risky business
I’m not the most daring person.
I tend to lean toward comfortable and familiar rather than new and exciting. I usually order the same favorite meal anywhere I eat. I even describe myself as an “indoor girl”.
I have done some things in my life that were adventurous. I whitewater-rafted the Zambezi. I zip-lined through an Alaskan rain forest. I pulled the cord on a bungee swing in Cape Town. I ate grub worms. (Okay, maybe that’s not exactly adventurous. But it is pretty wild!)
And my bucket list includes a few more daring things I’d like to someday accomplish. But in general, I don’t think many would describe me as a thrill-seeker.
So choosing to focus on risk this year feels, well, risky. Which, I suppose, was the whole point.
My choice to risk is all about active trust. I’m being intentional to trust God, others, and myself more.
I’ve already told you that I doubt myself more than I ever have before. But I have the Holy Spirit who guides me into all truth living inside me. I want to live like I actually believe that’s true. I will get it wrong sometimes, this I know for sure. But I choose to trust the power of Christ in me and the discernment God’s given me. And that can’t happen without risk.
I know that trustworthy people will still, at times, betray my trust. Even the best of friends will hurt me. But I still want to risk more in trusting them. I desire to know others intimately and be known by them in that same way. And that can’t happen without risk.
Trusting God more means exercising my mustard-seed-sized dollop of faith more than I have been. I want to actively rely on Him for strength and wisdom. I want to see Him work through me in greater ways than He has before. I want to trust Him to answer the silent prayers of my heart for the changes I desire in my own life. And none of that can happen without risk.
So I’ve decided to risk this year.
It’s definitely gonna kick me in the pants in my relationships. And it’s going to carry a lot of weight whenever I’m faced with a decision. And I’ve started praying for it, which is a risk in itself.
Trust is the Achilles’ heel of my life, my very own thorn in the flesh. But I’m stepping into the ring by making the decision to risk more.
It’s gonna make this year a whole different kind of hard.
But, once again, I choose the hard.
‘Cause I’m risky like that.
Why did you choose your word for 2010?
What are you doing to focus on it?
Ooooh, oooh, Mr. Kot-ter…(dating myself yet?) ;) Something you said about mustard-seed sized faith was something I’ve been reading about in Joe Amaral’s book “Understanding Jesus”. (pages 75-80). It’s a book written from the perspective that Jesus was a Jew living in first century Israel, living a first century lifestyle. Knowing, and understanding, this has a HUGE impact on how we perceive the Gospels. He looks at the Aramaic language, which the Amplified version of the Bible takes into consideration. This says that we are to have faith that is “living” like a grain of mustard seed. He asked “why the mustard seed?” Apparently, among those who farmed in the area, the mustard seed was the source of a fair bit of frustration. **It’s actually a weed that will grow in any environment!** Tough plants that are extremely tenacious. It’s so strong that when it takes root & grows, it will quite literally push stones & “mountains” out of the way,(which, according to this author, was a1st century figure of speech that represented a person or thing which held a position of authority/power. In Matthew 17, the “mountain” was demonic powers.)
Is this not so so cool? Anyhows, sorry for such a long post. So think of “mustard faith” as tenacious faith – moving whatever is in the way. You’re going to have a really defining 2010!!!
woah! THAT is awesome, cindy! i’m so glad you shared all that… thank you!
me too!!
learn something fascinating every day. well, not every day, but I did today! thanks, cindy! cool thing to remember
I could have written EVERY SINGLE WORD of this :-) Wow.
I want to ALLOW God to work through me in greater ways than He has before no matter what He asks of me; and that is pretty scary. Like you said, the act of praying for God’s will to be done with our hearts and our lives and our hurts and our desires and our fears; without all our crazy “but not this way” or “except in this case” stipulations added in–that is a total leap of faith.
Praying with you girl~ and I CAN’T WAIT to see how God chooses to use our obedience and trust.
XOXO
…because God WILL use it. i love that.
my word was “settled”. i chose it because my life has been the complete opposite for several years now. culminating with my divorce in 2009. i want to be settled in my relationship with Jesus…i am tired of not trusting and not believing. i want to be settled that my children are truly in the Lord’s hand. i want to be settled that I AM ENOUGH.
the battle is on. satan has already tried to trip me up many times just in the past couple days. throwing me off balance (no pun intended) and causing me to doubt and fear. however, i am determined that God and I..we will settle some things this year!
love ya, girl. keep risking!
i hear you on “the battle is on”. it’s incredible that the instant we choose to focus on something, the enemy comes in like a flood in that very area.
