For the past few months, I have been praying about which topic I should focus on in 2019 - for myself, as well as for sharing on my blog. One idea that came to me after reading a devotional in Our Daily Bread was that "every moment matters." So, I started making some notes, but wasn't yet convinced about that topic being the one.
Recently, some friends told me that last year's posts about TRUST had been great; however, with my newly diagnosed cancer and other difficult things that have happened this past year, they thought maybe I was being “tested” on my trust - you know, sort of like "practicing what I preach." So, instead of writing more about trust this year, it was recommended that maybe I should write about blessings. I laughed at the suggestion and told them I would think about it; but that did get me to start thinking, "Hmmm, that might actually be a good topic to write about, and it could be right in line with moments that matter." So, I continued praying about it.
A few weeks later, I was chatting with my mom. She also said the TRUST posts have been good, and she has enjoyed reading them. Then, she reminded me about how my dad was often “tested” on the things he preached and taught when he was alive. So, she was sort of joking, and sort of being serious when she laughed and said, “Maybe your next topic should be about praises!” I laughed also, and told her I might have to do that.
- MOMENTS THAT MATTER
- BLESSINGS
- PRAISES
They are all similar.
It was already pretty clear at that point about what God was trying to tell me; but, silly me, I still wanted to be sure. So, I asked for one more sign.
Shortly after that, I found a short, online questionnaire from DaySpring that helps users find their "one word" for the new year. I took the quiz, and the word they gave me was . . . GRATITUDE.
The comments given to me after taking the quiz said:
2019 is your year to be thankful and practice gratitude in all things. It can be easy to take for granted the tremendous blessings you’ve been given, but this year is about mindfully thanking God for what you’ve been given, and sharing that gratitude with others!Did you read that?
Bingo! It all made sense! GRATITUDE is needed in order to count your blessings. GRATITUDE is needed in order to praise the Lord for what He has done. GRATITUDE is the word I had been looking for. It's the one word God made clear that I am meant to focus on in 2019.
I really have no idea where this is going to lead, but at least I have goal - a direction to go in. So, my Sunday posts are going to be about GRATITUDE. That includes sharing about the ways the Lord has blessed me and my family, giving Him praises in all circumstances, and focusing on all the precious moments that really matter in this life.
I hope you will follow along; and please feel free to join me in this new year prayer:
Dear Lord, in 2019, use my words and actions to spur others on towards gratitude. Help me to be an encouragement as I praise you for all the blessings you have given. Amen.
That's a good one and one that I should pay more attention to. My first tendency is to always see the glass half empty. I hate that I do that! I need to focus on and be grateful for my many blessings.
ReplyDeleteA lot of things we go through in life can become better or worse based on our perspective. I choose to focus on the positive. It must be a choice. :)
DeleteI have a friend who says whenever she prays for help with a character defect, she gets massively tested on it. (Like the old pray for patience, and God will give you 10 children joke.) I think sometimes it just seems that way, because we are focusing more on that. Then again, I also think if we fail a lesson, God will keep repeating the lesson until we can at least pass with a D. Gratitude is a great word to focus on.
ReplyDeleteI've never done a word of the year before, this year I had already selected my word as peace. I took the Dayspring quiz and was curious to see what they gave me, and they gave me the word delight.
Peace and Delight are great words to focus on.
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