It’s January 2017, and like many others I made some resolutions as 2016 turned to 2017. They are probably the same ones I made last year, honestly I don’t recall what I resolved as 2016 began. That’s a problem I and I suspect many others have with resolutions, they get lost in the busyness of life. Before we know it it’s November and we think, what was it I resolved this year?
While on Facebook I came across the following post from my church
This post hit home. I didn’t want my excuse in 2017 to be I was too busy.
Then while reading my friend Nina’s blog http://www.ninagraceblogs.com and she spoke about finding her word for the new year. Nina Said
“One of the “traditions” I’ve seen the past few years is to choose a “word of intention” for the coming year. This word should represent your main goal or focus, it helps you narrow things down to your top priority. I like that idea because it really causes me to reflect and decide what it is that I really want to accomplish in 2017. Rather than a whole list of hopeful maybes that may or may not happen, this word gives me something to pray over and believe in.”
Before I continue go read the rest of her blog, (http://www.ninagraceblogs.com/my-word-for-the-new-year/) I’ll wait, her writing is excellent and will draw you in. She’s been on a pretty amazing journey over the past year or two and it comes through in her writing. God is using her as she stepped out in faith with her blog.
Ok, if you came back to my blog, thanks, if not I understand, haha.
I’d never heard of a “Word of Intention” (yes, I may live under a rock sometimes) as I pondered this concept I thought it was a great idea. I emailed Nina to ask where she heard of it and she responded “social media”. I Googled it and found other writers explained the concept much as she did above.
I wanted to try this in my life for 2017. So I pondered and prayed about my priorities for 2017, and I kept coming back to three words. Patience, Purpose, and Prayer.
Patience. I’ve written about Patience before in 2011 and posted to the blog in 2014. That blog is here, and the points I make there are still valid today.
Also on my desk is a rock from the Palmer House with “Patience” written on the front. Whenever I sit down at my desk I look at this rock and its neighbor “Friend” rock. On the back of the Patience rock is Titus 2:2.
Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. Titus 2:2 ESV
I can be impatient. I need to cultivate patience. Patience is a fruit of the spirit, and love is patient. I’m sure there will be more to it, but 2017 is just beginning.
Purpose. We all need one. What will define my purpose in 2017?
In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps. - Proverbs 16:9 (NIV)
The steps of a man are established by the Lord, And He delights in his way. - Psalm 37:23 (NASB95)
The purposes of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out. – Proverbs 20:5 (NIV)
I’m getting older, I said older NOT old, I still have passions that drive me. I want the passions to drive my purpose and I want my purpose to glorify God. Lord help me to understand your purposes for me throughout 2017.
Prayer. Prayer needs to undergird EVERYTHING!
“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. – Luke 11:9-10 (NIV)
17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. – 1Thessalonians 5:17-18 (NIV)
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. – Philippians 4:6 (NIV)
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. – Colossians 4:2 (NIV)
I don’t know what 2017 will bring, but these three words of intent, Patience, Purpose, and Prayer, will help me keep focused on the main things.
I haven't post a blog in 4 months. I've been writing, but nothing for the blog. I'm not dead yet, so here's to a more active couple months I hope.
I love my comfort zone. It’s comfortable. Sometimes there is nothing better than after a long day of work to come home to a nice comfortable environment where everything is comfortable. Yes, I overused the word comfortable four times in the first three sentences, but I am making a point. Comfort zones are by definition comfy. We all have them, and sometimes we cling to them like Linus to his blanket. I was curious so I looked up the definition in the dictionary.
Merriam-Webster defines Comfort Zone as follows a place, situation, or level where someone feels confident and comfortable
The Cambridge Dictionary defines it as a situation in which you feel comfortable and in which your ability and determination are not being tested: (Italics and bold mine)
I found this quote on the internet that I liked also. Alasdair A. K. White in "From Comfort Zone to Performance Management” says, “The comfort zone is a psychological state in which a person feels familiar, at ease, in control and experiences low anxiety and stress. In the zone a steady level of performance is possible.”
I’d been praying for months asking God for direction in one area of my life. I initially missed the signs he provided because I was looking for big super spiritual revelations and He provided quiet, practical answers that I originally missed. (This subject may evolve into its own blog post) Once I got on the same page with God I sensed that he was asking me walk by faith. As typical with the Lord, he had to show me this a few times in different ways because I am analytical and like to overthink things. Sometimes I even overthink about overthinking.
For we walk by faith, not by sight. – 2 Corinthians 5:7 (ESV)
Walking by faith requires us to get out of our comfort zones. In this life if we stay in our comfort zones there will be no growth. In the preface to Be Obedient, Warren Wiersbe says
“In a world filled with insecurity and uncertainty, we must learn to walk by faith, or our lives will fall apart. This applies to all of God’s children, regardless of how old we are or how long we have walked with the Lord.
Living by faith means obeying God’s Word in spite of feelings, circumstances, or consequences. It means holding on to God’s truth no matter how heavy the burden or how dark the day, knowing that He is working out His perfect plan.
It means living by promises and not by explanations.
I love that last sentence! God didn’t tell me what would happen when I stepped out in faith He only told me to do it. What He was showing me was way, way, way out of my comfort zone. How far out of my comfort zone was I, you may ask. Well, let me tell you. I am typing this blog in Cheektowaga NY, a suburb of Buffalo NY. Geographically speaking, if I am located here in Cheektowaga, my comfort zone would be say in Albany. I was so far out of it I couldn’t even see it.
Whenever I want to study walking by faith I turn to Hebrews 11. It’s the Hall of Faith chapter.
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)
"Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 (ESV)
The Message Bible says it this way.
The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see. Hebrews 11:1 (MSG)
Using just a portion of Abraham’s story as an example.
8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
11 By faith Abraham, even though he was past age—and Sarah herself was barren—was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise. 12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore. – Hebrews 11:8-12 (NIV)
Do I have faith like that? Can I step out of my comfort zone and walk by faith? Can I follow God and remain comfortable when I don’t know what’s next? Can I take one step at a time and wait for Him to shine a light the next.
As I learned in the days after I left my comfort zone and walked by faith His purpose was getting me out of my comfort zone and less about the answer to the questions I’d been asking. I guess you could say the journey is more important than the destination at this time.
As I stepped out in faith God did not promise a result or resolution. His only promise to me was he’d be there when I took the step, and he’ll be there for you too.
