“It’s always a mistake to decide what we want to do or accomplish before we decide what or who we want to be.” Andy Stanley
“It’s never what I do that counts. It’s who I become because of what I do which, in the end, is the real measure of beauty in my life.”
These have been a profound statements that I try to think about each year. If you know me I love dreams, goals, and plans. And I tend to make a million different goals for different areas of my life. (Physical, spiritual, and mental goals.)
Physical: I might pick some competitions I want to compete in and what I would like to place, or what some personal records might be. Maybe a certain weight I would like to lift or a time I would like to run a mile in.
Mental: I pick a variety of books I would like to read or talks I want to listen to.
Spiritual: I choose books of the Bible, studies, or verses I want to meditate on.
All of these are things help me know where I want to go throughout the year. Some I actually finish and some I don’t.
But something that has kept it super simple for me the last 3 years is one WORD or PHRASE. For the last couple of years the Lord has spoken to me just one specific word or phrase that he wants me to not only fully understand, but pursue and act upon. It captures the whole year. It is a word that always has a reason behind it.
Words MEAN something. I don't always like the words he gives me. For instance, in 2012 I fought Silence and Solitude. For 2014 I have a similar word or phrase that I don’t particularly want to embrace. Can’t I just get a word like JOY or LOVE? Something I want to do or comes naturally? NOPE
2014
As Grant and I have been praying and looking forward to this new year the phrase that God keeps saying to me:” is SERVE, but don’t just SERVE because it makes you feel good, serve SACRIFICIALLY. When you don’t want to, when it’s hard, when you have to give up something in order to do it, when you get NOTHING in return, when it costs you something great. Don’t expect fuzzy feelings or someone to say thank you. Just SACRIFICIALLY SERVE. Why? Because I did! And you desire to be like me. Because I came to serve you and I don’t get a ton of thanks for it. I did it because I LOVE YOU. You are to LOVE OTHERS as I have LOVED YOU.
Unconditionally and Sacrificially. Which means not on your time table or at your convenience. I will give you the strength to do it. You will find a closeness to Me that you have never felt as your actions display Me to others."
If I can be honest these two words (SACRIFICIALLY SERVE) scare the crap out of me. I DON'T wanna! Me no likey!
SACRIFICE= give up (something important or valued) for the sake of other considerations.
Syn: abandon, surrender, forgo, renounce, forfeit, relinquish, resign, abdicate;
SERVE: to answer the needs of, help, assist, aid,
I want the word JOY or EASY, or COMFORT or INSPIRE. I don’t want SACRIFICIAL SERVING. And I don’t want this verse. Luke 14:33 “In the same way, if you want to be My disciple, it will cost you everything. Don’t underestimate that cost!
I want a different one. There are so many from which to choose are you sure this is the one for me?
I really battle with Him on what he presses on my heart. I ask him what He needs of me this year, He gives it to me, and then I say, “nah, let’s try again, not a huge fan of this one.” He’s probably used to this whole process by now.
He inspires me with word or phrase and I say, “not so much,” He tells me again….and again….and backs it up with scriptures and book quotes, and worship songs just to really rub it in. And then I say, “FINE!”
The first step is for me to write it, which means I accept it. Everyday I will have to choose to act upon it. It might not be with a happy heart at first and I think that’s the reason God didn’t give me the words JOYFUL SERVING, because he knows me too well. He knows that would be fake for me, at first. He knows I need some time to come around. He knows I love a challenge and I will take it and he also knows through time my heart will come around and see the JOY in the Sacrificial serving, it might just take more time for me than someone else. He knows I will see His perspective and realize that sacrifice for me is but a small, itt, bitty, tiny, miniscule sacrifice to those who have lost their life, health, family, for the cost of serving. This will all come in time. I am just a slow sell at first.
OK, 2014, I am in.
2014: WORD/PHRASE: SACRIFICIALLY SERVE
VERSE: Luke 14:33 “In the same way, if you want to be My disciple, it will cost you everything. Don’t underestimate that cost!
Some questions I use in this process.
- Who do I want to be? This comes before I figure out what I want to accomplish.
- What makes my life beautiful to God, others, and myself?
- What is the meaning behind the word? How will I act on it? How will I keep this front and center throughout the year?
- What is your word or phrase?
Here are past years:
2012: WORD/PHRASE: SILENCE AND SOLITUDE
This was the year God asked me to give up work/business the things that I had let identify me and come back to HIM fully. So I spent that year, literally sitting at his feet. Not pursuing anything, no dreams, no future plans, just sitting in silence and resting in Him and letting him fill my heart again. I finally got back to the place where he was my full identity. It was about BEING instead of DOING.
VERSE: Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God.”
2013: WORD: CONTENTMENT
I tend to want to look to the future. To look ahead, to dream, to plan what life could be like. God asked me to be content in THIS MOMENT. Not trying to GET OUT of this season but EMBRACING it fully and dreaming in this season.
VERSE: Isaiah 64:4 “Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you who acts on behalf of those who WAIT on Him.”