God, You have my word

Every year for the past few years I've prayed about God giving me a word to focus on for the year. Or maybe it is a word that will be significant… that I should be more aware of for the year. At the end of 2017 I had a hard time understanding which word God was showing me… the word “humble” kept coming up in my heart and during my quiet-time, but I didn’t have peace with that… maybe it was because I just didn’t want that to be the word. Hmmm…. that might be saying something right there about me! ;) Then I was reading in 1 Chronicles and there were 2 verses I had previously highlighted with a handwritten note in the margin, “My willing heart!?”. All of a sudden there was no mistake… the word God was showing me for 2018 is “willing”. Here are the 2 verses:

“And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve Him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever.” ~ 1 Chronicles 28:9

“Then the people rejoiced because they had given willingly, for with a whole heart they had offered freely to the Lord. David the king also rejoiced greatly.” ~ 1 Chronicles 29:9

God is leading me to something new… this blog for one thing. Will I go willingly into the new or am I unwilling to follow??? I was reminded that humbleness is required to be willing. You know that when God is leading you to something new "adventure" you have a choice to cross over to the place He wants you to be… kicking and screaming (which can be my way a LOT!) or cross over with excellence (still learning this!). Are you willing to fight every natural impulse and choose to do what God is asking you to do… even when your family and friends may not be joining in on your choice???

For me… I desire with my whole heart for my life to be pure, blameless and fruitful for the cause of Christ. The idea of crossing over to something more can be scary, but I believe, no I know, that if God is calling me to something more… He will also equip me to do what He has called me to. And He will do the same for you.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. ~ Psalms 51:10

All of our choices will have a ripple effect… like when you toss a stone into a pond… the ripple will go on and on. We may see the effects of our willingness now or we may never see what happens until we get to Heaven! Either way, don’t you want your willing heart to be a good ripple? I know I do… willing to humble myself to be filled with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)

So… here is my challenge to you, are you willing to see what more or what new thing God has for you in 2018? We, especially women, tend to look at what someone else has or is doing… the dread of comparison! But you know what… regardless of your circumstances, where you have come from, how much money you have, or what skills you have honed! What is important to God is a humble, willing heart! Pray for guidance, be in God Word, let you willing heart be the tool the Lord can use to work in you and through you! And you know what is so great about a willing heart… you don’t have to be perfect… just willing! The secret to living God’s dream for your life is a willing heart!

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,and do not lean on your own understanding.” ~ Proverbs 3:5

#willingheart #wordfor2018 #willing #lessonsingrace

In His Grace,

Carin