My Word For The Year

   

         Last year, I got on the bandwagon with everyone else about choosing a “word for the year.”  I think I randomly chose ‘thrive’ because I wanted that to be my ‘theme’ for the year and even now, I don’t know for sure that word was the right one, but that’s fine.  It’s another year and another chance to choose another word!

            A friend recently posted on Facebook that she’s heard for the last few years about those who chose their ‘word’ and she wondered if she had any.  She admits to being frustrated because, well, ---she just didn’t have one.  She said she didn’t even pray and ask God to reveal her word to her, since she’d never had one before.

            As she was going home from work one night, she was reflecting on the year that had passed and recalled it had been a tough year, like a ‘tornado.’  I get that!  It’s been that way in my life, as well.  But she had an epiphany; in the form of a small whisper.  The word ‘steadfast’ fixed on her spirit, and she was overwhelmed to tears since the most recent months had finally been calm.  The word ‘steadfast’ totally resonated.  She found it necessary to actually pull off the road because of her emotions and within this collection of thoughts, thanked the God she’d leaned on all year for HIS steadfastness!  

            I love the story.  Sometimes life causes us to feel like we’re in a terrible storm- (mine felt like a hurricane), but a friend reminded me that if we can stay in the center of that ‘hurricane’ we will find peace. The “eye” of a hurricane, after all, is the calmest part. I was grateful for my friend’s perspective because even while I felt whipped about, there were days when peace poured out like rain!  It was on those days I found myself more focused on Him, than on my problems.

            My word this year is going to be ‘courage.’  I was led to Esther 4:14. ^“For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”  I, like my friend, was overwhelmed to tears, as I considered the risk Esther faced and courage she had to muster, to face the King with her petition.  

            Everyone has problems.  It’s the nature of being human.  We all make mistakes, take risks and deal with circumstances that requires courage every day. Sometimes the circumstances aren’t from mistakes made, anymore than Esther was responsible for her people’s difficulty.  The ‘problem’ occurred long before she was even born, yet, it would be she who would bring about the changes that would save the Jews.

            Sometimes we are scared, almost too fearful to move; the heights seem too great, the obstacles overwhelming.  But when quitting isn’t an option, we continue, even when we are afraid.  We can draw on the courage from a God who knows all, and created each of us for a particular service.  Perhaps, even, ‘for such a time as this!’

My Quiet Place With God

           

          I loved the movie “War Room” that came out in 2015.  It gave me much to think about.  I dreamed of having a “room” I could call my own to mediate, read and communicate with the Lord.  Alas, I don’t have such a room.  

            When my five children were young, I not only didn’t have a “room,” I rarely had private time!  To remedy the problem, I would rise early, before I woke my husband at 6:15 for him to ready for work, and close myself off in the bathroom.  I did it that early, because with five small children, even bathrooms were not private!

            As my children grew, it still seemed having the time to call my own, became more and more scarce; and even now, since my husband retired.  Now that seems unlikely, but getting up early, before my husband stopped happening.  I couldn’t get out of bed without waking him.  Once he was up, it meant coffee and—no quiet time!  I would have to squeeze out my “faith moments” whenever I could.  

            Good habits are easy to break and bad habits hard to change back into good ones!  We travel a good bit now, creating its own set of circumstances that alter what I’d always done.  While all this is changing, I found myself clinging to those moments I spent with the Lord in the morning, even if the moments weren’t entirely mine, and then again in the evening before I retired for the night.

            My quiet place with God, I’ve discovered doesn’t have to be first thing in the morning (although that is still my preference), but can still have profound impact, even if I find myself stealing away for only a few moments!  When I can, I get on our exercise machine and while I’m working my body, I’m also working my heart and spirit, as I commune with God.   I have prayer requests written in large letters on card stock paper and set up so I can see them while I work out!  The machine has a timer (or I could use my phone or other source), so I don’t have to worry about the time or counting.  I can focus on my conversation with Jesus!

            My point to all this is simply that we don’t have to have a specific place to read and pray.  While it may be ideal, it isn’t necessary.  God hears our hearts and knows our minds better than we do.  He even knows our motives and deepest desires.  He wants a relationship with us regardless of our environment!  

            God walked and communed with Adam and Eve in the Garden.  He talked with Moses through a burning bush, used dreams and even a whale to have conversation with those who were close to him, or were committed with a job to do.  Sometimes God just talks to us in our heads, perhaps like he spoke to Noah.  Sometimes he uses his Word, but he does communicate and wants us to listen!  

            A quiet place is helpful since it helps eliminate distractions.  But God can speak to us during a loud gospel music concert, a thunderstorm or any way he chooses.  Our personal relationship with Him is way more important than creating the ‘perfect’ room to meet.

            Share with us about your ‘war room” or special place to communicate with God.

            (Picture credit) https://www.pinterest.com/pin/459015387013405118/