Happy New Year!

I was thinking over the last couple of days about the new year and resolutions, and asked myself why I am not a new year’s resolution kind of person.

Turns out, I have zero resolve. 

If I am going to do anything of significance (or even of no real significance) I do it either out of necessity or inspired motivation. The fact that we have food in our refrigerator or that my children bathe occasionally or that we have clean underwear is because of necessity. If it is not a necessity (cleaning the bathtub, exercising, getting a haircut, for example), it won’t happen until inspiration or a disaster strikes, one or the other.

Maybe I could resolve to have more resolve, but I’m not sure that would change anything.

Word for the year

Now, the concept of a “word of the year” appeals to me. I believe God has spoken or emphasized a word to me on various occasions. So I wait for a word to impact me and resonate. It’s not really bound by the calendar year, but it is somehow gratifying when they line up.

A few years ago, the word was Increase. That was almost strange, because not long after receiving that, we found ourselves holding on in the midst of great loss (loss of Scott, loss of a very brief pregnancy, loss of a job). Yet there was an increase in our souls that we cannot deny, a deepening of our relationships, and it so changed our lives that the year of loss became a year that so broadened our lives that we cannot be squeezed back into the people we were. Sam and I can say that our view of God and His love and care for us increased that year.

The year before that, it was Thrive. It was something emphasized to many in our church family, and it became a reality to me. The Lord delivered me from a cycle of overwhelm and defeat that I did not even realize that I had become subject to. Little by little, I began to overcome, choosing to take seriously the promises in the word, and I was able to thrive. We believe if we were not in a place of thriving, we never could have endured the year of “increase” the way we did.

Last year, more or less, the Lord spoke the word Order to me and to Sam. We came to it in different ways and as we talked about it and meditated on what God was saying to us, it crystalized into that one word.

Order

Miriam-Webster defines this very simple word:

To put in order; arrange

1. to give an order to: command; destine, ordain; to command to go or come to a specific place; to give an order for

The word “order” progressed in its application as the year went along.

We started out applying it to mean “to bring order.” This was necessary and good for us. I was pregnant with T and was working part time and the girls were in school full time. There were things going on in Sam’s workplace that needed him to bring order where he had the authority to do so.

Bring order

Obvious starting place: the house.

Y’all. I may be known for a good many things by the time I die, but “great housekeeper” is never going to be one of them. We have lived in our house for over a decade and I was so overwhelmed by stuff and clutter and kids and their plastic stuff and the general maintenance and lack of a plan, that I gave up somewhere.

So, order it is.

Through the process I learned so much about my relationship to stuff. I came to realize that it’s not getting rid of things that can change your outlook on life, as many decluttering and organization strategists would have you believe. No, it is rather a heart issue that must be addressed first. There’s freedom to be had before dealing with one’s things, and then action can be taken. Whether that means putting it in a more logical place, cleaning it and putting it back, or donating it, there is a place for everything, and a purpose for all of our belongings. But if you’re not in a place to change your outlook on the stuff you possess, moving it around will bring no lasting change. I’ll revisit this one day, I’m sure.

Over a period of about 3 months, I touched nearly every one of our belongings: closets, papers, drawers, dishes, clothing, toys, utensils, frozen food. I took more things to the Salvation Army for donation last year than I ever have. And we haven’t missed any of it.

Beyond that, there was a significant number of projects that needed to happen to prepare for a baby–setting up a room, buying necessities, even things like stocking the freezer, cleaning, and preparing the girls for the transition.

I had started bullet journaling (in a fit of highly motivated inspiration, which has since been abandoned) and made a nice journal spread of all the things that needed to be done. Miraculously, I was able to accomplish about 90% of the projects, decluttering, organizing, and rearranging that I intended to. Aside from some deep cleaning (still waiting on that), our house was ready for a new baby to enter.

Simultaneously, there was so much in Sam’s work that required God’s help for him to “bring the kingdom to bear” in the workplace. I won’t go into it, but there have been so many examples of seeing order in ways there had not been before.

Destine, ordain

The Lord orders our steps.

There was a very distinct recognition of this particularly in the weeks, days, and even minutes leading up to T’s birth.

I was profoundly aware of the way that there is nothing outside of the oversight, provision, and care of the Lord. Because He knows me completely, sees everything completely, and loves me completely, I can trust Him in every circumstance, and can trust Him to guide me.

