It took exactly fifteen days for me to settle on a word for this year. It’s funny to look back now, at how hard and how frequently I thought about it. I was discouraged that I didn’t have a clear picture for the year — I wanted a word to meditate on and a target on which to mark my progress this year. I started editing a Bible Journaling post to share this week and it was all about timing. It spoke to wanting to say something specific and having God completely change the conversation. I walked away from it over the weekend and then walked right into my word of the year. Think.
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Sunday’s message was about controlling our thoughts. When I really think about that, I realize how free my thoughts run sometimes. I allow myself to predict how conversations will go, I troubleshoot the worst possible scenario, and I over think every decision I make — big and small. I allow my thoughts to be held captive my worry and regret, instead of fixing my thoughts on Him. As I listened to the sermon and began making notes, I felt so convicted over my thought life. When I began looking back over what I had written, I noticed that I had been circling the word think in every instance it occurred.
Ecclesiastes 10:2 says “Wise thinking leads to right living. Stupid thinking leads to wrong living.
Romans 12:2 says “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.
Romans 8:5-6 says “Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. If your sinful nature controls your mind, there is death. But if the Holy Spirit controls your mind, there is life and peace.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things… and the God of peaces will be with you. Philippians 4:8
Think: to direct one’s mind toward someone or something…
I want to spend the next eleven and a half months with my thoughts set on Him.
I don’t want to worry and evaluate possible outcomes. // I want to trust that His story is the best story.
I don’t want to think about followers, numbers, and approval. // I want to live and connect genuinely with others.
I don’t want to regret choices made and unmade. // I want to leave a legacy for my children.
I don’t want my thoughts held captive by the enemy. // I want to meditate on holy things.
I don’t want to be motivated by fear and anxiety. // I want the underlying motivation for all things to be Jesus.
I don’t want to think about things outside of my control. // I want to rest in the knowledge of Isaiah 55:9.
I have never been great at daily devotion — not until I found Bible Journaling. Even still, as we enter into busy and chaotic seasons, my Bible often finds itself hidden on a shelf, out of reach. I know better that to say: I’m going to read the ENTIRE Bible this year, but I do want to focus more on daily time spent arming myself with the Word of God. Our church offers a daily reading plan on its website and I’ve often used it for journaling prompts. This year, I converted that reading plan into a printable sheet I can keep in my Bible and check off as I go. Our Pastor cautions you not to worry if you fall behind, read today’s scripture and don’t think about what you might have missed. If you are still looking for a daily reading plan for this year, you can download my printable version of our Bible in a Year Plan.
I was super excited this week to get an email from a young reader (Hi, Claire!) who loves to journal alongside her Bible study, too. It reminded me that no matter how frequently we share our faith, how limited our resources might be, how wholly unequipped we feel — every small thing we share touches the life of someone else. I love watching my girls spend time in their Bibles, I love to see scripture come alive as they read new things and how journaling helps them to make connections they might not otherwise see. I hope that they will be brave enough to share their thoughts and beliefs at such a young age (eighth grade?!) and to reach out to people they admire and learn from. I would love it if you paid Claire’s blog a visit today.
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