Our Word for 2018

           At the beginning of each year, we prayed about the word that will help to define the year.  This year is no exception.  What word will God give you to help you define 2018? 

            For me, the word came early in December.  Then it popped back up in a God way the other day while I was listening to music.  My word for my 2018 is perseverance.  In looking at the definition, I realized how appropriate this word is for me during this time.

The definition in Google is the following.  This year will be, for me to be steadfast in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success. This is something I need in a lot of areas in my life, personally and professionally.  How it will manifest itself in my life, I am going to enjoy finding out.

Each year, I have an expectation of what the word will mean for my life.  Yet, I am sure that God is shaking His head at me and just saying, “Laura, you have no idea what I will show you, but soon, you will see.”

            This year, I have made resolutions, and goals, like most of us do.  I don’t want to just sit back and watch my life not happen in front of my eyes.  Yet, there are areas that I do need to be steadfast, because I see the difficulties.  Sometimes they seem insurmountable.

            God will teach me to persevere with Him.  At least, that is what I need for Him to do.  I am not patient, and if something doesn’t go according to how I plan, I give up, or blame God, myself, whoever for it not going how I thought it would go.

            This year, it appears, that God wants me to remember that nothing is impossible for him.  His love is steadfast.  His is perseverance.  Especially, when it comes to me.  I know that I can be difficult at times, but I am so grateful that He is perseverance.

            I get in my own way sometimes.  There are times that I try and move ahead of God, and then I wonder why things are difficult or there are “delays” in achieving success.  When, actually, it is not delayed by God’s timing, and I cause it to be more difficult.

            I pray that all of you find your word for the year.  Pray this month that God will reveal it to you.  It will come, and you will know that it is for you.  Find your word.

            This is year four that we have been doing this.  Every January, we pray for our word for the year.  I wrote my down, and I see a pattern of growth in God, and in my self.

Photo by alexander milo on Unsplash

My words by year:

2015 – Trust

2016 – Confidence

2017 – Openness

2018 - Perseverance

Dear Lord, I pray for each person reading this blog.  May they find their word for the year.  You want to walk beside each one of us, if only we will let you.  No matter what has happened or what we have done. You have never stopped loving us.  As this new year begins, I pray a revival in our hearts. 

In Your name, Amen

Laura Maxson 

June Prayer Topic: Praying to Not be a Lukewarm Christian

“Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.  Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.  Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.  Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” Romans 12:9-12 (ESV)

Lukewarm water, to me, is the nastiest stuff.  I love water, don’t get me wrong, but lukewarm water, no thank you.  I have accidently taken a sip of lukewarm water, and I spit it out.  It was not for me.

So why would I want to be lukewarm Christian? This month we want our focus and prayer to be for the Lord to help us not be a lukewarm Christian.  It is only in looking to the Lord that we will be lit on fire for Him.

For too many years, I know that I was a lukewarm Christian.  It is going through life, believing in God, but not really taking my relationship with Him seriously.  I did not let Him be Lord of my life. I was mediocre in my beliefs, and lived life on my terms.  If God fit into my life, then that was good enough.

I mean, I went to church, most weekends.  That was good enough, right? How would you feel if your friends only talked to you one day a week, sometimes?  That is not the type of relationship that God wants from me.  He wants me to let Him into every area of my life, be Lord of my life. 

That is what I want as well.  I don’t want to be something that God wants to spit out of His mouth. I want to be red hot for the Lord.  My first instincts should be to take it to the Lord.  My first instinct should be to talk it out with the Lord. 

I have recently started doing that. It is a journey that God keeps showing me. It is a step by step process, but I am to be on this amazing journey.  So, I am praying that I will not be a lukewarm Christian either. 

“My son, (or daughter), give me your heart and let your eyes observe my ways.” Proverbs 23:26 (ESV)

This month, let us all pray and allowed God to be Lord of us and all that is us.  If our focus is on the Lord, and not on ourselves.  We as humans can be so self-involved.  How does God fit into my life?

Wrong question.  It should be how do I fit into God’s.  This month, let us have that be our focus.  Stop with the ideas that we can do this life on our own.  I know I can’t.  How is that going for you, the doing it on your own?

Be on fire for the Lord, and the world will take notice.  Be the fire that shines to the world.

Dear Lord,

I pray that you light me on fire for you.  Going through this life on my own has not worked, and I don’t want to do it anymore.  Be Lord of my life, and help me to never go back to the lukewarm.

In Jesus’ Name – Amen

Laura Maxson

DANIEL 9:19 (LORD!) – Part 2

Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name." Daniel 9:19

This month, it seems that since we are praying for a more fervor prayer life, the devil has been working overtime at trying to derail my relationship with my Lord.  He is trying to do the derailing by trying to discourage me or make me believe that my Lord is not listening.   He is filling my mind with doubts. Basically, telling me lies.

Well, guess what? Our Lord is more powerful, and mightier, and stronger, and… so many other words to use for Him.  He’s got us.  The Lord Most High has us covered in His glory.

With the Lord’s help, I am choosing to believe the truth and not give in to the lies or doubts.  My prayer life has become more concentrated this month, and it has been a very conscience effort on my part.  Yes, my Lord is more powerful than any plan or thought or lie or doubt that the devil may have, but we must do our part and look to the Lord, the Truth.

Each time I am having a rough patch and the doubts set in, I chose to rely on the Lord.  When I feel lost and not sure what to do, I turn to my Lord for guidance.  When my patience is almost at an end, the Lord helps to still my soul.  When the doubts and lies seem to fill my head, I cry out to the Lord.

He always listens and answers me.  He guides me. It might not be the answer or the timing that I am looking for, but there is a stillness that I have found in Him.  With that stillness, I can hear Him.  He calms me. He tells me the truth.  He renews my parched soul.

“Be Still and Know that I am God…” Psalm 46:10

It was morning, and I was lamenting about not having the fulfillment of a promise in the timing that I thought that it should be.  I admit I was not very happy with the Lord, and I was letting Him know.  The conversation was that I felt that He was playing with my heart and my patience was running out. 

I am not saying this is the correct way to have a discussion with God, but thankfully God knows me and can handle whatever I say to Him.  He listens to my rantings, and then when I am done ranting, He calmly gives me the answer, the peace that He knows I need.

On the way to work that day, I called a prayer warrior on the phone to talk through my lamenting and frustrations.  She did not answer, which is how the Lord wanted it.  I talked with the Lord again, and when I got to work my daily thought for the day in my e-mail was about God’s Stillness and having the stillness in the Lord.  Every thought that I was thinking was written in the e-mail.

The Lord wants me to rely on Him for the answers.  Yes, we can share with others, but in this case the Lord wanted me to rely on Him.  He is the author of my journey and wants to share in the journey with me. 

We each can rely on the Lord.  He does listen.  He does forgive.  He does hear and act. 

Dear Lord,

I praise Your name. You do listen, even when we are ranting.  You do forgive and cover us with Your grace and mercy.  You do hear and act, even if it is not in our way or timing.  Your way and timing are best. You are our Lord.  Continue to give each of us a zest for you. You are the Author, and You have this journey for each of us that You want to walk with us.  May our prayers be in You.  May our hearts be open to Your leading.

In Jesus’ Name – Amen

Laura Maxson