It's year number four of my one word resolutions. In the past I have chosen, anyway, see, and tell as anchor words to drive my actions and thoughts throughout the year. I have accepted life isn't always what I want it to be (no small feat for a type A control freak) and worked to live it anyway, imperfections and all. I have navigated a year long journey to truly see God at work around me and in my life. I have cultivated a more courageous faith stance and stepped out of my comfort zone at times to tell my God story to others. It hasn't always been pretty, and it surely isn't perfect, but it's my honest attempt at self-improvement and personal growth.
So, here goes. My word for 2014 is… REJOICE!
Before I go explaining my word, I must acknowledge what strange and uncharted territory I am in right now. My whole life I have been anticipating the next step. Anxiously waiting to mark important events off my life checklist. Waiting to finish school. Waiting to get out on my own. Waiting to land the perfect job. Waiting to find "the one." Waiting to marry "the one." Waiting to have a baby. Waiting to have another baby. Waiting on my sweet husband to finish his nursing degree. Waiting to be debt free. The list goes on and on. But this year, I'm not waiting on anything.
Waiting implies practicing patience. Long suffering. A sense of longing or discontentment until the thing I was waiting on came to pass. At least that's been true for me. Only now, I realize I may have missed some opportunities to rejoice in what is. To find contentment in right now.
Don't get me wrong; I still have plenty of things I want to do. Save more money. Visit Israel. Build our dream home. Dance naked by the light of the harvest moon. (Kidding on the last one; that was for my Practical Magic girlies:) But in the meantime, I want to intentionally rejoice is His plans and provisions for me today.
This is the day that the Lord has made, let us REJOICE and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24
If sunny skies lie ahead, I will REJOICE.
(Probably more whole-heatedly since I prefer the sunshine and rainbows route. I'm human.)
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Philippians 4:4
If His plan includes refinement for me this year. Bring it, and just call me a rejoicin' motor scooter.
More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope. Roman 5:3-4
And, if you catch me wallowing in discontent or impatiently whining over my own unfinished agenda, feel free to hold me accountable to my new attitude and demand to see my special REJOICE dance. It's a good one :)
