“his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. “
Psalm 1:2-3
Here we are in 2020 ?? and(yes, I know?) I am pretty late for a New Year post…. BUUUT better late than never is my motto!??♀️? Each year the Lord seems to give me a “word” that fits with the year and brings with it many encouraging Scripture verses[like hope or rejoice or rest]! Anyone else have this happen?? Sometimes it hits me half way through the new year or on the last day of the last month of that year but this year’s word hit me before the new year even began!??♀️? My 2020 word is THRIVE. Did you know there is a difference between THRIVING and just surviving? It’s true! I had a “lightbulb?” moment in November with the thought that there is a HUGE difference. A quick look in the dictionary proved my feelings were indeed reality! ?
To Survive: continue to live or exist
To THRIVE: grow or develop well or vigorously.?
“But GROW in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To HIm be glory both now and for ever. Amen.“
2 PETER 3:18
I had made it to a place in November after a hugely intense season of some completely unexpected events where life had gotten so fast and so furious(in the best sense of that word ) that I was merely surviving in the Word of God, taking in only what I needed to “exist” yet I felt spiritually malnourished [James 1:22-25<– SO GOOD, Must Read!]❤️ I believe there is a difference between just mindlessly reading the Word and seriously taking it in, absorbing it’s nutrient packed Truth, and living by what you have read. I remember at that moment the Lord bringing Jeremiah 17:7-8 to my mind:
“Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.” Jer 17:7-8
How I wanted and needed to be as that tree that is deeply rooted in God’s Word, trusting and hoping in Him! Never anxious in seasons of “drought”, nor effected by the heat that is to come, and NEVER ceasing from yielding good fruit. I knew I needed to get out of “survival mode” and thrive! So, as I welcome in 2020 with all it’s grandeur, I have no 2020 bucket lists [merely due to the fact I’m horrible at making them??] and my New Year’s Resolution is very simple yet sweet. My heart’s desire and Resolution for 2020 (and beyond) is to truly THRIVE in the Word of Lord! Not to merely survive or exist BUT to take in the LIVING WORD[Heb 4:12], absorb it, live it out and grow + develop well and vigorously through it! Yes, I have some practical applications for pursuing this resolution and I know + pray that in the strength of the Lord and power of His might, this will be a year that I THRIVE in His Word! May we seek The Lord God deeply and develop vigorously this next year. May His Word be our constant delight and mediation day and night[Psalm 1]! Happy 2020 y’all!?
??♀️ QUESTIONS!! Do you have a “2020 Word”? What are you looking forward to most[Lord willing] in the year 2020? What New Year Resolutions did you make?? You all know how much I LOVE hearing from YOU so don’t leave without answering one or all questions in the comment box below! ?? Your comments make my day. ?
“Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.”
Jeremiah 15:16
“That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.”
Hebrews 6:18-20
I am so glad that 2019 passed away, taking with it a year of trials and deep heartaches. I know that every year holds its share of troubles because life has trouble. I know that every year holds its share of joys because God is joy. I’m looking forward to a fresh new year with all its woes and wonders, and I’m grateful to be alive!
My longings for this year are:
1. To be more gentle.
2. To speak less and listen more.
3. To let go of people; they don’t belong to me, they belong to God.
4. To have 20/20 spiritual vision in walking with the Lord.
God has already spoken to my heart. This week I was honestly contending with Him for 3 days, asking Him why He put the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden in the first place? I asked Him why He allowed Satan to have access to Adam and Eve? God could have left the tree out, or ordered Satan to stay away from them, if He had so chosen!
After 3 days, I surrendered to the fact that God is God and I am just human. To know God, I would have to BE God, or have the mind of God. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:9 I praised Him for being God, and left it at that.
But then He did something I didn’t expect: He gave me a glimpse into His mind on the matter! He told me He wanted a deeper love from His children than that of the innocence bestowed at creation! He wanted a redemptive love; a love that responded to Him from our deepest beings in adoration for being rescued from our helpless sin-cursed states! He wanted to give us His righteousness, a better righteousness than that which was given to Adam and Eve. His righteousness is imparted to us from His own dear Son! There is no form of deeper love – us to God, or God to us!
