My One Word 2017

It's the start of the New Year and everyone has plans right? 

Well, intentions in hopes to change this year from last. Better ourselves. Change how we look. Fix what we think is wrong or could be better? 

How are you doing on them so far? 

The last couple years I haven't made any resolutions per say but have sought God on a single word that He wants me to do, learn from, dig into, become, etc for the year ahead. I looked back and found a couple of the words God has spoken to my heart and it's been heartwarming to see what them and read what I wrote about them, and to reflect back and see how that word really was apart of my year without really realizing it. 

Last year was consume. He asked me to consume myself with Him. It was most certainly a year I needed Him like air. I need Him like that every day and every year but this last year felt even more than life support kind of air. I was consumed with Him but the world and the "problems" that surround me most certainly tried to consume me at the same time. In hindsight both won out throughout the year. 

This year though God has smacked me with the word...

This word makes me tear up every time I say it, think about, pray on it, hear songs about it. This word hurts and refreshes all at the same time. This word rocks me to my core. 

I'm very "Type A". I am very much wanting to help carry the weight that is weighing my husband down of the pressure of have zero idea what God has in store through all that has been going on the last 15 months. I have been consumed with God. I have been consumed with my husband and us knocking on doors to try and seek what God wants us to be doing and where he wants us to be. At every knock though.... E V E R Y .... S I N G L E..... knock though God has not opened anything that said this is the way I want you to go. It's been very disheartening and defeating if I can be honest, yet God has remained in control. We vowed not to accept anything unless He said so. Nothing has brought peace except to go day in and day out doing a job we felt was supposed to change but doesn't seem to be. 

So, God asked me to be still. To take each day without any thought of the future. To just be... 

So, to the best of my ability and to the fact that I know being still is going to take a lot of work, a lot of prayer, and a lot of out loud defeating of Satan and his attempts on my thoughts and Type A personality I vow to be

After all... He IS God and I am NOT! 

Being still is not going to be easy for me. My nature is to fix. My nature is to plan. God has a plan for me in this season of being still and as much as I love to fix and plan I can't wait to hear what God says in my stillness! 

Do you have a resolution or word of the year this year? Do you have anything God has been laying on your heart you too are going to need extra prayer over? 

This song is one of my anthem's this year. Every day with every fiber of my soul I repeat this song as the prayer and cry of my heart to our Father.

"Still"

I believe that You are God alone
But sometimes I still try to take control
Cause I get scared when I can't see the end
And all You want from me is to let go

You're parting waters
Making a way for me
You're moving mountains that I don't even see
You've answered my prayer before I even speak
All You need for me to be is still

I bring my praise before I bring my need
Cause there's no fear You've not already seen
I rest my heart on all Your promises
Cause I have seen and know Your faithfulness

You're parting waters
Making a way for me
You're moving mountains that I don't even see
You've answered my prayer before I even speak
All You need for me to be is still

And know that You are God
Be still
And know that You, trust that You are parting waters
Lord, You whispered my name
Oh, You answered my prayer
You're moving mountains

You're parting waters
Making a way for me
You're moving mountains that I don't even see
You've answered my prayer before I even speak
All You need for me to be is still
Be still

CONSUMED: Word of 2016

I know one thing to be true these days... God is God and I am not.

Flat out.

2015 was.... interesting, to say the least. It held it's fair share of highs and lows; as most years do I suppose. Yet the outlook for this year feels lighter. Call it my hope, call it God saying, "Don't worry my child... I've got this." Call it my desire to not carry any of it because I already know my shoulders weren't meant to. Either way, no matter what, no matter the funk or inconvenience of it all, or God's plan starting to be unveiled, I know this year I am planning to be

CONSUMED 

of ONLY God!

I can't be consumed with the things of this world that Satan wants to throw at me and have me kick my feet and call it unfair! Through all of those "unfair" moments of 2015 God remained. His provision and penny showing up when you needed it most was still there. He never wavered. We knew unequivocally that God would provide even though we didn't understand our, yet again, new normal. We know that no matter how the days ahead are inked that God will provide no matter what. He has given us only what we need. Nothing more and nothing less and there is nothing wrong with that.

He has laid it on my heart this year that he wants me only to be 100% utterly and totally CONSUMED in him. That's it. He has laid on my heart to start a photography business but I'm not sure it will be as "the world" thinks it should start. It's 100% not a business for me but a business for God to bless people with, for him. He wants me to immerse myself in his Word everyday. Whether it is by picking a book of the Bible and reading a chapter or two a day, or a Bible reading plan on YouVersion, or both, or devotional, etc... he just wants me covered in His promises, everyday. Something, if I am honest, I have lacked being consistent on over the years.

This last Sunday at church we had a great message on Worship and what it truly looks like and means. That the songs and "performance" are not for "what can I get out of it/or receive each week", but that God is the audience and it's more "what are WE PUTTING into and GIVING to God each week!"

Hello.

I had been praying so hard for God to reveal what he wanted from me this year... what one word had he stamped me with this year, and he revealed in a big way through tear streaked eyes on Sunday to be utterly and totally consumed so that every time I come to Him I leave it all at his feet. Worshipping my heart out to him... in everything. Every moment.

He flat out said, "I am calling you deeper still..." but you have to be totally consumed in me.

In the moment of singing that above line in Chris Tomlin's "Good Good Father" God said, "Daughter, I'm not just taking you out into the waves but I am calling you deeper still. But you have to give me your first so you can continue to find yourself when you lay your life down and your knees hit the ground."

I know without a doubt that this year will be only one God could have inked and I truly can not wait to see what story he has written for us this year. I can not wait to have him mold me to be even braver as I consume myself in him and utterly trust his revealing.

*links are to the songs God has laid on my heart to be my "anthems" in this new year.*