Six months later…thoughts to begin 2023

As I have been working on a couple of posts, I decided to go through my drafts. I’m not sure why I didn’t post this one in January…It’s pretty complete other than lacking a decent conclusion. So, here is this twice started never really completed post:

While working on getting back to the habit of writing, I was perusing the “drafts” and other “started but not finished” posts I have saved…The following is what I started at the beginning of 2022:

“I am now living a life that I never expected to live at the age of 53…BUT GOD knew it from before I was born. As he numbered my days, November 19, 2021, was not a question mark or a surprise to Him. He knew…He prepared me in ways that I may never know that he was preparing me. He has covered me under His wing and with His righteous right hand. He has surrounded me with His people acting as the hands and feet of Jesus that He has called them to be. He has also sent His Spirit to minister to my spirit in the times when I am by myself, yet never alone. He is even now preparing me for the future He has already laid out for me that I have no clue about. I’m praying that I will be obedient and live in a way that uses the loss I have suffered to bring glory to His name.”

Now, as I begin 2023, at the age of 54, I am still living a life that I didn’t plan or expect, but I have one more year of the evidence of God’s goodness and sovereignty displayed in my life. My faith has had another year to grow and move toward maturity. I am most certainly not anywhere near where I need to/want to be, BUT GOD has continued to draw me closer to Him and show me who He is through His AMAZING word.

Recently, a FB acquaintance wished for me that 2023 would be a year of happiness for me. That got me to thinking. That is not my wish for myself. Don’t misunderstand me, I’m not wishing for unhappiness, but happiness is not my goal for the year. Holiness is, and a close walk with Jesus. Being the disciple that He wants me to be. Loving God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength, and my neighbor as myself. Working on all the “one anothers” in the Word. Considering others more highly than myself. I have MUCH work to do in all of that. BUT GOD, will grant me the grace I need to accomplish His will for my life.

“Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14 NASB

A day or two after the wish for 2023 to be a year of happiness for me, one of the sites I follow posted a meme that said: “Whatever you decide to do, make sure it makes you happy”. My immediate response was NOOOOOO! So many verses in Scripture point us away from this thought.

It has been several years since I chose a “word for the year”. I hadn’t thought about it or intended to choose one for this year. However, while studying scripture and praying, thoughts of conversations with a good friend came to mind. BOLD is the word I am focusing on with meekness in parentheses right beneath it. These may seem contradictory words, but they actually need to go hand in hand to be the most effective in the life of a believer. Jesus exemplified how these characteristics work together perfectly.

So far, I am planning on being bold in:

• proclaiming the Good News (1 Peter 2:9)
• advocating for others, especially my students
• showing hospitality to others
• living out my convictions
• admitting my failings and seeking forgiveness
• admonishing and edifying fellow believers using the Word

UPDATE: It has been good for me to look back over my thoughts from the beginning of the year. I definitely want/need to get back on focus with my word. Also, this post definitely needs a solid conclusion and some more meat in the middle. I’m still deciding to go ahead and publish it. Perhaps that will motivate me to not wait so long to finish my posts. HAHA