As 2013 comes to a close, many people are spending the last hours with loved ones at parties, bars, etc. I have been at home since before 7 o'clock in my pajamas. Decked out in Steelers attire from head to toe. NO shame.
As many people do, I have reflected upon the past year- the ups and downs, the triumphs and failures, and the changes. I could list everything off individually, but I'd rather highlight the four most important events rather than sharing every tidbit of information about my year.
1) I graduated with my Master's in School Counseling. (For anyone who has been involved in my life the past year, you know this was a major milestone I wasn't sure was going to happen.)
2) My summer was once again spent at Dayton Oaks Camp. Give me some Jesus!
3) I was handed a full-time position (not in school counseling) without ever interviewing for the position.
4) I was reawakened to the importance of telling people how I feel about them. There is never a better time than the present.
Enough about this past year though. I learned lessons this past year that will carry me into 2014 and that is all that matters. There is nothing I can change about the past so let's look forward to this coming year.
Cue New Year's Resolutions...
It's truly 12:00 AM on 1/1/2014 as I start writing this portion. Here's my confession for the beginning of the new year. I have made New Year's Resolutions for years in a row. I, unfortunately, can't tell you what any of the resolutions were though. I think my planner even allowed me to make new resolutions every month. I can't tell you where my planner is hiding.
I'm pretty sure I have made New Year's Resolutions at about 11:00 PM on the 1st of January. The resolutions were last minute thoughts and more of an obligation that I needed to have resolutions rather than things I truly wanted to do. This year, instead of making resolutions and having a list that will be obsolete by the end of the month, I am taking a new approach.
About five days ago, I came across a devotional called "One Word that will Change your Life". The premise of the devotional is using one word, just one word- no phrases or sayings- and focusing on that word for the year. On the very first night of reading the devotional, I felt like I knew what my word for the year was going to be. By night four, I was convinced. Convinced may be the wrong terminology, as I feel like it was more of a nudging from the Holy Spirit to use this word. It wasn't something I feel like I chose myself.
My word will permeate throughout many aspects of my life. If it doesn't, I am not focusing on my word correctly. I have had thoughts running though my head for four days about how I can use my word. What I need to focus on is letting God decide how I am going to use my word. When I choose my actions, I fail because I have no backing because my decisions are just that- my decisions. God has to be in charge of this for it to be of any use to me. God has to show me what is going to be the most important things to focus on this year. Maybe at different times of the year, it will be different aspects, but that's all up to Him.
I will be completely transparent here. I'm a little skeptical that focusing on one word this year will be any different than failed New Year's Resolutions. What will keep me from losing focus on the word within a week, month, etc? That's where you come in. I am sharing this as an accountability piece. I can't have this be between only God and me. I will need the friendly reminders.
As I said, my word should involve all areas of my life in one way or another. I'm not sure what this will look like yet, but check back for updates. Here is my word:
"No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us." ~Philippians 3: 13-14
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