As I consider how blessed I was in 2012, I think ahead to the year before me. A whole year to strengthen my relationship with Christ and with others, to explore the world around me, to better learn my husband. How am I reflecting Christ to others? Where am I lacking?
If I want to be more like Christ, that means that I should ...
... delve more into the Word.
And not only delve into it, but understand it and apply it to my life.
This means that I should devote more time to reading and praying.
More time? I could use some of that. More time for me, more time for my husband, more time for classes, more time for friends. ...
So, I need to prioritize. What is helping me become more like Christ? What is helping me be a better wife, a better stepmom, a better student, daughter, sister, friend, babysitter? What isn't?
If it falls under "isn't," then I need to be mindful get rid of it.
Last year, my word was bold. For me, bold was including my stepsons in my wedding vows--promises to fulfill, not just for one, but for three. Bold was leaving my family, my friends, and moving halfway across the country with my husband. Bold was teaching Sunday Morning Life Group. Bold was co-leading Home Life Group. Bold was starting graduate school.
However, bold was not ... in the moments when my faith wavered and I wondered how God would provide. Bold was not in the moments when I shied away from reaching out, when I did not live my 2012 verse, 2 Timothy 1:7 (and those moments seemed to happen all too frequently). Bold was not when I kept my mouth shut for fear of making waves.
This year, I will do better at being bold. I will not have a spirit of fear. This year, I will extend.
extend -- to spread or stretch forth; to make available; to cause to reach; to increase the scope, meaning, or application of.
My verse? Micah 6:8. Because when I drift, when I'm not as "in the Word" as I should be, I can tell. And, believe me, so can everyone else around me. What mercy? What kindness? They are far from me.
No, the Lord has told us what is good. What he requires of us is this: to do what is just, to show constant love, and to live in humble fellowship with our God. (Good News Translation)
Beautiful verse and word. As I was trying to find my verse for the year, I thought about Micah 6:8. It is incredibly challenging and I can see it being a good verse to base a year's worth of days on.
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