly encouraging....I too am going to do a post about my word or theme for 2011, just have not heard the right one just yet:) Waiting on His time!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely beautiful. Rest was my word last year. I loved it. This year I am unsure, but it feels more aggressive, which is surprising to me, I usually have word like rest, abide, still, ect. ;-) Pursue, conquer, conquest, all these fit this year. hmmmm. I was healed this year of a long term illness, I think it might be about taking back what was stolen from me . . .anyway, your post was so encouraging. Blessings to you as you seek to 'rest' this year. May He give grace for rest.
ReplyDeleteWhat is required in order to have Jesus ABIDE in us and we in Him?
ReplyDeleteCan we do it:
1. By accepting Him as our our own personal Lord and Savior ?
No. Where does the Bible say that?
2. By the grace of GOD only? Sola Gracias?
No. Where does the Bible say that?
3. By faith in GOD alone? Sola Fides?
No. Where does the Bible say that?
It is simple common sense that since He commanded that we must do something, then doesn't it stand to reason that He would also tell us how to do it?
Jesus was very clear in what we must do in order to have Him ABIDE in us and we in Him.
Jesus left this command for us in John 6:53-57:
53 "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you (the taken away branch);
54 he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
56 HE WHO EATS MY FLESH AND DRINKS MY BLOOD ABIDES IN ME, AND I IN HIM.
57 As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me."
it's wonderful how He patiently keeps working on us and in us until He accomplishes all His desires for us. my word this year has many elements of rest as well and so I will be joining you!
ReplyDeletemuch love to you on this first day of our new year
tonia @studyinbrown.com
First, I followed you from Ann’s
ReplyDeleteI think your year of “rest” in God’s goodness sounds awfully good.
And amen to “more of him, less of me” – I heart that.
My word is connecting, not just by clicking, or meeting, but by seeing better and knowing better.
I’ve just finished praying for your year of “rest” that Our Lord help you rest in Him for security, peace and hope.
May God bless and you and all of yours
I heard this song on the radio today and immediately thought of you and your word of the year.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0B2ybZpDeM
It is such a beautiful song! With amazing words. :)
Diana, I love that song! I listed Audrey Assad as my new favorite artist of the year! (new to me.) And that song is the one I heard first that drew me in...I even posted it on my blog back when I first found it!! :) You must have great taste. ha! She really does have an amazing sound and words as well.
ReplyDelete