Twenty eighteen. Wow! We are here and at the beginning of a new year! While many are focusing on resolutions, that generally focus on fixing things from the past, I’m creating the vision, which focuses on my future. Like last year, I took some time to identify key words that will allow me to have a general focus. The word of 2017 was Abundance.
My word for 2018 is Surrender.
I really tried to avoid this word, but it kept following me one day. I couldn’t stop thinking about this word or seeing this word written somewhere. Not surrender in terms of giving up and just letting things be; surrender in the context of submitting all of my plans, goals, visions, and life completely over to God. Surrendering to His will and agenda and not my own. This is the year I take my business & blog to another level, I become a mother of TWO children, so there will be more happenings at home. In my personal walk with God, I found my life when I laid down my own. When I give Him all of my fears, dreams and everything in between, He blows my mind beyond what I could ever imagine.
To surrender means to relinquish possession or control to another, to submit to the power, authority, and control of another.
Not surrender in terms of giving up and just letting things be; surrender in the context of submitting all of my plans, goals, visions, and life completely over to God. Surrendering to His will and agenda and not my own.
Surrendering to God’s agenda in and through us requires a clear view of the agendas we have prescribed for ourselves. Most people’s lists of things they consider important would include personal peace, happiness, comfort, prosperity, security, friends, good health, fulfilling experiences, and reaching their full potential.
The above list should make the need for our surrender obvious, for those plans often conflict or ignore God’s plan for us. It’s true that God may and often does provide for us measures of peace, prosperity, position, fulfillment, and other things on our lists, but our surrender to God’s plan is a statement that we will not live for these things (emphasis mine). They are not the things that drive us, but are simply side benefits that come through the sovereign pleasure of God.
What’s your word for 2018? Where do you see yourself? What are you speaking over your life this year?
Beautiful post dear! You do what you can and let God handle the rest 🙂 Jeremiah 29:11 & Romans 11:29
Beautiful, moving, and challenging words. I’ve been following for years. Continue your good work.