Then, not only that, but God chose to also be a Father and Brother to His children, training us, loving us unconditionally, and even suffering us, for a deeper bond. Wow! Plus, He also suffers the scorn and abuse of an unbelieving world every single day, in order to work with His children.
What unfathomable love! What unfathomable patience!
It will take an eternity to praise Him for His unspeakable gift of Jesus, and the unspeakable gift of Jesus’s love for us.
This is beautiful! I love your comments! This one brought tears to my eyes. He is an AWESOME GOD of Love! He gave HIS BEST, His son! Praise be to GOD!!!!
Sheri!!!!! Wow, how I was blessed to open your comment first thing this morning and read it. Amen! We wont always or instantly or fully understand why the Lord chooses to do what He does or has has yet me must rest (or surrender) in the truth that His ways are so much higher than our ways(“As for God, his way is perfect”) and thoughts higher than our thoughts(Is 55)! Reminds me of Psalm 46 where it says, “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” I have found it is often right after the surrendering to these truths or resting in them that the Lord reveals a piece of the puzzle to me. I love how He gave you that beautiful glimpse into His plan!
And what a plan He has had since the foundation of the world. Redemptive and unfathomable love is so right! What an amazing and sacrificial LOVE He has bestowed upon us. “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God…”1 John 3:1✨??? Looking forward to an eternity spent praising Him together!! Thank you for blessing me this January day, Sheri. I pray 2020 is filled with a peace that passes all understanding and joy unspeakable, full of glory as you rest in the Lord and the perfection of His will! ❤️
What a great way to begin my morning! I was so encouraged and prompted to thought with this question. I have not thought of New Year Resolutions, goals or whatever you want to call it in a one word summary. But, thrive means more than merely surviving which is amazing.
So, I thought about my one word for this year. The first word that came to mind was delight. “Delight thyself in the LORD and He shall give thee the desires of thine ❤ heart”. That would be mine for this year. I did look up the word delight and found a post of what it means to delight in the LORD. I realize much of my life I have thought about temporal things. This blog pointed out that we get so much more from the LORD when we delight in Him. We have the true desires if our heart met in His presence. I do believe He does give us things we desire, but I think they come after our hearts line up, braid together with Him, and ask Him what is best that they do come. It’s rather like giving out hearts a “tuneup” when we meet with Him and find joy and delight in doing so. I’m sure so much more comes from that.
So, I pray I delight in the LORD, in His Word and in prayer time with Him. I started prayer walking, I hope to continue right into Spring 100!!????
Thanks soooooo much for sharing Rachel! You bless me!
Amen, Yvonne! I love both Rachel’s word and your word: thrive and delight. They are words of high hope and abundant life in the Lord.
I agree with you: when our hearts are lined up with His and we are delighting in Him, then we ask for only that which is according to His will for us. And we know that He answers that kind of prayer.
I love your word “Delight”, Yvonne! ❤️ I often think of that beautiful verse from Psalm 37, “Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”. It can be often mis-used and abused by people seeking their own desires and wanting their own plans fulfilled, can’t it?! I love what you read regarding the word Delight! Something I have found over the years is as I am truly and fully seeking to delight myself in the Lord alone, He becomes the greatest desire of my heart and then does a great work to continually align and conform my desires with His perfect will! And amen, when we truly delight in Him, we get so much more…. More joy, more peace, more satisfactions! He alone is the Satisfier of our souls and the Giver of every good and perfect gift. ?? May we truly delight ourselves fully in HIM for 2020 and all the years that follow!
But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.-Ps 37:11
Rachel, I love what you were saying about taking in the Word of God, not just skimming over the top of our “required daily reading.” To drink it in, to ponder it deeply, to study and cross reference it, and to OBEY IT, is to be a doer of the Word, and not a hearer only. This is an important consideration that goes along closely with your 2020 chosen word: thrive!
