As I begin this new year of life - a new calendar year and a literal new year of life as my birthday comes on January 3rd right at the beginning of the year - I'm doing alot of thinking. I've felt a bit at lose ends since quitting my very daily job as worship pastor in 2009 to do mission work. I've felt like I was floating along, doing periodic mission trips but feeling no true purpose in my day to day life. This led to moments of acute depression and a feeling that my life was literally passing me by and nothing I did mattered. I felt paralyzed.
In the fall of this year I had a cancer scare. It ended up being benign but just thinking of the possibility of having a fatal illness made me really think of what I wanted in life - of what was important. I knew some things had to change.....
So as I approached 2012 , I resolved to take steps forward. I have recognized that I have to take charge of my life instead of waiting for things to "happen". I knew I had to take steps of action based on what I really want in my life and what I feel God has called me to do.
So I applied to go back to college, signed up for a weight loss and exercise program and made my list of goals for 2012 - and to do all this I will need one thing I struggle with. I will need
DISCIPLINE
Discipline is simply an activity or regimen that improves a skill, the act of training.
So that is my word for 2012 - Discipline. I pray for the discipline to get up with purpose each morning and to make each day count. I pray for the discipline to take steps forward even when I feel that step might not matter to anyone but me.
Because I feel like God is preparing me for something - and it will require my disciplined obedience in this season of my life.
I will need all the encouragement I can get so please pray for me!
Ditto, Jan. Can I still use that word:) Everytime I start to get discouraged or question whether I should be spending time writing blog posts, I am reminded, this is something I need to do to be faithful with what God has entrusted me, if only to be a reminder for me to look back and see what He has been teaching me, and His faithfulness in my life. If no one else ever reads them, I still need to be obediant to write it down. Praying for you as you move forward as He directs in 2012!
Posted by: Kate Bartley | January 02, 2012 at 09:03 AM
I also picked the word discipline. I will pray for you right now. Could you pray for met too?
Thanks.
Blessings to you in the New Year!
Posted by: Kristin Bridgman | January 03, 2012 at 04:13 PM
Kristin, I'd be happy to pray for you! IT's a hard word isn't it? I'd have rather had a word like HOPE! But it's funny - even before I had decided to do this, the Lord gave me this word for the year. So there you have it! No escaping it! :)
Posted by: Jan Owen | January 03, 2012 at 04:56 PM
Discipline. Oh, how I love/hate it. Excellent choice, tough application for sure. Similar to yours, my word this year is ORDER.
Posted by: Grant Jenkins | January 12, 2012 at 08:10 PM