The door creaks shut on the prior year, and I have never had “a word” before…never wanted to, really.
Call me rebellious, but I don’t like doing things just for the sake of doing things….especially things that are meant to have meaning. Like words. And God. And spiritual things.
And to be honest, God never just “gave me a word”. You know….a word summing up the year, in what He is doing, or what He wants to do.
Don’t get me wrong, I hear that still small voice. But for some reason God just never wrapped up a year ahead of time for me, in the cute little letters of an alphabet.
So, I tossed the task and just resort to simply let God jumble each year into the crock pot of His plans. Me eating whatever He offers me. Like a silly child, head back, eyes closed, and nose plugged tight with my thumb and my forefinger.
Just in case it doesn’t taste good.
Still often words like: Hope. Faith. Perseverance. Repentance….where a part of that feast eaten often. Sometimes daily. Helping me better understand God. Me. Life. Others.
But then, the door to yesterday closes. I get word that some friends are here from out of town to visit.
It is then He whispers indistinguishably to my spirit, “love”, before they enter. And I see how much it means before the night is over. Days later, I listen to a sermon and hear, “We will never be more like Christ than when we love the least of these.”
And I had no booming voice. There was no writing on the wall that shouts “O.K. Jen….this is your word this year.”
But I get it! I see the damn of my hear that has been trickling His water. And there is no doubt about, it’s time that all walls get blown right down with the love of the Father.
Never to be clogged again.
Then, it rises. The tide that sweeps past good intentions. It surfaces like debris and I (in my flesh) can’t seem to stop it.
I don’t know why. Or how. Or even what triggered it. Could it be the prayers from the morning that asked God to show me how to love without fear?
And I wonder if before planting and growing, we must first unearth weeds seeded deep in the core of the sinful soil we came of?
And well, I soon discovered fear must be still tagging along, somewhere deep inside me….trying to piggyback this potential to love like Jesus.
And the words from the morning flash into my mind….
Yes, we are never more like Christ than when we love sacrificially, lay down our lives, offer all, and be the representation of His perfect love down here on this earth. And I am getting it…
Yes, “love” is my word.
And no, I didn’t just join my friends at OneWord, choosing a word this year because it’s the thing to do. In fact, if it were up to me, I wouldn’t hone my life, my day, my year into a few letters that seem so simple….
But God chose it. He chose my word. He chose where He is calling me. And now all I need to do is surrender to His goodness.
Will you join me in abandoning yourself to His Love this year? What is your “word” or the direction you feel God it taking you this coming year? I would love to hear….
6 Comments
your heart is so full of love Jen-but like you I know there is always MORE.
Love your words here- thanks.
I got ” encourage” first but then read a post on ” listen”- then woke New Year’s day to the sound of His loving voice [Psalm 143:7-10]
Hurry with your answer, God! I’m nearly at the end of my rope. Don’t turn away; don’t ignore me! That would be certain death. If you wake me each morning with the sound of your loving voice, I’ll go to sleep each night trusting in you. Point out the road I must travel; I’m all ears, all eyes before you. Save me from my enemies, God— you’re my only hope! Teach me how to live to please you, because you’re my God. Lead me by your blessed Spirit into cleared and level pastureland.
and- God explained how encourage and listen went together.
I am to listen to His voice so I will know how to encourage as I listen to others.
yay!
Jen would you pray for me- I am going on holiday to see my daughter in Australia tomorrow and I desperately need REST- life has been happening far too hard and fast.
Thanks~!
God bless you in your LOVING.
xx
Mary – You so already hear His voice friend! You are such an encourager and so often your words are evidence that you are listening to the Lord. Yes, will be praying for you as you travel from New Zealand to Astralia tomorrow. His presence go with you, that still quiet voice may it not depart from you while you are gone! Please keep us posted!
Jen, I loved your honesty in this post. When I started blogging in 2010, I noticed at the end of the year this *tradition* of a word for the new year. It did appeal to me – (recovering English majors love words, after all). But I was very adamant that I wanted God to whisper it to me. And He did – for year 2011, 2012, and 2013.
Well, a couple of weeks ago, He spoke my Word for 2014. And I’m still having *trouble* with it. Hate to make you wait another week, but I’m revealing it on my post next Monday – and sharing my perplexed reaction to it.
It’s going to be very interesting to me to see how God works this *word* into my life and my heart.
Looking forward to sharing our journeys in the coming days…
GOD BLESS!
I appreciate your ambivalence about picking one word for 2014. I am the same as you can see from my new year’s post. However, my word is LISTEN. To Him. For His guidance in all things.
Sharon – Love how God has been revealing a word for you each year, after all these years! Looking forward to hear where God is calling you to through 2014.
Laura – So many this year, God is calling to, “listen”. Such a key and powerful word in a world filled with so much noise…hindering all of ours ability to “listen”. Blessings as you still yourself and tune your heart to hear Him in 2014!
A beautiful word and one I almost choose…but God had other plans. Ended up choosing Validate.