There is a famous story academics like to use called The Drunkard’s Search and it goes like this. A police officer finds a rather inebriated man staring down at the ground under a street lamp muttering to himself. The officer approaches him and asks him what he’s doing. The man responds “I lost my car keys over near the alley.” The officer responds “How come you are not looking in the alley then?” To which the drunk responds, “The light’s better over here.”

I can relate . . . I tend to want to avoid struggles too. I don’t want to go into the dark, messy, unfamiliar even if that is where my keys are. I want to stay in the clean, the familiar, the safe. Even lies that are safe and familiar seem preferable to scary truths.

My word this year is “compass” and it has been helpful when I keep it in front of me to remind me to clarify where I am and where I should be. It has even been helpful in helping me reflect on how to get “there.” So, yes, I’ve identified anger issues earlier and distracting temptations earlier and in the best case scenarios I’ve brought God’s truth to these situations: Peace not strife, . . . .’that you love one another as Christ first love you . . .” “flee temptation,” “whatever is good think on these things.”

But I have also found a limitation to my word. A compass is not a golf cart. That seems obvious when you write it out . . . . many things do I guess. But for much of this year I have not truly embraced the difference. I compass doe not move me. It shows me where to move. It is critical for navigation, it has nothing to do with locomotion.

There is a story similar to The Drunkard’s Search in the book of James (1: 22-25) that also strikes a bit too close to home:

But be doers of the Word [obey the message], and not merely listeners to it, betraying yourselves [into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth]. For if anyone only listens to the Word without obeying it and being a doer of it, he is like a man who looks carefully at his [own] natural face in a mirror; For he thoughtfully observes himself, and then goes off and promptly forgets what he was like.
But he who looks carefully into the faultless law, the [law] of liberty, and is faithful to it and perseveres in looking into it, being not a heedless listener who forgets but an active doer [who obeys], he shall be blessed in his doing (his life of obedience).

Now that I have lived about 5 months with “compass” as my word I don’t think James is getting at a clarity issue. I think he’s saying “God’s word is pretty clear here. But clarity doesn’t eliminate the struggle.”

So here’s my simple to do list for the next month: One habit. That’s it. I want to develop one habit that marks me as a doer of the word. I’ve been thinking (hoping!) that the compass would point to an epiphany that would remove the struggle to become Christlike. Kind of like an oasis mentality. Clearly, that’s not happening. The Israelites wandered for 40 years and even then, the “Promised Land” still contained struggles that help define a nation.

Obedience seems so harsh. It sounds to us like because I said so. Who wants to hear this? The problem is that our view of the one who utters the command. If they are absent and hostile and indifferent towards our hearts, then it sounds hollow and passionless. But what if the One is the very life we are want so badly? That is a big what if. And everything hinges on this and it comes down to simply one thing—faith. Is God going to be good?

1 Samuel 15:22-23
22 But Samuel replied: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king.”

What do we think God wants from us? And equally important, what do we think God has for us? If we think we are trying to bargain with God and convince Him to be merciful then we set out to do a bunch of stuff to appease Him—we seek to bring sacrifices. It is as if we are trying to convince God to be good to us because we don’t think He really will be. Instead, His commands are invitations to find Him faithful and in finding Him faithful, we will find Him good.

Rebellion is simply putting up something else as god.
Arrogance is making yourself out to be god.

As we get ready to commit ourselves to obedience, let’s get away from the passionless duty obedience. Instead, let’s see this as an invitation to find God is really God. What would that do for you? He says to obey is better than to sacrifice. You are not trying to get God to be good…you obey and discover it so.

Lord, help my unbelief. Help my skepticism. Help me to overcome so much of what has given me a false view of You. I will trust Your goodness. Lead me. Today, I will look for ways to be obedient and I will trust You to show me how. Amen.

I see little-to-no separation between My One Word and Biblical principles. My word is about who I want to be and it’s biblical principes that will shape me into that person.  Of course, the further into the year I get, the more of a struggle it is to stay disciplined, and the further away I feel from my goal. There are a ton of commands in the Bible, and it’s impossible for any of us to always follow all of them – I can’t say that loving my neighbor as myself is standard practice for me.  So, recently, I have felt the need to take the pressure off of myself by taking a step back and looking at the big picture. The Bible can start to feel like a giant rule book sometimes, but after some research I’ve come to realize that there are about five times as many promises as there are commands within it’s pages. This got me thinking that maybe the reason I feel a lack discipline isn’t because I am struggling with following God’s principles, maybe I struggle more with accepting God’s promises.

