AND THE WORD IS…SEEK

I’ve never been a fan of New Year’s resolutions, mainly because they usually make me feel like a failure. I do like to set goals, but in short, attainable strides—marks I can achieve if I put forth some effort, but not mountains impossible to climb. For the first time in many years, I am NOT setting a goal to lose weight. That’s because for the first time in I-can’t-remember-how-long, I am AT my goal weight, and with God’s help I’ll maintain it. YAAAAY!!! I did it in small, short-term goals that I could celebrate, that gave me incentive to keep going. (And I highly recommend Weight Watchers, btw.)

Last year, I noticed several people were choosing a single word as a guide for their year. A list of these interesting words included Peace, Hope, Persevere, Forgive, Dare, Praise, Learn, Meditate, Guard, Share . . . and the list went on. My word for 2012 was CHOOSE. My daily choices could either edify or destroy, glorify God or disappoint Him. So I strove to be more sensitive and aware of my choices last year.

This year, my word is SEEK. The very definition – to go in search of; to try to discover; to ask for; to try to acquire; to make an attempt – invokes thoughts of going farther, digging deeper, pushing oneself past the point of comfort. I want to SEEK those nuggets of truth that God would have me learn and go beyond my comfort zone, allowing God to introduce me to fresh goals that I’d never before considered.

Setting out on a journey into the unknown is a scary prospect without a guide. In this case, my Guide is all-knowing, and all-powerful. He has proven time and time again that He is worthy of my trust, so I’ll not SEEK to run ahead of Him. But neither will I shrink from pressing on in the face of uncharted territory.

This year I’m SEEKING to take a new step in my writing journey by putting together a proposal for full-length fiction. I’ve already put in many hours of research, and delved into my characters’ lives and backgrounds. I’ve examined their faces and tried to imagine their thoughts. I’ve asked myself what they are seeking. Now it’s time to go in search of, to try to acquire, and to make an attempt. I want to SEEK God’s will and discover His plan for 2013. You can be sure I’ll be gripping God’s hand along the way.

Do you have a word for 2013? Post a comment and include your guiding motivation. Next Monday, I will draw a name from everyone who leaves a comment and will send that person my three-book north Georgia series.