All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. —2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV
Oh, those pesky, challenging New Year’s resolutions—made with such determination and enthusiasm. The days are finally growing lighter again (we all want to be lighter again after holiday eating), and a new year seems a good time for a fresh start. So, we set our goals and do our dogged best to keep ’em. Sometimes we do. Sort of. Most of the time, though, we fall far short. This would be because we are human. Fallible. Prone to stick with old habits even when we don’t want to. So, do we give up? No. But let’s start with the one resolution that equips us to do all the others: God’s Word. What? How is that a resolution, you ask?
I would like to share with you a habit I began years ago that has helped me as I set new goals and dream new dreams at the beginning of each year. With love and thanks to my dear mentor, Fern Nichols, who first introduced me to this idea, I begin praying in December, asking God to reveal a Bible verse or verses that I should choose as theme verses for the year. In His great faithfulness, God always shows me a verse or a passage of scripture that is to be my focus. I type these theme verses up, print them out, pop them on the top of my prayer list, and tuck them in my Bible. Then, every single day, as I begin my prayer time, I read this portion of Scripture. I pray these verses. I ask God to live His words through me and in me.
This past year, God whispered to my heart the phrase, “Thy will be done.” Hoo boy. That’s a tough one. To choose, consistently, His will over my own! I realized that this phrase is part of the Lord’s Prayer found in Matthew 6 and Luke 11. So, I typed out the whole prayer and prayed it each day. When I came to “Thy will be done,” I emphasized it as I prayed. Yes, Lord. Thy will is best. As is always the case, I grew a bit more in my walk with Him, because I learned through His Word to surrender a bit more. I prayed for myself and I prayed for my loved ones: that God would be “hallowed” and honored by all of us … that we would desire His will on earth as it is in heaven … that He would provide daily bread … forgiveness … protection from evil. Because of the repetition and the turning of these words into a prayer for others and for myself, I grew to love that portion of scripture more than ever, and it has, like all the verses from the years before, become a part of me.
In 2019, my verses are to be Hebrews 12:1-2. I’m eager to pray them, think on them, ask God to help me live out what I read. God’s Word is true. By choosing the best resolution of all, to hide His Word in my heart, I receive the blessing of 2 Timothy 3:17: I am thoroughly equipped for every good work. Starting with God’s Word equips me for all other good works. I highly recommend it to you. Happy New Year!
Dear Father, thank You for the Bible, rich in “teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.” How I praise You that Your Word is “God-breathed”—Your instruction on how we are to live delivered directly to Your people. Teach us, Lord. Teach us how to make the best use of our time in 2019. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, for Thy will is always best. We love You, Lord! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
You are loved,
Sharon
Sweet Selah Ministries
Vision To encourage a movement away from the belief that “busy is better”
and toward the truth that stillness and knowing God matter most—
and will be reflected in more effective work and service
Mission
To offer resources and retreats that help women pause (Selah)
and love God more deeply as they know Him more intimately (Sweet)
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