“however, i am determined…” i love the faith and confidence in that statement!
Sheryl, your word settled reminded me of Psalm 139 where David asks God is there not anywhere he can settle where God won’t find him? And David answers himself, saying “if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.” I am going to be praying this chapter over you that his hand will guide you and his right hand will hold you fast, both literally and figuratively. You are right, He is going to work this year!
oh, ashley…thank you!! what a perfect scripture. (so glad to see you here)
Rebuilding trust is risky – but as you note the only thing really worthy of trust lives inside you too, so that ‘s a good place to start :)
Why my word “discipline”…because I need more of it to achieve what needs to be done, including rest. A big year lies ahead for us, and that’s just the stuff we already know about. There’s always surprises along the way, and without discipline I’m not going to be able to succeed.
So true, David, so true. The only one we can really trust is the one who lives inside us. As we step into that…. the mountains will break forth before us! So very true!
My word: Enjoy.
Why? Because I have recently found that I am going through the motions of life. I do things because I think I am suppose to or they’re the next logical step, which when thinking about it is ludicrous reasoning.
So in everything in 2010 I am choosing to enjoy. I am looking to delight. I am looking to go out of my way to do things that I like. I am choosing to be proactive with my life. I am choosing to do. Not because it is expedient or expected, but because I want to.
And even when it is tough and hard I want to face it with jubilance. I want to do it with thanksgiving. I want to shift my attitude to one of joyfulness in all things, especially those things for which God is calling me to do.
But mostly, I want to learn to enjoy life again. I want to live.
“i want to learn to enjoy life again.” me too.
dang, so many of these one-words resonate with my heart!
Since I have known you, I have always been in awe over what God shows you as well as does through you. The words I have heard since the get go for you still remains that he will show you greater things than these. I can’t wait to see what that is.
You are great at choosing the hard. That risk is so evident in you.
this sinks down deep. thank you, mo’z. i love you.
i believe in you!
I like me a risky Alece :) (have u gotten ur box yet???)
not yet! you’ll be the first to know when it arrives!
(and i still can’t believe i have YOUR box sitting in my room! GAH!)
Christian discernment?
ha ha ha!
You are risky like that….
Posted on why I choose ACTION yesterday.
Trying to think through how to keep it front of mind. One Idea – putting action steps at the end of everything – blog posts, meeting notes, church doodles, etc. to create accountability.
ooooh…i like that practical idea. challenging. but powerful.
I chose the word “completeness”…. because I AM absolutely complete even on those days when I have no clue. On my worst day I am the righteousness of Christ. I don’t have to have my own righteousness any longer. I don’t have to be enough, have enough, do enough….because I AM already complete. Christ in me, completes me. It is His righteousness that I live out of, not my own. I want to REALLY grasp that this year…. my completeness.
Risk…. yea, been there, done that…. hard to make that first step sometimes… but SO worth it. Jumping off the cliff into HIM is SO worth it. And David is right…. the only one you can really trust is living inside you. As you trust Him with each step…. the mountains will break forth before you!
As usual I loved your heart shared here!
“the mountains will break forth before you” – love the mental picture of that!
and completeness, wholeness… my shalom… is a permanent reminder on my wrist.
and everyday i’m grateful for it.
In several of my blog posts over the last two months I have talked about being in a valley and having to work to climb out. But goodness, I’ve never thought of God breaking the mountains forth before me. Wow, what a visual! What a thought and realization! He is a mountain-moving God when we trust him. I’m going to have to remember that. Thanks.
Ashley,
He truly is a mountain-moving God when we trust Him… I’m watching Him break forth mountains all over the place here… I’m going over to check out your blog…
Many blessings!
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=isaiah%2055:12&version=NKJV
Alece,
I just took the time to write in my blog about my word, TRUST. Then I came and read this blog… I know how you feel. I wanted to say “exactly” but that gives it this connotation like I am you, and I am not. We are different people. Thank you for coming up with the word of the year, it is going to change me forever, I know it! :)
I chose COURAGE because I see where there are so many things coming up this year that could leave me paralyzed with fear.
