As I look back and review the one word focus for each of the past five years, I am remind of the journey I am on. These are not random, loose or unconnected words. They are not hit or miss. I did not pick them out of the sky "just because." Each word has deep meaning and purpose for my life and where I was at that time. Each year, the new word builds upon the previous one, and they all fit together like one of my boys' masterpiece Lego creations. "For precept must be upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little." (Isaiah 28:10)
In 2006, my hope was all but gone. There were circumstances and situations that were out of my control and my hope of having a Christ like home was fading. The Lord placed the word "hope" inside of me and as the year progressed, the tiniest seed began to grow. It wasn't an earth shattering cosmic boom, my situation didn't change, my circumstances were still a daily challenge, but as I looked into His word and sought out hope, it began to grow inside my heart.
2007 dawned and I was exhausted, weary, and discouraged. I felt God calling me to focus on "rest." Since all three boys were in private school, I was doing my best to learn how to say no and get some much needed rest for my own body, mind and spirit. I picked up "The Too Busy Book" by Linda Anderson and my heart beat with her heart beat. She used scripture to show just how godly it is to say "No," and to focus on the few things that He has called me to, rather than running here and there all day, trying to please man and destroying my own self. I had allowed myself to be trapped in a pit of other's expectations, my own drive to find self worth and this silly need to be at every event the church offered for fear of missing out and not being a part of the "in crowd." (Here I insert the question...why, oh why, is there an "in crowd" in church? Oh, God, have mercy!) In 2007 I began to learn to care for myself, I read lots of Christian fiction just for fun, I went out to lunch with friends I missed, I made time for lengthy phone calls with faraway friends, I snuggled with my boys for hours and hours each week. The journey to rest had begun.
2008 I wasn't ready to let "rest" go, I knew I had so much more to learn. I simply added to the word and came up with "Restoration." Two different words, but so much of the same quest. I longed for restoration in relationships, restoration in my own heart, restoration in our home. Again, a lofty goal that could not be resolved or attained in twelve calendar months. All the same, God spoke so much hope to my heart and taught me more about setting boundaries and being more in charge of the influences I allowed in my life.
I was led to the word "abide" at the start of 2009 and felt that I need to carry that word into 2010. A few weeks ago, in my post "On A Precipice," I shared just how precious that word became to me over the course of time. I love how God places something inside our hearts that may or may not make much sense at the time. As we obey His voice and follow His heart, He begins to confirm what He's spoken, through His word, through our circumstances, and through godly counsel in our lives (sounds like it might be time to break out Henry Blackaby's "Hearing God's Voice" again!).
For 2011 I know beyond all shadow of all doubt that my one word focus is to be "holiness." I long to grow in my relationship with Jesus and to become more and more like Him. I am grieved by the lack of holiness in my life, in our home, in our interactions with others, in our culture, in our churches. It is time to get back to the basics of faith. The following verse challenges me to walk in holiness, each and every day. "For I am the LORD your God. You shall therefore consecrate yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I am holy. Neither shall you defile yourselves with any creeping thing that creeps on the earth. For I am the LORD who brings you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy." (Leviticus 11:44-45) Recently, we were hanging out with a group of Christian friends. I witnessed how quickly the conversation and atmosphere went downhill, into a gutter. My ten year old son left the room and when I asked about it later, he said, "Mom, it got dirty. I felt uncomfortable." That broke my heart. My child had more discernment and was bothered by the turn of events, while the rest of us allowed it to go downhill.
I have invited my boys to join me in this year's quest for holiness. I don't always do this, but I feel that this word is timely for our entire family. Three little words pose a powerful question..."Is it holy?" Similar to the "WWJD" (what would Jesus do?) movement, this question comes into play as we live out our lives, each and every day. If Jesus had skin and bones and sat with us at dinner each evening, would we discuss the same things? Would we speak in the same tone of voice or use the same facial expressions? If we could see Him, in the flesh, sitting on the couch beside us, would we watch the same TV programs or movies? If Jesus was dealt in on a hand of Dutch Blitz or Apples to Apples, would the play by play look the same? Is it holy? Does it bring me closer to Him and make me more like Him or does it cause His heart to ache? As one friend stated, this is an every day, every moment opportunity for conviction. I know that. I also know that it is time for Christians to start acting, talking and thinking like Christ. The definition of Christian is "follower of Christ," but most of us are not living up to that calling. I don't expect perfection, but I do hope that we all grow in this process. When we fall, for we surely will, we simply acknowledge our failure, seek the forgiveness of God and others...and move on.
Holiness...it's another lifelong quest, but for 2011, it's also our one word focus. Jesus, help us to be like You. In all things, at all times.
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