"Forget New Year’s Resolutions. Scrap the long list of goals that you won’t remember three weeks from now anyway. Choose just one word.
One word that sums up who you want to be or how you want to live or what you want to achieve by the end of 2012.
One word that you can focus on every day, all year long.
One word can change everything."
One Word 365 http://oneword365.com/I have always loved the beginning of a new year. I like to reflect back on the previous year and remember God's faithfulness and all that He did. I like to look forward to a fresh new year with anticipation of what He will do. I used to do New Years resolutions but over the years it went from a long list to simply one focus.
When I read about One Word, I instantly decided that this was something I wanted to do... and God quickly responded back with the word He had for me.
Beloved
That simple but that profound. Beloved. That one simple word captures my identity in Christ. I am His beloved.
"I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine" Song of Solomon
“Let the beloved of the LORD rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the LORD loves rests between his shoulders.” Deuteronomy 33:12
Recently, I was talking with a friend and remembering my first year in this area. At that time, it was one of the most difficult years of my life. Yet I wouldn't trade that year for anything. For in the midst of that year, God started to shape my identity in Him. I grew up knowing that God loved me but I had never fully believed or experienced that love. I was blown away as He tenderly spoke truth to me, tore away lies, and started to rebuild my identity with His love and truth. His love brought healing into the depths of my heart. Old wounds and hurts were torn open to be healed by His love. I was amazed at the depths of His tender love. To find what I had been longing and searching for... unconditional love and acceptance. To realize that God was my Beloved and that He searched for me. He sought after me while I was still a sinner. He bought me with a price. I was precious in His sight. I had worth and significance simply because I was His child.
This was eight years ago. Since that time, I have begun to walk in this identity as His Beloved. I have embraced this beautiful truth and this tender love. I have allowed it to shape me. I have found such contentment, peace, and confidence in His love.
Yet it has been and continues to be a process and a journey. I look back encouraged by the journey thus far. It has been a difficult but beautiful journey. And I realize that journey is not over. He has so much further that He wants to take me. I look forward to what this year holds as He has me focus on this one word. Beloved. May it continue to shape me and define me in greater ways.
be·lov·ed
adjective
1.
greatly loved; dear to the heart.
noun
2.
a person who is greatly loved.
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