A New Year, A New Word

For the past two years I have prayed for one word that God would use to grow me and stretch me through the coming year. I loved the idea of focusing on a single word instead of a list of resolutions that would probably get broken. 
Two years ago my word was consistency, and I failed miserably. Last year I struggled about whether or not to accept the challenge when my word was trust. I knew that would be a tough one, and I was right! 

This year I prayed for almost an entire month, searching for the word that the Lord wanted to use in my life in 2017. I found a couple of words that I thought it might be, but after prayer, none were right.  
On Saturday the 31st I was talking with Daddy T about his one word and telling him how difficult this year seemed to be at finding the word that the Lord wanted to use. Right in the middle of me talking about how much easier the past year's search was, I knew! It was something that I had been dealing with in every area of my life for the past week. In that moment I not only knew my one word, but the verse that God was going to use with it:




I didn't argue this year. I didn't question if this was the Lord speaking. I just knew in my spirit that this was where He was leading me!

And so after praying, here are the areas that I believe He wants my focus:

-My spiritual walk- Jesus said that the 2 greatest commandments were 1. Love God 2. Love people   It really is that simple. It's time for me to readjust my focus (or rather let God readjust my focus and my heart) to have a heart that loves Him and ALL people! 

-My home- I have never wanted to admit that I love my stuff, but I do. I love finding a great deal, even on things I don't really need. This year I will be focusing on clearing out the excess, living simpler, and buying less.

-Our school- Hello Charlotte Mason friends! I remember in the very beginning telling Thomas that I would NEVER use Charlotte Mason's method. I loved Classical education, unit studies, and lots of fun activities! I couldn't imagine that something that simple could ever teach my kids all that they need to know! Then, I hit burn out. I just wanted to send my kids to public school and cry. In my desperate attempt to save our homeschool journey, I found "Charlotte Mason Companion" by Karen Andreola and it saved our school days! Joy has returned and the Crunchy Kiddos are thriving! We are simplifying! 

-Our family- In a world ran by electronics, where all the information and entertainment you could ever need can be found online, family time can tend to take a backseat. If we are in the same room, evenings are spent engrossed in the TV, iPads, Kindles, or cell phones. We have forgotten to communicate, play, and in general just enjoy each other. Boredom has become a word that is thrown around regularly. NOT ANYMORE!!! 
Psalm 139:16 says 
"...all the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be."

I cannot imagine for an instant that the Lord wrote boredom into my life! I cannot fathom that He wrote out a plan for my family to be engrossed in the TV! We were created for MORE! And so we are simplifying our lives. 

I am excited about this years one word! How about you? Do you choose a word or phrase each year? I would love to hear about yours! 

The Homeschool Review Crew chose their one words for the year as well! You can read about their's by clicking the link below after Friday, January 6th:

Homeschool Review Crew Reflecting on 2016

Comments

  1. I need to simplify, too. In each season of life, we crave different things. When my kids were young, I wanted simplicity. Now that they're not young, simplicity just happens more naturally. God bless.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by! I hope that simplicity can begin to come more naturally for us too!

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  2. I loved your word simplify. I also loved some of things you choose to do. I too love shopping for bargains. This year we want to buy a house so I want to declutter and purge some of the things we don't need. If I don't shop for the bargains that is less for us to move. I had a hard time even writing the word I picked.

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    1. Thank you for stopping by! I would love to hear your word.I remember that feeling. My word last year was really difficult for me to accept! I think it is neat to see how God works through a single word in our lives!

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