It also speaks deeply to the word: delight!
“To drink it in, to ponder it deeply, to study and cross reference it, and to OBEY IT, is to be a doer of the Word, and not a hearer only.” AMEN!!!! I have loves James 1:22-25 this past month. To obey and be a DOER! “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” 1 john 5:3
I was thinking today that I also rejoice that I have female friends and mentors that help me along the way. I love the blog Rachel does and the comments that are made on here. I have female sojourners that I know, some that I “meet” through media, and some that I read books that minister to me. I also have women “friends” from theBible who teach me, even the ones I wouldn’t be friends with (ie: Jezebel) teach me something about life and how I can best live it. God’s Word is of the utmost importance, but I thank God for female friends who share their walk with the LORD and let me share mine as well. One day we’re going to be together with Jesus! Praise God!
The Lord is so gracious! It is such a tremendous blessing to be fellow sojourners and encouragers in Christ! ??
I love your word of the year, Rachel!! I saw a garden sign yesterday in the store that said “thrive.” That is something we should all have as a goal. My word of the year is perspective. I need to focus on keeping an eternal perspective throughout the day.
For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Hebrews 11:10
I love your word, Bethany! An eternal perspective. ?❤️ Reminds me of Colossians 3 where it says, “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” May the days in 2020 and beyond be filled with an eternal perspective!!
I really enjoyed this post, Rachel! 2020 is my first year having a word of the year. My word is Accomplish. This year I not only have several areas I want to improve in with the Lord’s help, but I also want to reach certain goals in those areas. And what I am most excited about accomplishing is the walk across the platform at my college graduation!
I pray this is a very blessed year for you and your family!??
I have been thinking about your 2020 word all day, Hannah! ? I love your choice of Accomplish!! You will be accomplishing a HUGE task(Lord willing) this Spring as you take that walk. It reminds me of Proverbs 13:19 where it says, “The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul…” I am so excited for you and all the Lord has for you in this year as you continue to serve HIM! Looking forward to seeing His continued faithfulness in you and your family for 2020!!✨❤️
“So shall My word be that goeth forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”Is 55:11
Oh how I desire to know how to abide in Christ more and more. For there and only there are the promises of God ‘yeah’ and ‘amen.’ How I desire to walk by his grace and abide. To labour diligently yet to cease from my own works. To live in him but to die daily. To do only that for which I have grace to do and to strive lawfully. To ask for grace knowing he will abraid me not. To know that he has chosen us in him and loved us with an everlasting love. To rest In Him where there is no condemnation. To remember Him that loved me. Coming boldly to his throne of grace. For he did say, ‘it is finished.’ For if I am afflicted there is a faithful High priest that knows the feelings of my infirmities. Knowing if I strive unlawfully He is faithful to forgive me of my sins. To have hope, for hope that is seen is no hope at all. Knowing we are saved by hope. To trust in him and walk by faith. Having not yet obtained but by faith knowing I have all things in Him. To forget and forsake the things that are behind and any sin that besets me. To press forward towards his high calling. Oh I want to bare much fruit in him and that not for my glory but for Him that loved me. Amen.
Amen! ? I was reminded of a few verses when reading your comment:
Ephesians 3:20 “Now unto HIM that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us”
2 Corinthians 9:8-10″And God is able to make ALL GRACE abound toward you; that ye, always having ALL SUFFICIENCY in ALL THINGS, may abound to every good work:(As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; He hath given to the poor: His righteousness remaineth for ever.Now He that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)”
Matthew 7:7 “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you”
I pray this new year is filled with great HOPE, peace, and perfect contentment as you confidently move forward in the grace of our Lord and Savior, abiding(resting/dwelling) in Christ “By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God”[Rom 5:1-5]! May you joyfully lay hold upon the hope set before you [Heb 6:18-19] as you patiently wait on the Lord[Ps 25:3] and His good work to be accomplished in you! “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” Phil 1:6
“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me”