There are numerous stories in the Bible about people struggling with God’s promises, and one person in particular makes me feel much better about myself because he’s the last person you would expect to struggle in this area – Moses. Moses is a powerhouse of the Old Testament. His faith in God was great and God did great things through him because of it, but this type of faith didn’t come without struggle. God called Moses to free the Israelites in Egypt by appearing to him in a burning bush and telling him to confront Pharaoh. He explained to Moses, almost in detail, how this was going to happen so that there would be no room for doubt that he was going to have success.  There was just one problem, Moses had a speach impediment, so this is the conversation that followed:

Exodus 4:10-16

“O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.”

The Lord said to him, “Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”  But Moses said, “O Lord, please send someone else to do it.”Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses and he said, “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and his heart will be glad when he sees you. You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth; I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do. He will speak to the people for you, and it will be as if he were your mouth and as if you were God to him.”

Moses not only struggled to do what God was commanding him to do, he also struggled with the promise that God made to him – that he will be able to speak properly, and with authority, when the time came. God wasn’t going to change His mind about sending Moses, and I suspect He was even prepared to do a miraculous work in his life, but Moses couldn’t see past his circumstances. Instead, he was convinced that his problem was a permanent one, even after an encounter with God. So, God let’s him keep his problem and gave him Arron who would do the speaking for him.

This is not to be misinterpreted as a threat that you can, in anyway, mess up or miss out on what God has planned for you. Think of it more as encouragement to embrace your word no matter what your struggle with it may have been thus far. Know that God will fulfill his purpose for your word this year, but how you choose to respond to the promises in His word may determine how that purpose is fulfilled. Don’t let your problems, shortcomings, or struggles render you blind to what God is doing in your life. Make up your mind to embrace His promises. Use the promises of the Bible as fuel to keep you moving forward with your word.

A bit advice for husbands: when your wife asks you to do a RPM spin class at the gym, politely say no. If not you’ll find yourself in the same awkward predicament I experienced a few days ago. In a room full of stationary bikes, ladies surrounded me with not another guy in sight. Jenn failed to inform me that those who tend to do spin class are of the female variety.

Feeling completely out of place, I plopped down on a bike against the back wall and slowly began to pedal. The instructor began barking out directions, and the class began.

Ten minutes in, I was feeling quite manly. I had hardly broken a sweat, and everyone else was grabbing towels and guzzling water. This confidence crumbled the moment we were told to stand up for an approaching hill.

I attempted to pop up on my feet, but my pedals wouldn’t hold my weight. The woman beside me, sensing she had a spin class rookie on her hands – and an uncoordinated one to boot – took pity on me and helpfully turned the resistance knob on my bike up numerous notches.

The weight sent shockwaves to my knees, calves, thighs and every other muscle in my legs. By the time we hit the top of what was the steepest and longest hill known to man, my legs felt like complete Jell-O.

I learned a hard lesson that day. Facing resistance is the only way for one to build true strength. Until my helpful classmate cranked up my resistance, I was enjoying a nice cruise. Even if I suddenly became a spin class junkie and went every single day, I’d have seen no results until something changed. That resistance shocked my muscles and forced them to work in ways they never had before.

In resistance, growth happens. Only when we remember and trust this statement will we be willing to embrace struggle. Rather than orchestrating your world to avoid struggle, place yourself in environments where your One Word will be tested and met with resistance. In order to truly pursue your word and have it formed in your character, a struggle must take place.

Your One Word will test, challenge and push you to extremes. Sometimes the view from the top of the hill where transformation resides will appear too steep and daunting. Everything in you will want to seek the refuge of comfort that conformity provides. But instead of stopping there, keep pushing. Keep driving your burning legs. Fight for your growth.

Read 1 Corinthians 10:13. What is your normal reaction when you meet resistance in an area of your life where you are trying to grow?

Based on the ratings, it is safe to guess that one of America’s guilty pleasures is wasting time watching Dancing with the Stars. There is something oddly fascinating about borderline celebrities performing completely out of their element.

The first few weeks are the most painful to watch as contestants struggle to learn the tango, waltz or salsa. Their movements are stiff and they always seem to be a step behind their partner. Words like “spastic” and “convulsive” could be used to describe what happens once their feet hit the dance floor. Fatigue and frustration set in as they attempt to master something that is so unnatural to them.