The revelation that I can trust His leading made such a difference in every day. He is profoundly practical. His kindness is shown in his presence with us–even in the mundane matters of what we do from one hour to the next. When I am aware of His sovereign involvement (“in all your ways acknowledge him”), I am less concerned with myself and my agenda, and more able to pay attention to His.

I distinctly remember talking with a friend about some old church father, I believe it was Brother Lawrence’s writing, The Practice of the Presence of God, in which he said he didn’t make plans. He just trusted that the Lord would give him all the warning needed to do what was necessary and go where he ought, without having a calendar. Until I experienced the Lord’s help in this way, I literally thought that guy was so irresponsible. Such a goober. Just going along assuming everyone else will pick up his slack. No! God was giving him everything he needed to be able to serve in a greater capacity than if he had done things according to conventional thinking.

The amazing thing I noticed was that not only was every day so much more fulfilling and peaceful, but it was so much more productive! He directed my steps in such a way that I accomplished what was necessary and beneficial to my family and our goals, was available for opportunities I never would have caught if I were doing things “my way,” and I got to learn this wonderful aspect of the Holy Spirit’s help.

I saw His directing our interactions with people and with each other. He gave us opportunities to give and serve and love well. We missed many of them, I’m sure, but the times we caught His whispers motivate us to pay closer attention. Lately I’ve fallen a bit off the wagon, taken my eyes off His provision and onto my agenda, and I’ve suffered for it. I’m thankful for the reminder to look to Him, even as I type this today.

From my experience, if you are looking for ways to be more productive, have less stress, spend your time wisely and purposefully, and become more of a disciple, I recommend meditating on Proverbs 3:5-6.

Biblical order

The latter half of the year, I began sensing that there is an aspect of the word order that has more to do with relating to one another than with getting things done or putting things where they belong.

He brought order in our home and family.

We learned, again and again, to trust God with His timing, His provision, and His leadership–not our own. The concise word for that is submission. I submit my plans to God. I submit my day to God. I submit my agenda to God. I submit my future to God.

Submission is humility, knowing an appropriate place, and understanding a level of authority exercised by the one you submit to. Submission has everything to do with trust.
In so many of these areas, I have come eye level with my insistence on my way. Honestly, no one is attractive trying to push for their way. There is no faith in it. There’s no love, and really, it’s just selfish. There’s so much peace and hope in submission, because it is based in trusting God, not necessarily trust in my husband, family, employer, government, or anyone else, for that matter. Do I trust that God is really in charge? Based on all of the other, yes. Then I can trust Him to lead my husband (or employer, government, professor, whomever) and I can get on board. I could write more, but I won’t say it well today, so I’ll stop here.

At any rate, this year we have been grateful and almost surprised at how God has helped Sam and I to grow together, enjoy each other’s company, and walk in more unity than we have ever before–that with a full schedule, stressful job, and new baby. That, my friends, is a miracle. Are we perfectly “one”? haha, no. But there’s so much hope that it is a possibility.

We found such peace in bringing matters that concerned us to our home group or to our pastor for prayer and input. When we were approaching things that normally we would do on our own, like purchasing a vehicle, we sensed the need to bring others into our process, allowing them the opportunity to walk with us in prayer. There something so freeing in knowing that we can love each other well by trusting God and practicing the give and take of biblical “submitting one to another in love.”

This year

We don’t have a clear word yet for 2018. That’s okay. I can stick with order for a long time, I’m sure. But I am listening for the next word. (It may actually be Listen.)

So while I’m not a new year’s resolution kind of person, there is inspired motivation in a word for the year. The faith that is birthed when He speaks is what keeps me going.

When I was going through closets and filing random stacks of mail and receipts from the prior 5 months (yes, really), I had the motivation to keep at it because God had breathed the word “order” into my heart.

Because he had initiated it, I knew he could bring it to completion. I knew there was a purpose in every day’s steps of obedience. His word gave me hope and the courage to push through when I had no other impetus to keep at it.

I’m grateful for this journey and for the way He has brought so much clarity and order to our year.

I encourage you with this: Pursue him and listen for his word. He is faithful, and he will do it.

What kind of words, resolution, or expectations do you have for the new year? Share in the comments!