I want to passionately pursue Jesus and His kingdom. It will take courage to finish well with my master’s degree and finish well the ministry He gave me here on campus. It will take courage to not dispair as my health continues to deteriorate. It will take courage to leave behind friends, family and community to follow God’s heart into the nations.
“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.” Ambrose Redmoon.
I know, and need reinforced everyday, that knowing Jesus and obeying Him is more important than any fear I have.
i want to fear Him more than i fear anything else.
go after that courage, girl. i can’t wait to hear stories from your journey.
Why did I choose my word? Coz last year there seemed to be too many near death experiences for me: ministry, marriage, integrity – all these things had near fatal blows because of my actions last year. At the near end of last year God dealt with me on a deep level and I started repenting of all my sins – and as he spoke through different means the word he gave me for this year was “RESURRECTION.” SInce then I have seen strides in restoration … God is resurrecting the things that seemed DEAD!!!!! Praise GOD!
new life! so good!
What a cool post! My 2010 has two words. Be better. :-)
Cxx
Nice….I can already tell that you are risking more with me….thank you…it feels good!
I love your word! with risk comes GROWTH and change, and with your focus on Jesus I know these changes will be for the GOOD!! I cant wait to see how this turns out for you.
My word is release.
I am focusing on releasing all kinds of emotional junk ive been holding on to for far too long. I wrote about it here: http://ofloveandababy.blogspot.com/2009/12/one-little-word.html
honestly? it is has changed me already. i am amazed and what a difference i see in myself since becoming intentional about releasing.
“with risk comes growth and change” – amen! that is my hope!
and wow… the word release is powerful. such freedom in it.
it’s changed you already? how so?
Selfless.
I talk to much…listen too little.
Think about me, buy for me, cook what I like to eat…..
I want that to change….and still be aware of my own needs and that they are met. Oh the balance.
I simply want to be selfless not selfish.
this one will be CHALLENGING.
but so worth it.
My word – which I didn’t actually share because I’m lazy and it required, ya know, typing – was contentment. I want to be content in ALL circumstances. At peace. Patient. No matter what.
tall order, my friend. i like that.
gimme some practical… how do you DO that? (i’m asking because it’s definitely something i need to be mindful of as well!)
My word….FAITH
Trying to live with a bigger faith this year.
God responds to faith… you’re gonna have some awesome stories to tell!
I hope so! I’m hoping to share many other stories through my new blog project this year too…would totally love to have you as a guest to talk about Thrive Africa if you’d be up for it!
i’d be honored to!
my january is pretty full… how about in early feb?? will you shoot me an email reminder in a week or two?! (i have fuzzy brain syndrome! ha!)
that sounded lame didn’t it? i didn’t mean it to. not trying to act like a rock star.
not at all! it sounded sensible!! :-) will have to chat with you sometime as well, I was in South Africa last year, and have many friends out there now. SA will always have a special place in my heart.
Thanks for stopping by, Alece and for your words of encouragement.
I can definitely relate to the whole trusting people again. The past two years I’ve been baby-stepping my way back into that. As scary as that has felt at times (and still does), I’m glad I took the risk.
You’ve chosen a tough path, but it’s so worth it. It’s the only way to get freedom from fear and to live fully alive. The coolest thing is that God is right here in the middle of it all, holding you up, healing your heart, winning your trust with His tenderness.
My word: Decision.
My life up until now has been a lot of emotional roller coasters. I would live for the retreats and awesome worship that would give me a high. I loved the fact that Jesus made me feel good. I have realized recently that it’s not the emotional highs that make up the relationship with God. It’s a decision. It’s a decision every day to follow Jesus. In the big and little decisions every day , I need to choose Jesus. None of this stuff with Jesus in a box on the edge of the room. He’s my best friend, and companion in every one of life’s adventures. Let me tell you, I can’t wait to say yes to Jesus every waking moment. Boy, is that going to be tough. He has already been challenging for sure. I’ve been asked to come on board at my church to lead part of the production team for the services. It’s exciting times at the church, but let me tell you that scared me. Why me, Lord? There are a lot of people out there that can do it better. Sometimes, He doesn’t call the people you would think. Oh right, I just need to say, “Yes!” =) Wow, what a year it’s going to be.