"I lift up my eyes to the hills--where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth." Psalm 121: 1-2 NIV
I've never quite jumped on the bandwagon of finding one word that I thought would describe the Lord's focus for my life each year. Perhaps I never sought the Lord for that one thing He hoped to accomplish in me or that I hoped would change in my life. Perhaps I misinterpreted the idea of finding one word as contrived or as a sign of a super-spiritual group of Christians who were on a higher level than I.
In my earlier years as a Christian, I do not recall the emphasis on finding one word that would be my focus for the new year. However, I do remember one New Year's Eve when we attended a gathering of our Christian fellowship where each of us picked a tiny scroll-like paper tied in ribbon from a decorated basket. The opened scroll was intended to reveal a Scripture verse that possibly would whisper the Spirit's voice to our hearts--to that secret area of our hearts that could only be touched by the Lord. My verse involved humility. I was hoping that my uncoiled scroll would carry the promise of the hope of answered prayer for a much desired child.
However, the Lord wanted to reach deeper and farther into my life. That verse on humility and the spiritual work that would be required whispered to my heart for years to come. It stretched into every area of my life and I often found myself asking the Lord to accomplish His work in this weak vessel. Removing the pride is an unending work.
When, I saw the Faith Barista's call for "the word" each of us was pursuing this year--or being pursued by the Spirit in us, I heard in my heart the whisperings that had been drowned out by so much disconcordant noise.
HOPE~I needed HOPE for this year. HOPE to give me strength, HOPE to give me trust, HOPE to know that God is in control when my world is spinning out of MY control. The Lord wanted to give me HOPE to sustain me.
Gone were the doubts of why people picked a "word" for each new year. I knew in my heart that God had a word for me this year.
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13
Interestingly enough, a close friend of mine started a jewelry business last year and felt impressed by the Lord to have business cards made with the above Scripture. Her hope has always been in the Lord and she trusts Him in this new endeavor that He has established before her.
Throughout this year, I will be looking for nuggets of wisdom concerning the HOPE the Lord is offering me.
From My Heart to Yours,
Linking with Faith Barista
