I’m terrible at resolutions. I can make one, but it won’t take more than 16 days before I’ve already messed something up and my resolution has gone out the window.
Once upon a time, I did the obligatory “I’m joining a gym. I’m going to lose weight. I’m going to read my Bible every day.” All those sentences have potential to have great impact on me throughout the year. But the list of this and that for someone who writes and then rewrites lists (only to lose them the second go-around and write it the third time), does not produce anything very worthy of accomplishment.
Fast forward to this year. Now it’s about “THE word.” We all know what I’m talking about. It’s been the rage these last 5-10 years or so of coming up with a word that you want to resonate with you for the year. I’ve been doing it the last several years. And while I loathe being a band-wagoner (is that even really a word?), I like this concept. It allows me to choose a word that should focus my actions to that rather than feeling like a failed at a resolution.
This year, the word is “Intention.” (Closely followed by the additional words, FOLLOW THROUGH.)
For me, this year is about being intentional with what I do. I would like to learn how to can; not just because I think it might be fun. I’d really like to take my meal prep further than week to week. I’d like to use my grocery budget wisely and not have so much waste. God gave us the veggies…I shouldn’t be wasting them. Canning can help with that. Intention.
I want to spend more time as a family. It doesn’t have to be this long and drawn-out day and I don’t want it to be obligatory. I want to sit down as a family and play a game, maybe go bowling, sit on the back deck and chat. I want to purposefully have conversations or laugh or be serious. I want my time with my family to be God-centered and God-honoring. Intention.
I want to build a garden. I’ve joked on previous blogs about being a master gardener. I just wrote about it in a Facebook post and Emily commented that I was not a master gardener but rather a fiction writer! (I MAY have exaggerated my gardening skills.) But I don’t want to build just any garden (like I did last year and never ate anything that came from it). I want to plant what I know we will eat. I want to plant appropriately and at the right time. I may have to succession plant. But you know what that takes, friends? Intention. I must be intentional about what I’m doing.
I want to talk to God more. I love being in the Word, but I don’t feel I’m in it enough. I pray, but I don’t pray without ceasing. I want to see what God is showing me in the Bible. It’s going to take being intentional with my study time.
These are just a few examples of what I want to do throughout the year. How am I going to put actions to that word you ask? Not only do I remind myself daily, I very specifically ask God every morning to show me ways to be intentional…and to give me the fortitude to complete them. And then I go for it!
I’ll fail sometimes. Other times, I’ll hit a home run. That’s the beauty of having the word. I recognize where my weaknesses are. The word helps me stay more focused on how to do better and be better. And none of it works if I’m not constantly seeking God to keep my actions on a path that ultimately honors and glorifies Him!
Friends, do you have a word or a goal or a resolution that you’d like to share? Let us know what yours is in the comments!
Happy New Year!
~Erin
Iron Porch 