Jan
Change Is A Community Effort
Over the course of the past few days, you have been reflecting on the person you feel God wants you to become in 2010. Unfortunately, sometimes you are so close to a situation that you get tunnel vision and begin to second-guess your perspective. Chances are good you have created a list of potential words, but you find yourself wondering how to make a final decision on the direction you will take. Our recommendation is to invite someone else to join you on your journey by seeking out his or her wisdom. Even though you must rely on the Holy Spirit for direction, God also uses people to bring perspective to your life that you are unable (or unwilling) to see at times.
Who is the person you trust the most? Do they care deeply about the well being of your character? Hopefully, this individual possesses the ability to see the potential in you and is willing to do whatever it takes to encourage your growth and transformation. In essence, they care more about your character than your friendship. True change takes a community effort. Each one of us needs a few people to tell us the truth about our heart, point out our weaknesses, and check for our blind spots.
- Share with this person the words you are considering for the My One Word project. As you are sharing your thoughts, pay close attention to their response and the words that are met with affirmation and confirmation. Do they affirm that your word is an area that demands your attention? Do they confirm that a certain word seems to be a place where God is working in your life?
FOR THOSE THAT HAVE ALREADY PICKED THEIR WORD FOR 2010
The reason you chose the word that you did is because this godly characteristic does not come naturally to you. This is where the implementation of disciplines comes into play. The point of disciplines is to “do something you can do in order to do something you can’t do.” You establish disciplines until they are dissolved into your character. While many of us shy away from discipline, there are many benefits to the struggle we experience as the depth of our character is tested and trained. Disciplines put you in a place where God can transform your heart. As you are starting your one word journey, take some time to reflect on what disciplines you need to set up in order to pursue your word more deeply.
- Read 1 Timothy 4:7-9. What disciplines will you incorporate in response to living out your one word?
Many of you have been down this path of change before and, for whatever reason, something got the better of you. It caused you to wave the white flag in surrender and retreat back to your old ways. This time you want things to be different. Start now by identifying the bumps in the road you will inevitably encounter. We’d love to hear your response to the following question: What do you see as the biggest roadblock that you will face when it comes to living out your one word?
this post was written by:
Tony Ripa who has written 46 POSTS on myoneword.org
24 comments
Annette Davenport
posted: Jan 23, 2010 @ 3:12PM
My word is ACTION. My biggest roadblock will be fear. Fear of making a wrong choice, fear of getting in over my head, fear of looking like a fool. I tend to care way too much what people will think and not enough about what God thinks. My second biggest roadblock will be laziness. I tend to like to stay where it is quiet and comfortable. I’m not a big risk taker. I’m praying for a sprit of boldness and a sense of urgency that will lead me to ACTION.
Vicky
posted: Jan 24, 2010 @ 12:34AM
My word is worthy. Due to a traumatic event in high school, I have spent a great deal of my life believing I was not good enough for being more than average. Through Christ’s blood shed on the cross and His resurrection, He makes me worthy of being exceptional. That means finding employment where He can use me to make a difference, and knowing I am worthy of success. That doesn’t mean I will avoid challenges, but I am worthy of being an instrument He can use.
Kendra
posted: Jan 24, 2010 @ 6:44PM
My word is delight. I see lonliness getting in my way. When I am alone, sad thoughts about life’s current troubles creep into my mind and I don’t delight in God’s work in my life.
Abigail -Abi
posted: Jan 24, 2010 @ 7:29PM
My word this year is Soulshine. Matthew 5:16 In the same way let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
Matt 10:18 .
My goal is to praise my father , the light that shines through will reflect him.
Abi
Christina F
posted: Jan 24, 2010 @ 9:43PM
One of the biggest things that I am already finding out now is Being still and knowing He is God. To remember it is His timing and NOT mine. There are things that I am finding that I just do automatically through the day that I never noticed before and I end up stop and think “Why did I do that?” or “Why didn’t I think about that.” or “Why Didn’t I do that.” The flip side is I am learning in those moments to stop and say “Is this what you would want me to do?” or “Should I do this?” or “Shouldn’t I do this?” “What would you have me do Father?” I do get frustrated and when I do I have a tendency to beat myself up and throw a baby tantrum about my stupidity and then when my childish like thinking passes I keep going.
It is incredibly hard, but I am learning so much and I am learning to plan my day and become quiet with Him. I work two jobs about 55-70 hours a week and I am living life to it’s fullest, so in that fullness, I need to make sure that I have some Jesus and me time. Time to rest in Him and that alone can become hard. Time to Be Still and Know He Is God!