Maybe it is because I have two left feet, but I admire their ability to embrace and endure the struggle of becoming fleet footed. For the most part, I’ve come to grips with not knowing how to dance, but this hasn’t always been the case. On numerous occasions, my wife suggested we take a dance class together. My initial reaction was, “No way.” I’d make excuses, like that lessons would be another expense for our shoestring budget or yet another activity to fit into our busy schedule, but that wasn’t the true source of my hesitation. My reluctance stemmed from knowing I might trip over my own feet or that my clumsiness might make it necessary for my wife to ice her feet after every class.

Sadly, my initial reluctance in learning how to two-step is a direct result of my tendency to throw in the towel when things get challenging. Like everyone else, I naturally choose comfort and routine over struggle.

Yet struggle needs to take place for me to grow and learn. Change will always be met with resistance. Maturity is found in those moments when we embrace the struggle by facing it head on.

You’re a few months into your My One Word experience, and chances are good you’ve hit a wall, met resistance or are in the midst of a struggle right now. Your word may have very well awoken in you a deeper struggle than you initially expected. Maybe more than you prepared for. Maybe the reasons to quit seem to outweigh your willingness to endure. Maybe part of you wants to wave the white flag in surrender and go back to your old routine. It might not be an ideal situation or one you even like, but it is, at the very least, comfortable.

Many of us see our struggle as wrong. Somehow, though we understand that every other life change is hard, we believe that spiritual change should be easy. Likewise, we are puzzled when destructive thought patterns keep popping up, or when bad habits are hard to break, or when we feel like we’re spending more time stumbling then actually walking with God. The truth is, you can’t become like Christ in 3 or 4 easy steps. Our transformation is a process in which struggle is inevitable and resistance is expected. This struggle, this resistance, builds strength, but only when we surrender to God.

James 1:4 reminds us that “perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” This verse should give you hope: it gives you permission to struggle. When we are tempted to give in is not the time to quit. This is the moment in which we look to God to see what he is teaching us. My One Word is about learning and embracing something new.

Our One Word should serve as a lens through which we see not only how we should respond to things that we encounter, but also to help us see why we don’t respond the way we should. We use our One Word to posture us to learn. This makes room for our struggle. Keeping our eyes focused on God is the key to being formed into the image of God, because what you see determines the direction you go.

Change cannot and does not come without struggle. The encouraging thing is that God wants to meet us in the midst of our struggle. That is exactly where he wants us to be: Where we have exhausted all our human strength, patience and will, and have nothing else to rely on but him.

• How quickly did you experience ‘hitting the wall’? How did you respond? When things got difficult were you tempted to lower your standard?

• Read James 1:2-4. What do you believe God might be trying to teach you in the midst of the struggles you are currently facing? What would it look like for you to persevere and embrace these struggles?

Are you looking for a way to keep your word in front of you all year long? Register for a My One Word account! One of the key features of a MOW account is an online Word Journal that allows you to capture your thoughts to reflective questions like you see above. You can go back at any time to read your completed journals to see how God has been moving in your life through your word in 2011.  If you already have an account, the questions from this blog have been posted to your Word Journal — log in to your account to start your Word Journal today!

Hebrews 12:1-2
1  Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Running our own race requires a couple of things- both require us to see well!  We see people who have gone before us and paved the way for us to run.  We see the people around us who affirm and stand with us and help us in our walks with God.  And in light of what we see, we prepare ourselves.

We are instructed to cast off everything that keeps us from running the race- from walking with God.  Everything that hinders.  What hinders you from walking?

Are there issues in your character that hinder your walk?  Are there areas of your life that are undisciplined that hinder your walk?  Are the areas where you need faith?  Forgiveness?  Whatever hinders needs to be addressed so it does not hinder you any longer.

We deal with these by changing our course of action.  Stopping something or starting something.  This puts these things aside!

We are also instructed to cast off the sin that keeps us entangled.  Sin that gets its tentacles deep into our lives and pulls us off the course.  Sin entangles us by confusing our desires.  We are conflicted and lured away by the deceptiveness that sin will satisfy the longing of our soul.  But the desire is really a deep desire for God and the life He has- and this life is found only when we run the race He’s established for us.

We deal with sin by repentance!  We confess our sin, repent and receive His forgiveness for us.

