Happy New Year all around! Since it is the new year, and a new decade to boot, I figured it was time to attempt to get my unmotavited self motivated again! I am not a resolution kind of gal by nature, so I am not going to make any promises that I won’t keep just to be on the bandwagon. I am trying to go thoughtfully into the new year – and this next phase of my life.
I am entering my sixth decade. As crazy as it is to contemplate, I must say that I have no idea what a sixty year old is supposed to feel like. I am seeking what that might be though. What can I do differently this year that would make a difference in my life, and those around me, going forward?
I heard someone speaking earlier this week about how, during the past year, they selected one word and concentrated on it all year. It was their “word.” They looked up the definition, researched it all throughout the year, read books about it, tried to find out everything they possibly could about the word. Then they attempted to apply it to their life aa they lived out the year.
No, still not climbing on that bandwagon, so don’t call me a resolution girl; but this sounds like something I could wrap my mind around. I kept trying to think of words that would work for me at this particular time in my life. I ran through abundant, optimistic, present (as in being present each and every day), inspiring, joyful and a few more.
The word that kept being impressed on my spirit (even though I was dodging it with all the agility that I possess… which is not much!) was, patience. Believe me when I tell you, this does not mean that I am going to up and ask God to give me patience! I did, however, look to God’s Word first. There are a number of passages that I will be able to reflect on throughout the coming year.
The first entry that I ran into for patience* in the good ole online Merriman-Webster Dictionary was, “the capacity, habit, or fact of being patient.” That makes sense. (Just a little something-something for you; patience is in the top ten percent of words looked up on that site.)
My next search was through an online search engine I use that searches Strong’s Concordance with Hebrew and Greek Lexicon**. The Outline of Biblical use that stood out to me was, “steadfastness, constancy, endurance” (1. in the NT the characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings). Ah yes, this one really spoke to me.
I hope, throughout this next year to be able to learn all I can about the word patience and apply it to my daily life and my interactions with my family, friends, church, strangers, but more than anyone else, my God. I want to be steadfast and constant to Him. I desire a faith that is deliberate and enduring. Never fear, I will keep you posted from time to time!
I pray for you a bright and blessed new year. If you do not know my God, I also pray that He will reveal Himself to you in marvelous and unmistakeable ways!
Let’s go 2020! Let’s go 60!
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“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.” (James 1:1-2 ~ KJV)
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* “Patience.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc.,
Restricted Vision, Unburdened Sight 