Karen M
posted: Jan 25, 2010 @ 8:21AM
My word is choose. My biggest roadblock will be choosing my own fleshly desires. I think if any any given circumstace that comes up during the day, I can use my word to stop and think about the Lord’s presence and what would be His choice as to how to respond that would honor Him. In most everything you have a choice to be disciplined and get up to spend time with the Lord, to choose to love, to not be selfish and the list goes on. My prayer is to choose to walk in His ways so that I can be close to Him everyday.
Capt. Rich
posted: Jan 25, 2010 @ 6:00PM
My one word is “Read” . My biggest roadblock is to discipline myself to set aside time to read God’s word. Although I’m retired, and should have lots of time on my hand, I have many distractions. Not to worry, I have enlisted are puppies Eli & Snickers to help me. They are up every morning at 5:00AM, and instead of going back to bed…..I will Read. I will be diligent in the Lord, and keep in his word.
Colleen
posted: Jan 26, 2010 @ 12:38AM
My biggest “Roadblock”? It’s so easy to only think about myself. Esp. when the world I live in lacks so much Compassion without me adding to it. My biggest “Roadblock” will be Accountability. I wont have that push that I so often need.
Alex Blackwell
posted: Jan 26, 2010 @ 6:30AM
My one word is confidence. Confidence to love myself and the world around me a little more each day.
Capt. Rich
posted: Jan 26, 2010 @ 7:25AM
Reading from Phillipians 2:15 this morning, our small group is studying it. Today’s passage gave me guidance…. I want to be like a shinning star in a deprived dark world. Continue to work on our salvation. Continue to read…By the way Eli & Snickers were sleeping in this morning, they only got up at 5:30AM!!
Nicole C.
posted: Jan 26, 2010 @ 9:51AM
My word is ‘Possibility’. I woke oup on new years day with this word in my head. It has not left me since. I know that with God all things are possible.
Tricia
posted: Jan 26, 2010 @ 10:17AM
SERENE (adj)- Merriam-Webster defines it as a state “marked by or suggestive of utter calm and unruffled response or quietude”. As I searched for other definitions, words like “peaceful”, “calm”, “not agitated” came up often. Other definitions gave me pause as I considered this word as my vision for what God is leading me to: “clear and free of storms or unpleasant change” and “shining bright and steady”. Okay, maybe life isn’t exactly clear and free of storms but that was never something God promised anyway.
Still, God does command to “be still and know I am God”.
Why is it then that I am constantly reacting to my “situations of change” in unproductive and sometimes negative ways? Feelings like anxiety, fear, anger, frustration creep out and spill over into my actions on an almost daily basis.
God has been challenging me to trust Him in EVERY area of my life; as a wife, a mom of 3 small kids, a nurse, daughter, sister, etc. Inevitably, change IS the constant. So, am I acting as a child of God who completely trusts in Him? Does my disposition reflect a life free from worry, anxiety, or stress? Right now it doesn’t. In fact, I feel my stress is sometimes in direct disobedience of God’s command to “rejoice!” in all things. Are my problems/stresses of the day too much that He can’t handle? How arrogant of me to act as if it isn’t so. This year, SERENE is the vision. I will no longer tell God how big my “storm” is. Rather, I will tell my “storm” how big my God is.
Monica
posted: Jan 26, 2010 @ 10:37AM
My word is “LISTEN”. I strive to become a better listener to all persons I am involved with on a day to day basis. I choose to listen more to my children whom I push away because I am so busy. I especially wish to be quiet and LISTEN more to God who speaks to me on a daily basis. I want to LISTEN and service all the people in my life as my spirit continues to soar.
Jim
posted: Jan 26, 2010 @ 11:57AM
My word will sound egotistical but it isn’t meant to be. I remarried in May of ‘09 after my first wife died of cancer in ‘07. I feel that I need to push myself to make my new family as well as my first family members proud of me. I am not the best at household projects, but want to make my wife smile when I am able to accomplish something. Therefore, my One Word is “Hero”. I want to be the best for my loved ones that I can possibly be. To strive to be a hero in their eyes helps me very much.
Devynne
posted: Jan 26, 2010 @ 12:36PM
My work is “selfless”. To focus on the needs/concerns/etc of others. I tend to do what I want how I want and then decide whether to pay attention to the needs of others. In a very selfish world it is easy to be selfish and want more and more not worrying about hurting people to get what you want. I want to put the needs of my family, friends and even strangers above my own.
Robyn
posted: Jan 26, 2010 @ 2:00PM
I am still working on the word, still bouncing it around, but I know that whatever it is the roadblock will be willingness.
