Life is Fragile, Handle with Prayer

 “Commit your actions to the LORD,

and your plans will succeed”

- Proverbs 16:3

The New Year is underway and hopefully we’ve all got our “one word,” resolutions, or goals defined. The easy part is done.

This weekend I read something and realized the long journey is just beginning. The revelation was “Deep prayer – real communication with God not only changes things, but it changes us from the inside out!”  Changing from the inside out is a slow process. It doesn’t just happen in the blink of an eye!

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I get so excited about the possibility of something good happening, I forget that hard work and dedication are also involved. And once again I am reminded why my word for this year is self-discipline (ie. will-power, restraint, strength of mind, discipline, self-control). It’s amazing how one word, a simple change, or a new goal can affect every area of your life. I already know that my prayer life, Christian study, health, finances, relationships, my school work, my home, and the work the Lord has called me to, will be affected. I’m beginning to think this might end up being a five-year plan.

I can’t do this (alone) ... BUT with God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26).

No matter what plans we have, or commitments we’ve made, we need to lay it all before the Lord. And that does not mean asking for a one-time blessing - it means communicating with Him daily.

Pray without ceasing.

We need to pour our heart out - asking God to reveal new things, to give us perseverance and steadfastness in our 2012 journey, AND we need to take time to listen.

Here are a few Tips for Praying, that will help us remain committed to our challenge for this year:

• As we continue reading and studying God’s word, we need to gain a deeper understanding of our commitment (word, resolution, goals) in relation to its context in the Bible. Pray for clarity. God gives understanding to those who seek Him (Psalm 53:2). “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you” (James 1:5).

• Let God know how serious you are about your commitment.  Ask Him to search your heart, your thoughts, desires, and actions (Psalm 139:23). “Those who seek the Lord abide in Him” (Psalm 119:45).

• Use the promises found in God’s word, as prayers spoken back to Him. He loves nothing more than for us to meditate on His word, store it in our heart, and put our trust in Him. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

• God has a plan for us and whatever happens, He is in control. Pray that this year will be all about what He will do in and through you. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).

Three hundred and sixty five days is a long time to walk alone on any kind of journey. A lonely traveler could get discouraged, lost or harmed ... but we are blessed. We know the One who offers words of encouragement, the Shepherd who can guide us along the path, and the Protector who can keep us safe and remove obstacles. He has given us PROMISES for such times as this!

Seek Him Daily (and BELIEVE).
God’s Peace, Donna Weaver

One Word Only

“If you remain in me and my words remain in you,

ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”

-John 15:7

For a writer, life becomes all about WORDS. So, for the past two years I have chosen a word to be my focus throughout the year, and have been excited to see where God has led me as I delved in to researching the meaning both biblically and academically.

In 2010 my word was BOLD. I don’t think it was actually my first choice, but it definitely was one that God kept nudging me with until I finally gave in. And I was so glad I did. At the end of the year I couldn’t believe how blessed I was by what God revealed to me about “holy boldness,” and the amazing lessons I learned as I dug deeper in to scripture verses such as Ephesians 3:12, “Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God's presence.”

For 2011, the word I chose was PEACE and God added on the word SPARKLE. As my journey to seek peace became a daily mission, “sparkle” became my response - the action for all I was learning.

Once again this year I started my search for a new word. I began early (actually right around Thanksgiving), but it wasn’t until yesterday that God helped me narrow down my list of possibilities. After much prayer and even a little tug of war with God, I am claiming my word for 2012 as SELF-DISCIPLINE. I’m not sure how I feel about it right now, but I know that God will use it to teach me so much if I just surrender to Him and stay out of his way!

Many years back, author Debbie Macomber decided to select a word to serve as her personal focus for the year. In her book One Perfect Word she had this to say, “When we choose one single word from His Word and spend a year with it, I’ve found that the Lord takes us by the hand and walks us through the year, teaching us about that word, about ourselves, and even more, about God Himself.”

According to the myoneword.org website, “My One Word” is an experiment designed to move you beyond the past and look ahead. The challenge is simple: lose the long list of changes you want to make this year and instead pick ONE WORD. This process provides clarity by taking all of your big plans for life change and narrowing them down into a single thing.”

The “one word” challenge has definitely become the “buzz” with bloggers and Christian organizations such as K-Love Radio joining the project, but did you know that there is a biblical basis for choosing one word. Scripture describes how God selected individual words that needed to become the focus of many of his followers (in order for them to be prepared for the plans He had for them).

Moses’ word  =  HUMILITY (Exodus 3:12)

Joshua’s word  =  STRENGTH/ COURAGE (Joshua 1:6-7)

Solomon’s word  =  WISDOM (1 Kings 4:29-30)

On New Year’s Eve I posed a question on my blog readers, “Have you chosen “one word” to focus on in 2012?” If you have already determined what your word is going to be, please feel free to share it below. If not, keep reading because I have some information that may be helpful.

Today I listened to a sermon entitled, “The Word 2012.” Coincidence, I think not! The pastor answered two important questions you have probably been asking yourself ... Why choose one word?  His response was ... “sometimes our lives need a change or focus, and sometimes we just need to grow in sustenance.” And how do we select our word?  Pray first - then, “look for where God is doing work in your life and join Him there.”

Here are two things that we need to remember:

1. Don’t just listen to God’s prompting, but act on it. Ask yourself, What steps will I take to be obedient, to grow in the word that I have chosen?

2. Just because we focus on one word, we can’t dismiss the fact that other words may be intertwined. Don’t be surprised if your “word” brings other words with it (such as my example about “peace” and “sparkle”).

I want to assure you that my blog will not be changing just because I have chosen a new word for 2012. I will continue my journey to seek a life filled with peace, and to be an outward reflection of that inner peace (sparkle). The only change is that I will incorporate what God is revealing to me about self-discipline and how it interacts with peace, love, joy, trials, temptations and more, in my daily journey.



My prayer is that 2012 will be more than just changing the calendar. May it truly be a year of change for our new life (and stronger walk) with Christ.

God’s Peace, Donna Weaver

It’s not too late to pick ONE WORD for 2012, check it out:

http://myoneword.org/