The second thing we are told is to fix our eyes on Christ.  Look to Him, learn from Him, and follow Him.  We talked about the fact that we must discipline ourselves to see Him, and humble ourselves to follow!  Not bargaining or justifying, simply obeying!

And it is when we fix our eyes on Jesus that we discover what keeps us from running well.  We discover the distractions, but most importantly, we discover our sin.  For when we open ourselves to the fullness of His Light- the darkness that keeps us trapped is exposed.  And so this morning, we want to simply fix our eyes on Him.  Let Him fix His eyes on You to probe your heart and soul- to expose and bring healing.  And let us fix our eyes on Him- and follow.  Where ever He leads.  Whatever He asks…  because the race He is calling you to run is the race He’s marked out for you… that you might have life and have it to the fullest!

• Read Hebrews 12:1-2. What is keeping you from running your race well? Where do you find yourself entangled and how is this influencing the way you are living out your One Word?

• What is currently hindering your walk with God and pursuit of Him?

Are you looking for a way to keep your word in front of you all year long? Register for a My One Word account! One of the key features of a MOW account is an online Word Journal that allows you to capture your thoughts to reflective questions like you see above. You can go back at any time to read your completed journals to see how God has been moving in your life through your word in 2010.  If you already have an account, the questions from this blog have been posted to your Word Journal — log in to your account to start your Word Journal today!

This month on the MYONEWORD.ORG blog we have been talking about how to “embrace the struggle” as you continue to use your word this year.  In our latest video blog, Mike Ashcraft, (pastor at Port City Community Church), reveals how taking the path of least resistance can be a roadblock to the spiritual formation you are seeking this year.

To read more blogs about “embracing the struggle” this year click here.

Life can be rough as a kindergartener, especially when you are trying to learn math.  After breezing through the alphabet, handwriting and reading, my oldest daughter faced adversity for the first time in her young educational career. She went from looking forward to homework to dreading the time when we took out her folder and got down to business.

Knowing her numbers wasn’t the issue. The disconnect came when someone had the audacity to take away 3 apples from her bushel of 5. She couldn’t wrap her mind around subtraction and addition. Her brain, which often goes a million miles a minute, screeched to a halt.

It was only a matter of time before frustration would get the better of her as she stared at the sheet of math problems. Dropping her pencil and head, she felt completely defeated. In her eyes, all hope was lost.

Sensing the desperation, Jenn went into Super Mom mode and swarmed in with a handful of M&M’s. They went through each problem by taking away and adding back some of those delicious chocolate treats. By being able to see the problem, our daughter suddenly began to understand her homework and tackle this new subject. Confidence replaced the uncertainty.

When it comes to my One Word experience, I’ve had moments like my daughter where I’ve felt lost, frustrated and confused. Trying to grasp new behaviors and the heart change required of them felt like I was learning a foreign language or attempting to grasp math for the first time. Things just didn’t compute.

Finding myself in a rut, I could sense I was on the verge of buying into the lie of mediocrity where I justify my frustration by saying ‘That’s just the way I am.’ This is the equivalent of saying that I give up!  I have resigned myself to be like this for the rest of my life.

“Just the way I am” rationalization has caused pain, embarrassment, resentment and worse.  In the midst of the struggle, I had to get to the point where I was confronted with the question of ‘What is going to change?’  Can something different ever become normal?

With discouragement, setbacks and temptations trying to sabotage my plan for change, endurance and intention were necessary on my part.  The same is true for you. Process is never easy so we must stay focused and struggle in the right direction.  When you focus on something long enough, things are bound to change.  And this change becomes normal.

• Read Romans 7:14-24. Write down the places and situations where you are most tempted to give up on your One Word. Where have you met the greatest resistance and what steps do you need to take to respond differently? Since it is not a matter of “if” but “when” you will face the temptation to quit, it is critical to come up with a game plan on how to prepare for those situations where struggle most often occurs.

• Rather than endure, we often come up with excuses as to why growth is just too hard. As long as we have a reason why we don’t change, we have an excuse to remain stagnant. Write down in your journal every excuse you’ve used to justify giving into the struggle. Over the upcoming week spend time in prayer being honest with God about those excuses and asking him to change your heart.

Are you looking for a way to keep your word in front of you all year long? Register for a My One Word account! One of the key features of a MOW account is an online Word Journal that allows you to capture your thoughts to reflective questions like you see above. You can go back at any time to read your completed journals to see how God has been moving in your life through your word in 2010.  If you already have an account, the questions from this blog have been posted to your Word Journal — log in to your account to start your Word Journal today!

