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SHARING IS BELIEVING

Have you ever had to make a decision and in the process of sharing it with someone you come to your own conclusion before they even get out their third “uh-huh?”  Things just sound different in our head than they do when said out loud. The same concept is true in understanding how your word is taking shape in your life.

Philemon 1:6
“I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.”

Have you been struggling with applying your word? If so, talking it out is a sure way to gain some insight on what may be hindering you. Community is what helps us see the forest for the trees. If your word is just a private matter then you risk not seeing the big picture of what God is doing. When you open up to your community, and discuss what you are learning throughout this journey, your understanding of how God is using your word increases. Even if the opposite is true, and my one word has been a great experience thus far; Acknowledging every good thing that takes place in your life is a reminder for you of God’s faithfulness. Reminding yourself of the progress you have made puts you in a position to better receive and apply what God has revealed to you.

Another way of looking at the word sharing, in the verse above, is that of participation. When we open up to others concerning our word, this encourages them to do the same. Suddenly, there is a common thread, a partnership between us. This sense of partnership encourages us to view each others word as equally important to God. By sharing with one another we are exploring what God has given us for the formation that we want to see take place.

Our walks are designed to be a collaboration. We are to serve and support one another in love. This begins by actually opening up and sharing, both the good and the bad. It’s just as important to celebrate our small achievements as it is to admit when we aren’t making the kind of progress that we had hoped we would. In doing so, we discover a common bond that is sure to bring clarity and encouragement for moving forward.

DOING OUR PART

The first word that I picked, three years ago, was humility. At the time, my wife and I had just closed a business, and had a newborn son. There was no work to be found, especially for someone with an advertising background. I eventually found a job as a dishwasher at a cafe and market. Most of my interview was spent convincing my potential employers that I was serious about the job. I was hired but admittedly, it was difficult for me to think about being stuck behind a sink, and up to my elbows in pots and pans. So, I accepted that maybe God was going to use this experience to humble me and it did, but it also did something I wasn’t expecting, it had a direct impact on those around me.

As a husband and father, I didn’t exactly feel like much of a provider working a part-time job, at a less than desirable hourly rate, but my wife saw things differently. The fact that I would do whatever I could to support our family helped her apply her word at the time, which was release. My humility in taking that job encouraged her to release some of her worry, or need for control in her own life, taking the pressure off of herself and putting her trust in God.

Gods plan is to use the change taking place within you to cultivate change in your family, your neighborhood, your job, and your church. Ephesians chapter 5 talks about different gifts being given to people “for the equipping of the church.” The Greek word for equipping is katartizo and it means to cause something to function properly. This same principle applies to your word. God wants to use your word to ensure that your church, as a whole, functions properly. What an awesome thought!

When we pick our word we spend a lot of time trying to find that perfect word that defines our lives. I would like to challenge you to think about how your word not only defines your life, but also the lives of those around you, and the church as a whole.
There are words, such as serve, that seem more far-reaching and have an obvious effect on other people. Then there are those words that seemingly only affect the individual such as faith, or persevere. So does that mean that one word carries more significance than the other when it comes to having an impact on your community? Of course not! There is a wide variety of words out there and each one has something unique to contribute to the growth of those around you. You have no idea how your word may overlap with another persons word; there is always going to be someone who will benefit from what God is doing in your life.

• Has your word helped someone else in their walk with God, or given them a new perspective on their word? If so, how has this encouraged growth in your own life?

• Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-20 Reflect on how your word can be part of Gods plan for your family, friends, work, and church.
  

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!

A Posture Of Transparency

The idea of relationships is simply about connecting or more importantly finding a connection.  The implication is that we must be proactive—we must find these points of connection and common ground.  Then we need to go a step further and bear with one another instead of checking out or running when things get too personal.  We want so desperately to be known, we say we want to be held accountable for the things we struggle with, yet we set boundaries up in our minds.

When people get to close to those boundaries, we start to backstep and rethink our connections to those people.  When it becomes personal, it becomes dangerous.  People might actually figure out that we don’t have it together.  Living authentically means being vulnerable and transparent.

If someone is taking you seriously and is willing to hold you accountable to your word, it requires willingness on your part to accept responsibility for your own spiritual change.  This means taking on a posture of help and transparency. We must fight our natural inclination to hide from others when we are struggling with something or living in sin.

Entering into a relationship where accountability and spiritual vulnerability are cornerstones requires us to be honest and upfront with our struggles, not sending our friends on a fishing expedition for the truth.  Doing life together requires all to be proactive in their own relationship with Christ. The challenge before us is to step up our walk by examining our heart.

If we are not willing to be vulnerable before God, we will never go deep with others. Our relationships will remain superficial at best and we will continue to use others solely for our own benefit. We have to remember that in Christ we have the fullness of love necessary to live with others without having to get.

• What are the places where you need support, encouragement and accountability? Who knows about these places?  For those that could not come up with a name, we encourage you to tell someone you trust about your experience with my One Word. For those that have a community of supporters, take a moment and reflect on how well these people know about your current progress towards growth. In both cases, be honest about your need for accountability.

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!