Last year at this time, right before the New Year I read an article about choosing a word for the new year. I chose (or rather it chose me) the word DEBT.
Why would I choose such a word you ask?
Well, we were working hard on paying off all our debt left over from saving a business during the recession. It seemed to be all we could focus on. It interrupted our everyday life with stress and worry. So we set out on the new 2012 year with one goal in mind; to clear all of our debt by the end of the year. It was a pretty colossal goal. We had no idea how we would accomplish it but we prayed about it and asked God for His help.
Half-way through January, Jay received a job offer that was too good to pass up. But that would mean I had to work harder at the shop to cover his job of taking care of the tuxedo side of our business. After much prayer Jay decided to take the job and I and our staff agreed to take on the extra work. Almost one year later we are 2 months from reaching our goal. Although we didn’t make our goal of having everything paid off before the New Year, we have made some adjustments and are happy with how far we came. It is only because of God that we are this close to our goal. He found a way where we saw no way and He gave us the strength to reach for that goal.
Today as I look back at 2012 and as I look forward towards 2013 I have to pick a new word. About a month ago I thought I knew exactly what my new word should be. ABUNDANCE! After all, I have had a long hard year and I think it would be nice to have an abundant year. So I set out for that to be my word. Until yesterday at church, when the new word hit be between the eyes. The pastor talked about how we look back on our year to see our accomplishments. No matter how many accomplishments there are, there will also be a sense of failure for the things we didn’t do.
He asked us to change our focus. What does God want to accomplish in your year? For no matter what happens in your year, God is working and molding you into who he wants you to be. The life of faith offers freedom from the fear of the unknown. The life of faith offers freedom from the fear of failure. I don’t know what 2013 will bring. The thought of what might happen can strike fear in me. If I am living in the Life of Faith I know that no matter what happens in the economy, in my family or in my marriage, God is in control and he is doing something in my life.
I chose the word FAITH to be my word for 2013.
I will work hard to accomplish what I set out to accomplish. I will strive to be healthier and more in charge of my finances. I will try to be a better mom and a better wife. But in the end I will have FAITH in God to see me through, to help me find a way where there seems to be no way, and to help me grow in areas I need to grow in.
Happy New Year Everyone! May you get to the end of 2013 with a greater understanding of God’s love for you.
Christa