Sandy W.
posted: Jan 26, 2010 @ 2:02PM
My one word is JOY. I want to bring joy to the Lord and joy to those around me. The past few years have been difficult for many including my family. I pray that we all will find joy in all circumstances that life presents. I choose joy this year. ……..Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans12:12
Brenda
posted: Jan 26, 2010 @ 4:51PM
My one word is DISCOVER! After working so hard last year on DISCIPLINE, I feel that I am ready to DISCOVER what God has for me. My roadblocks, discipline, yep still an issue sometimes, and fear. I know that this year is a time to DISCOVER what God has for me, what He wants me to do, and where He wants me to go. I am so excited to DISCOVER the person that God sees me as and how He sees everyone I come into contact with! Help me Lord to DISCOVER your ways and apply them to my life. AMEN
Ecclesiastes 8:17 NKJ
then I saw all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. For though a man labors to DISCOVER it, yet he will not find it; moreover, though a wise man attempts to know it, he will not be able to find it.
Jo Ellen Elixson
posted: Jan 26, 2010 @ 8:32PM
I believe one of the first homeworks was to explain how it will be hard to follow My One Word. I don’t know about others, but I find it hard to not want – not clothes or money or status. I’m very comfortable with myself on those things. But I will find it hard to give up the desire to spend money on jewels to make jewelry or to purchase the needs for scrapbooking or making greeting cards. Sometimes I get a little (a lot) carried away, when I should take more consideration in caring for my husband who is disabled and really being patient when he is having a difficult pain day. He really needs to be be gently taken care of to do what I can to ease his pain. It helps when I take time to rub his back and then I find that selfish part of me wanting to do the things I enjoy. I know there is a happy medium and I need to look for that so that I can make him feel very special and loved and that I am willing to give of my time to show him that he is before me and that I am willing to give up a part of me to take better care of him. That’s one area that I really want fo be a whole lot better and to show my love of others. And it doesn’t take much looking around to see a world (and even a town) in need of help – serving in a soup kitchen, giving time to read to those in prison. I need to find some ways to give to my community to make myself “third” and all those in need come before me. I really want to be less selfish of my time and money and try to help those people around me – I don’t have to take on everyone, but just pick a few that I can do while not falling down on my job or on my love duties at home. I will really have to pray that God show me where he mosst wants me I know that He will if I but ask in all sincerity. So I start my journey and hope to see a much more Godly person at the end of this year’s journey. Amen
Terri
posted: Jan 27, 2010 @ 1:20PM
My word is DO. I will be hampered in the effort to complete some of my tasks by well hearted folks who try to protect me form disappointment. I will work quietly in my endeavor to reach my goals in order to avoid their concerns.
Heather H.
posted: Jan 29, 2010 @ 9:28AM
My road blocks will be that between work and school that I will be to tired to do my devotion and to journal everyday. So I have to stay commited to those task to grow.
Leigh Ann Reed
posted: Jan 31, 2010 @ 3:19PM
My word, “Overcoming.” My road block will be myself. I have to remember I am not alone!
jackie delaney
posted: Jan 31, 2010 @ 8:35PM
The biggest road block is going to be my determination to go after the things I believe in. All of my life when I have gotten something in my head that I want to do I have gone after it with full steam and full passion. My biggest asset can also be my biggest flaw when it comes to God. God does not rush and everything he does is in His timing so it is right. I have a hard time waiting on God. But I know that with my word “Walk” I will be able to focus a little more on waiting and patience so that I will produce ripe fruit for God.
Linda
posted: Feb 23, 2010 @ 4:00PM
The disciplines I feel that I need to incorporate in response to living out my One Word, Transform, is to get up every morning before my husband does and have time with God. In fact I need to have time with God as much as possible, but when I do have time with God I need to make sure that I ignore the phone–have a place I have quiet time where ther is no Phone,No Tv and no computer ( or at least have them off at that time.—–another discipline is to get the house in order physically and spiritually. This Appartment is God’s. We (as His children) just live in it for now until the cloud moves again. When one is working on being transformed and becoming a transformer (IFeel that) that the transforming character must spill out everywhere. So Basiclly. As for disciplines that I need to get in my life I need to havwe the discipline to have time with God daily-Get Royalty lessons from Abba (what is meant by being a Child of the King)— turn this Apt first into a home and then a palace. Basicly learn the Disciplines of Proverbs 31and all the godly women of the Bible.
Many of you have been down this path of change before and, for whatever reason, something got the better of you. It caused you to wave the white flag in surrender and retreat back to your old ways. This time you want things to be different. Start now by identifying the bumps in the road you will inevitably encounter. We’d love to hear your response to the following question: What do you see as the biggest roadblock that you will face when it comes to living out your one word?
My biggest roadblock that I feel I will face when it comes to living out transform is my fear of change and my self-esteem.