Finding God to be trustable requires faith. Faith requires obedience. So many times we want this in reverse. God you show me and I will believe You. His purpose is always the same: helping you trust Him. He will not spend your life trying to convince you. He is in fact inviting you to experience the very depths of what life really is.

Psalms 139:1-7 (NASB)
1 O LORD, You have searched me and known me. 2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. 3 You scrutinize my path and my lying down, And are intimately acquainted with all my ways. 4 Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O LORD, You know it all. 5 You have enclosed me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is too high, I cannot attain to it. 7 Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?

Take a moment and reflect on this passage. What does it say? God is intimately acquainted with all my ways. He has closed off my past and placed His hand on my future. These are all acts of tenderness and gentleness. He knows us and acts this way towards us anyway. I can relate to verse 6.

So the only option is to surrender. Quit trying to run and hide. Quit trying to control and seize. I find the last question in the passage interesting. Where can I flee? Why would I want to run from such tenderness? Because if He really knows me, then I need grace and grace is not easily received. We’ve worked way too hard earning a living to be desperate—so we run.

But the obvious answer is found in next few verses. It says what you think. You cannot go anywhere where He is not going to be with you. Calling you. Inviting you to find Him faithful. When will you lay down your efforts and stop running and obey? Don’t obey because you have to. Obey because inside the fullness of it all what you want is finding Him faithful. He knows. He made you. He loves you. Such knowledge is too high, I cannot attain it. So don’t try. You don’t attain, you simply believe.

Lord, help me to continue to know You. Let me discover more about Your goodness and Your character as I learn to walk with You deeper and deeper. I confess that You knowing me makes me a little uncomfortable. I am not used to being that open with anyone. However, I will take a simply step of faith and embrace Your understanding of me. Let it open me up to be honest with You. And in doing so take our relationship further that I may discover all that You want for me. I will watch for this today. Amen.

Each day, not matter what it brought with it, was a gift and today is no different.  We must choose life right now.  We will need to choose it again and again, but we cannot get ahead of ourselves.  We must deal with the moments we are given—in the moment they are given.

This morning, as you reflect on the places where you are struggling to live out your One Word, I want you to look again at the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Corinthian church.  He gives yet another reason why he will not lose heart.

2 Corinthians 4:1-2 (NIV)
¹Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. ²Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

I want us to stop there.  What is Paul’s reason for not losing heart?  God’s mercy.  WOW!  It is not for his circumstances.  In fact, his circumstances were actually pretty difficult.  Yet, he would not lose heart.  I find so much encouragement in this phrase.  The opposite of losing heart is finding heart; keeping heart.  This is where we find passion in each moment to give it everything we got and suck the last drop of life from every moment we are given.  To live like this cannot be described as anything other than mercy.

You have been given a ministry.  You have been given influence. Did you get that?  Think about the people that you will walk alongside of today.  Whether they be children at home, students, or collegues, you have a ministry.  And it is given from the merciful hand of our God.  So what do we do? How can shining God’s love through your One Word influence those you come in contact with?

Paul said he has cast off an old way of living.  I simply think of this in terms of two words:  INTEGRITY and AUTHENTICITY.  Do what you say and say what you mean—every time and to everyone.  When you live in gratitude of God’s mercy there is little to be hidden and even less to be ashamed of.  It just isn’t that complicated.  So do not lose heart—but find heart for every moment you will be given!

Lord, thank you for this morning and the wonderful gift of your mercy.  There are things that I dread today.  But I will embrace mercy for each moment.  I will take them as gifts from you hands and instead of looking at the circumstances surrounding me, I will look to the ministry available.  Give me the eternal eyes to see life as eternal moments.  Eternal moments.  Amen.

• Sometimes when we are in the midst of our struggle, we lose sight of the reason why we wanted to change in the first place.  If you lose vision, it is very easy to give up on the pursuit completely. Now that you are a few months into your My One Word experience, take a few moments to remind yourself why you felt compelled to choose the word you did. May those words encourage you to continue along with your transformation process.

Are you looking for a way to keep your word in front of you all year long? Register for a My One Word account! One of the key features of a MOW account is an online Word Journal that allows you to capture your thoughts to reflective questions like you see above. You can go back at any time to read your completed journals to see how God has been moving in your life through your word in 2010.  If you already have an account, the questions from this blog have been posted to your Word Journal — log in to your account to start your Word Journal today!