Are you hating your New Year’s resolutions already? You should join me and a bunch of other people who simply choose one word to focus on for the year. Instead of resolutions, I choose a single word to guide the year. Who keeps New Year’s resolutions anyway? Not me. But letting one word guide my decisions each day? Now that seems possible!
Usually, my word has to do with my walk with the Lord. What spiritual growth would I like to see this year? How would I like my relationship with the Lord to change, to deepen, this year?
The little guy in the picture above certainly lived life with utter abandon. Our three-year-old son, Austin Lee, went to heaven in 2008. Before he left this earth, however, he did everything BIG. Laughter ~ loud. Love ~ fiercely. Action ~ always!
Abandon is my word for 2018. It is Austin Lee inspired. I want to walk next to my mighty God with utter abandon:
- Abandon any perceived distance between myself and God
- Abandon the false limitations I put on what God can do each day
- Abandon inhibitions towards sharing my faith
- Abandon what the world might think of me and my God
- Abandon my fears of failing
- Abandon my feelings towards financial security
- Abandon limits I put on serving others when God calls
- Abandon my need to fit in
Abandon . . . myself. If I push myself out of the way, I could:
Live with abandon by giving everything about me to God.
Love with abandon by releasing everyone around me to God.
Praise with abandon by singing (even out of tune!) His praise.
Write with abandon by creating everything the Lord puts on my heart.
Serve with abandon by searching for those in need of God’s love.
The list could go on for days. It sounds exciting, but I am also a bit scared.
What if I sell out for God and nothing happens? What if I put everything about myself on the line and God doesn’t show up?
As long as we live on earth, it is likely these thoughts will creep into our minds. These questions are exactly the ones the enemy used to trick Eve into eating the only fruit God told her not to eat!
We do NOT have to allow these thoughts to stay in our mind or take root in our hearts. We can ABANDON them by replacing them with truth:
“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” ~ Matthew 6:31-34
If I seek God with abandon, with all my heart, He will meet all of my needs. God keeps His promises. He will show up. He will make things happen so that His mighty name can be glorified.
I want my life to look and feel like this song from Newsboys ~ Live With Abandon:
Lyrics:
Chasing after this world makes me tired
Praisin’ my own name leaves me dry
There’s gotta be so much more to life than this
A higher calling that I missed
I want my life to count, every breath
I wanna live with abandon
Give you all that I am
Every part of my heart Jesus
I place in your hands
I wanna live with abandon
Give you all that I am
Every part of my heart Jesus
I place in your hands
I wanna live with abandon
Drop everything and follow you
It’s only your hands I hold onto
There’s gotta be so much more to life than this
A higher calling that I missed
I want my life to count, every breath
Let’s forget those resolutions . . . I’m gonna live with ABANDON!
What’s your word for 2018?
Please share your word for 2018 in the comments ( :
My word for 2018 is dedication. I want to be more dedicated to the things that God has called me to do. I want to be more dedicated to studying the Word. I have a real problem with time management, specifically setting aside time everyday for Bible study and meditation on God’s Word.
You can do it! We can do anything with God. Keep me posted. I will be praying for you? kim