Do you have a word, or a life verse for the New Year?
I desperately wanted my word to be “abundance”, and I really thought that’s the word that God gave me, so I doodled it into a blotter for my doodle notebook, ready to be laminated…absolutely perfect!
Or not.
Today, the Lord impressed on my heart that this year, He wanted my “yes” to whatever He was asking. He gave me Luke 1:38, along with a wonderful example of how to say “yes” to Him, and in a reckless moment of complete abandon to Him and His will, I said with Mary “be it unto me, according to your word”.
Later, I was driving (job hunting) putting on my garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness with Robin Mark’s Revival in Belfast, laying it all out there to the Lord, and the song “All for Jesus” came on.
Jesus, all for Jesus
All I am and have, and ever hope to be
All of my ambitions, hopes, and plans, I surrender these into Your hands.
I was immediately reminded of my early morning resolve, and I received the word that God was singing in my ear, whispering into my spirit: Surrender.
I believe that may be the most frightening word in the world. It might mean poverty, it might include letting go of everything I hold dear, it might mean putting lifelong dreams behind me to embrace my reality…surrendering my rights, my love of control, my pride…surrendering what I want in this “now” to the One who promised me a hope and a future; surrendering the old thing, for the promised new thing; surrendering all, in exchange for the One who wants to be my all in all.
I found this beautiful prayer that says it better than the words I could find, and have made them my own heart cry for the new year.
Take, O Lord, and receive my entire liberty,
my memory, my understanding and my whole will.All that I am and all that I possess You have given me:
I surrender it all to You to be disposed of according to Your will.Give me only Your love and Your grace;
with these I will be rich enough, and will desire nothing more.~St. Ignatius of Loyola
New Things 
Beautiful post–and I think I will be sharing “your” word in my own life. In every way, including the ubiquitous resolution to diet for the new year: I need to surrender to the real health needs rather than my own wants. The same story for body, mind, and spirit: surrender to good, and discipline the desires.
Thank you, Kat. I can definitely use company on the journey…walk with me! I love Ann Voskamp’s new years post at a holy experience…in the process of making my own “grace plan” to look at every day….I think you’ll like her post too, you can find it here: http://www.aholyexperience.com/.
We can support each other through the year!
The post you recommended is just beautiful. I really enjoyed it. Thank you!
Obey, our words are for a reason… I believe this word for you has amazing things in store for you! It’s a difficult word to be sure, but God’s with you my friend!
Thanks, Donna. I can’t get the song “trust and obey” out of my head…goes right along with what I know He’s telling me today.
Blessings!
you have won the Sunshine award. Come to my post to see the EASY rules http://melaniejeanjuneau.wordpress.com/2013/12/31/starting-the-new-year-with-an-award/