Challenges and blessings, unbelievable lows and exciting highs.
I am so thankful that through it all, God was, is, and always will be, constant.
And I am thankful for so many of you who took that journey of trust with me.
You sent me scriptures, and pictures, and devotionals that contained the word. When I expressed frustration, or doubt, or fear, you encouraged me to remember my word - and the scripture that accompanied it. Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." In return, you often wrote that my journey of trust bolstered your faith, and for that I am humbled and grateful.
A treasured birthday gift I received from a friend last January is a book called "Trust - a Godly woman's adornment" by Lydia Brownback. I cannot recommend that small book of powerful devotions strongly enough...even if trust isn't your "one word", give it a read and be blessed.
That same friend gave me a journal this Christmas with the words "Trust in the Lord with all your Heart" on the cover, and said "so here you are, wrapping up a year of trust."
Indeed, it is time to wrap up the year, file away the memories, pick a new One Word for 2015.
But you can't file away trust.
After being so incredibly changed by the journey of trust I've been on, I can't put it in a container and store it up in the attic like seasonal clothing.
So I began to pray about my one word for 2015 and how it might build on Trust.
This weekend, a word popped into my head, but I wanted to make sure it wasn't my word, but God's.
The word was Abundance.
I asked God to give me confirmation. Something I might read, something I might hear, say, during Sunday's sermon.
I heard and saw lots of words that might mean abundance - completeness, fullness, etc. - but they weren't exactly right.
Abundance means: an extremely plentiful or over-sufficient quantity or supply. Overflowing fullness. And the third definition is what might jump to mind first for many people - affluence, wealth.
The words I was coming across were missing the modifier "over". More than full. More than complete.
I continued to pray, but no other word came forth.
On Monday, I was reading from my favorite devotional that I have quoted from many times - Jesus Calling by Sarah Young. It began with "Trust Me with every fiber of your being! What I can accomplish in and through you is proportional to how much you depend on Me." It went on, basically describing my life this past year, and ended with "Consistently trusting in Me is vital to flourishing in My Presence."
I pondered that. Consistently (consistency was my 2013 word) trusting (my word for 2014) in Me is vital to flourishing (meaning growing vigorously; thriving; prosperous) in My Presence.
It sounded like it might fit the bill for my hope of "building" on my current word. But while "flourishing" was close, I was really looking for God to give me the word spelled out - ABUNDANCE.
This morning I once again opened Jesus Calling and read the entry for December 31st...and I thanked God through my laughter. He's got perfect timing.
"As this year draws to a close, receive My Peace. This is still your deepest need, and I, your Prince of Peace, long to pour Myself into your neediness. My ABUNDANCE and your emptiness are a perfect match. I designed you to have no sufficiency of your own. I created you as a jar of clay, set apart for sacred use. I want you to be filled with My very Being, permeated through and through with Peace."
God is good. And He speaks clearly when we listen for His voice.
My One Word for this year is Abundance.
And my scripture verses for the year are among my very favorite - Ephesians 3:20 - 21. "Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever! Amen." (Emphasis mine).
Abundance. Not in affluence and wealth which can evaporate in a moment in this uncertain world, but in the overflowing fullness of God's love, grace, mercy, and presence that is experienced when we trust in Him. Abundance is the fruit of trusting. It is a natural progression in our walk with God. And it is my prayer for all of us in 2015.
Have you considered a "one word" for this coming year? Read more about the concept here.
