My (Not-So-Glamorous) Word for the Year

A few years ago, I decided to choose one word to focus on each year. This word usually stems from a place within my heart that God is speaking to.

In 2014, I chose the word Hope from Isaiah 29:11. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord. "Plans to prosper you, and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Throughout the year, God worked through this word to teach me more about Himself and the calling He's placed on my life. It was a wonderful word to meditate on. I love HOPE.

This year, a new word settled in my heart. One I wouldn't choose on my own, but one I feel God wants me to think about often, and put into practice. The word is Discipline, from Hebrews 12:11. "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." (Italics mine.)

This word is much less glamorous than last year's word, but it means a great deal to me for many reasons. God has blessed me with many privileges, but with them come a great responsibility. I feel disciplined in certain areas of my life, but I need to get better in many others. Some of the areas God is calling me to discipline are: time management, sleep, exercise, healthy eating, etc.

Interestingly, I was all set to focus on Discipline after the New Year. Starting last Monday, I was going back to my workout schedule, I had my shopping list ready, and I went to bed early on Sunday night to get into a better sleeping habit.

But I had a hard time falling asleep, and when I woke up early to exercise on Monday, I had a sore throat and I felt crummy. My entire family (minus one), ended up with Influenza and Strep Throat. I didn't leave my house for six days. Six. For me, that's unheard of.

My well-laid plans to focus on Discipline went to the wayside.

I felt terrible. My first week of Discipline was sabotaged by life's circumstances. I didn't exercise. I didn't eat as healthy as I had hoped. And my sleep schedule was totally messed up.

But I learned a great lesson this week. Discipline isn't always about accomplishing a to-do list. It isn't necessarily about exercising, or sleeping, or eating the right foods.

Often, Discipline is all about submitting.

Submitting to my limitations, submitting to God's plans when I have other ideas, submitting to my husband (yes, I said it), even when I want my own way, submitting to my list of priorities, even when they aren't always fun, and submitting to a healthy lifestyle.

Discipline is about doing the right thing, even if I don't want to. It might hurt in the moment, but later on, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace when I've been trained by it.

Your Turn: Do you choose a word to focus on each year? If so, what's your word for 2015?

Hope - My One Word for 2013

I'm a little late joining the bandwagon with my "One Word" for 2013 - but I'm here nonetheless!

The word I chose for 2013 is Hope and I find this word most profound in Jeremiah 29:11:

"For I know the plans I have for you, declared the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

I love contemplating God's plans for my life. According to this scripture, when I'm confused, or I've lost my way, I can look to the One who knows which way I'm supposed to turn and I can trust Him to guide me.

I don't have to fret about where I'm going to be a year from now, ten years from now, twenty years from now. God created me with a purpose and plan in mind. He's never going to leave me out in the cold. He tells me very clearly what the future holds - and it's good.

The other thing I love about this verse is it helps me to know when I'm walking in His plans for my life - and when I'm not.

If I'm walking down a path of poverty (in my mind, in my health, in my finances, in my friendships, etc.), then I know I'm not on the right path - because poverty is the opposite of prosperity - and His plans are to prosper me. If I'm being harmed in any way, I know it's not what He intended - because He doesn't plan to harm me.

Jeremiah 29:11 goes on to tell me that He plans to give me hope. There have been times, too numerous to count, when I've felt hopeless in one area or another. But this verse reminds me that God's wants me to have hope. There is a way out of the darkness, there is a path away from the pain, there are roads of freedom I have yet to walk upon. God always has hope in store for me, in all situations.

And I have a future. No matter where I'm at in life, the future is full of God's blessings. Right now I may not have all the answers, but God does. I just need to be patient and trust Him to fulfill his promises.

There is hope in knowing God has everything under control.

What about you? What's your "One Word" for 2013? In what area of your life has His hope sustained you?

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Fellow blogger, Melanie Moore, created the "One Word" badge for my site. You can check out her blog here.