TODAY’S SIGNATURE VERSE ••• “Not as I will, but as You will.” (Matthew 26:39b NKJV)
PRAISE & PRAYER PROMPT ••• Happy New Year! New year. New word.
In 2020, my Word of the Year was “Contentment,” which I personally think is sufficient proof that God has a sense of humor. I generally start thinking about my new word around October, and I honestly thought that in 2021, my word would be “Trust.”
And then, after mulling it over and not feeling particularly settled on it, I realized this truth: I talk about trust a lot. I do trust God. I don’t have to be convinced that He is worthy of my trust. I know that beyond a shadow of a doubt. But as good as I am about saying I trust God and declaring that I’m going to lay my issues down at His feet, I’m even better at picking those things back up.
While trust is an important part of my Christian walk, it’s more important for me to focus on “Surrender.”
Once “Surrender” came to mind, I haven’t stopped thinking about it. It’s not the most fun word in the world, but it’s a word that will teach me much. It already has.
In the process of thinking of my new word, I realized that a Word of the Year comes with side-effects. And when I make Surrender my focus, there are other lessons that I will learn by default — everything from Trust, Hope, Faith, Rest, Obedience, even more on Contentment. And it’s also going to offer Freedom — Surrender will mean freedom from anxiety and fear.
It means surrendering everything I hold dear to God: my son. My marriage. My family. My friends. My business. Everything. And it means embracing the words of Jesus who said on the eve of His crucifixion — “Not as I will, but as You will.”
So now — it’s time to stop fighting for the control I’ve never had. It’s time to let my own agenda die and surrender fully to the Savior Who died for me. To surrender and live out Galatians 2:20, which says, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
What about you? Do you do a Word of the Year study? I’d love to hear your word choice.
Until then…. Happy New Year!
Today, as you pray, thank God for the power of His Word. Thank Him for the wisdom He gives when we seek Him. No matter what your word may be, ask the Holy Spirit to help you surrender everything to Jesus and trust that when you leave everything at His feet, He can handle it all far better than you can.
SHARING ••• My Grace-Full Life is written by Denise Heidel. You are welcome to share anything I write, but please credit my writing and graphics accordingly. Visit www.MyGraceFullLife.com to read past blogs. Subscribe through my website to have My Grace-Full Life delivered to your email. You can unsubscribe at any time. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the NKJV translation.
