New Year - New Words....

Almost every year, I ask the Lord for a word or phrase or area He wants me to focus on. Sometimes it comes easier than others, sometimes it comes without asking and a few years - like the past year - I really don't "get it" til the year is almost done. Thankfully our God is a God of mercy and grace!

As I have thought and pondered about where I want to go in 2014 and what I feel God has for me to work towards - two words actually come to mind! Yikes - God must really want to challenge me this year!!! Ha ha!

TRUST  -   FAITH  

Obviously these have a lot in common and depending on how you define them, they may even be the same to some. However, although related and intertwined I think that they are each a separate area in which God is and will continue to stretch me throughout this year....

First TRUST: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own understanding; think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths. Don’t consider yourself to be wise." Proverbs 3:5-6

This has been my favorite verse for as long as I can remember. I remember in Jr. High repeating this over and over when I was struggling with finding my identity. Then in college I once again claimed it as I would face trials and hard times. Then - again early in our marriage when we were struggling financially God brought this verse to my mind. You would think that having it a part of my life for so long I would GET IT! Yet...I fail, I fall and I forget to TRUST HIM! 

I am a "Doer" and a "Fixer" and a "Problem Solver"...just ask my husband! I can't stand to just talk about a topic or situation I want to analyze and find the solution and I want to do it NOW (yesterday would be even better). However, I am learning that Trusting in God doesn't always work like that. Often times is means waiting...and waiting...praying....and praying some more....until HIS time is right and He has shown the solution or answer. UGH! This girl wants to fix it and do it immediately...Yet - I am realizing that I need to TRUST HIM and TRUST HIS TIMING and TRUST HIS SOLUTION. 

So...for 2014 I am reclaiming this verse.There are some big issues that I am needing to TRUST HIM in this coming year, trust His direction, trust His guidance, and trust His ways! 

Second FAITH: "Because of your little faith," He told them. "For I assure you: If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." Matthew 17:20

This verse has literally resonated in my mind recently - specifically when I have been praying about one situation in particular. You see, I SAY that I believe God and I SAY that He can do anything BUT do I really have the FAITH - a belief that comes without seeing - that He can and will do it? Better yet do I have FAITH that HE who is IN me is able to use me to accomplish His will? This has been a struggle. 

When I started thinking about this year and what goals or resolutions I wanted to see happen...almost immediately I heard that voice, you know, the one that says "Yeah, that would be nice but let's be realistic" or "Yeah right, like THAT's going to happen"...the voice that begins to point out all the reasons that it isn't going to happen and that it isn't possible. However, I kept on coming back to these two BIG things for this year...one seemed somewhat attainable but the other? Well it just seems so unrealistic - further more, what if it was MY wants and not God's want for me? So...I have continued in prayer seeking him. I can't tell you a specific answer other than EVERY time I pray about this particular thing - I come back to have FAITH....

This year - FAITH and TRUST are my focus. Perhaps in the future I will blog about my two goals for this year but for now suffice it to say that BOTH are stretching me in the areas of trust and faith....In fact, I have a feeling that in the coming months God is going to have many more areas of my life to stretch me in my FAITH and TRUST. I am eager and ready!!! 

Would you pray with me that I would truly learn to have FAITH in Him and what HE can do and that I would TRUST HIS plan above any I may have? In fact, may I be so bold as to ask you friends to pray that God will knock my socks off in seeing Him work in a way that ONLY can be explained by HIM? In turn...how can I pray for YOU this coming year? Where is God growing and stretching YOU?