Focus Words - by Margaret
I have had a longterm relationship with annual practice of New Years goal setting. I still get excited by the act of putting to paper my ordinary and optimistic ideas and goals as I look to the year ahead. And better yet, to review the previous years goals to see what was achieved, or not, but more so to see if I was still in the same place- or how I have grown or changed.
I have never used an annual theme word or verse, but I know others who have. That said, I have recently been using a focus word to mark seasons I have been working through. Not intentionally- but they came and felt right.
Simplicity was the first word I adopted with intention. When everything in life seemed a bit too much - I embraced this word. I found word art- placed it on my fireplace mantel to keep it front and centre.
Years ago I had worked through Richard Foster's 'Celebration of Discipline’ ( a book I highly recommend-BTW). I revisited the chapter on Simplicity and made it my moto. I can’t say I achieved any level of true simplicity but It opened my eyes to work through where I was at - and where I needed to go in many areas of my life. As I cleared the clutter - I unearthed ’treasures’ - that brought new joy for this season. We were planning to move so this was timely in many ways. I cleared out what no longer worked well and a whole lot of unnecessary ‘stuff’. Many things just happened to be the perfect fit for someone else. Again, God’s timing.
I had entered a year of Sabbatical- and worked through Mark Buchanan’s ‘The Rest of God’. I sought rest and I sought God. Somewhere in that time my word changed from ‘simplicity' to ‘enough’.
That I am enough, that God is enough for me, that I am to trust in Him. That what I already have is enough. But what was enough? The intent of Sabbatical is to stop. To rest. To recharge. To be renewed. But just as important was to start again. What to let go, what to hold on tight to, what to seek out. I prayed ‘Thy will be done’ and waited for his answer.. and when I stopped I started to hear.
I now live in a simple, beautiful condo that I consider God’s gift to us. We had bought land and planned to build- but God played with our plans (in some hard and challenging ways) and in His timing gave us what He knew we needed. The Rolling Stones Anthem “ You can’t always get what you want..but you get what you need” often comes to mind. God gave us more than enough - in a way that could only be from Him. I am ‘nesting’ in our new home and stay mindful of what is ‘enough’. To love my well worn ‘treasures’ and not to get caught up in every new fad on Pinterest. I feel good, healthy, rested, and ready to start a new phase. A new word? I feel ready for an action word. I look forward to what GOD has laid out for me. I hope to be inspired by some of your focus words.
Blessings, Margaret
I have never used an annual theme word or verse, but I know others who have. That said, I have recently been using a focus word to mark seasons I have been working through. Not intentionally- but they came and felt right.
Simplicity was the first word I adopted with intention. When everything in life seemed a bit too much - I embraced this word. I found word art- placed it on my fireplace mantel to keep it front and centre.
Years ago I had worked through Richard Foster's 'Celebration of Discipline’ ( a book I highly recommend-BTW). I revisited the chapter on Simplicity and made it my moto. I can’t say I achieved any level of true simplicity but It opened my eyes to work through where I was at - and where I needed to go in many areas of my life. As I cleared the clutter - I unearthed ’treasures’ - that brought new joy for this season. We were planning to move so this was timely in many ways. I cleared out what no longer worked well and a whole lot of unnecessary ‘stuff’. Many things just happened to be the perfect fit for someone else. Again, God’s timing.
I had entered a year of Sabbatical- and worked through Mark Buchanan’s ‘The Rest of God’. I sought rest and I sought God. Somewhere in that time my word changed from ‘simplicity' to ‘enough’.
That I am enough, that God is enough for me, that I am to trust in Him. That what I already have is enough. But what was enough? The intent of Sabbatical is to stop. To rest. To recharge. To be renewed. But just as important was to start again. What to let go, what to hold on tight to, what to seek out. I prayed ‘Thy will be done’ and waited for his answer.. and when I stopped I started to hear.
I now live in a simple, beautiful condo that I consider God’s gift to us. We had bought land and planned to build- but God played with our plans (in some hard and challenging ways) and in His timing gave us what He knew we needed. The Rolling Stones Anthem “ You can’t always get what you want..but you get what you need” often comes to mind. God gave us more than enough - in a way that could only be from Him. I am ‘nesting’ in our new home and stay mindful of what is ‘enough’. To love my well worn ‘treasures’ and not to get caught up in every new fad on Pinterest. I feel good, healthy, rested, and ready to start a new phase. A new word? I feel ready for an action word. I look forward to what GOD has laid out for me. I hope to be inspired by some of your focus words.
Blessings, Margaret
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