Have you found your word?

...No turning back, no turning back

A devotional I recently completed through my YouVersion Bible app focused on New Year’s resolutions, or lack thereof. The premise was to forget the resolutions and focus on a specific word for the year instead.

Well, I finished the One Word That Will Change Your Life devotional several weeks ago, and just today, found my word.

Although I have to admit that I have embraced two words (and a verb) to focus on for 2016, I also believe that my God-given words, [seek] joy and truth, complement one another.

Joy came to me because it seems that lately joy has been missing from my life. I have found myself focusing on the negative instead of the positive, which has taken most of the joy out of living. Seems the Bible is chock full of references about joy in the Lord, joy in Jesus, joy in the Word, and just plain joy in life.

Why not embrace joy, I asked myself, why not?

Well, beginning today, I am actively seeking joy in my scripture reading and in my life. Whether it’s interacting with my sweet husband, fixing breakfast, washing dishes, running the vacuum, petting the dogs, listening to the birds sing or watching Olivia (Charlie’s Oscar fish) swimming in her aquarium home, I am determined to be joyful about it all.

Besides, the Bible is full of references to joy, the Psalms alone have 57 “joy” references in the New International Version. Perhaps that means that God just wants us to be happy? I believe that to be a joyful truth.

Then there’s the truth thing. I find truth about anything and everything in my Bible. I seek truth when I write, whether it’s when I am writing this blog or doing a freelance piece as a professional journalist, I seek the truth. Sometimes that means I am at odds with the status quo, but, if that’s the case, so be it.

As my granddaddy, God rest his soul, always said, “Sometimes the truth hurts, Cheryl Ann, but it must be told.”

As far as biblical truth goes, just today I found a succinct definition in a Priscilla Schirer Bible study, The Armor of God. She wrote, “Truth is God’s opinion on any matter.”

As a follower of Jesus, I seek his truth daily in Bible study and meditation. I search out joy and truth and God beginning with a verse-of-the-day from the Bible Gateway website and end each and every night with the Our Daily Bread devotional reading of the day.

How about you? Do you have a word that you would like to focus on for the year? A word that makes your life better? A word that leads you closer to a relationship with God? After all, as John wrote in his Gospel, chapter one, verse one (NIV) – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God, so why not explore His Word; why not explore Him?

Again, how about you? Do you seek truth? Do you seek the truth of the Bible?

Do you seek joy? Do you seek the joy that could be yours in Christ Jesus?

Perhaps joy or truth could be your word for 2016, perhaps it’s another word. But, whatever your word is, I pray it is a word that will lead you closer in your walk with Jesus.

Following The Way is the right thing to do. Being a follower of Jesus is the right thing to do.

Without a doubt, our commitment to Him and His way is not always the popular or politically correct thing to do.

But, if you truly believe and truly follow him, you will not hesitate to, “take up [your] cross daily and follow [Jesus].” Luke 9:23. 

Bottom line, if you do take up your cross daily, you will not have to worry about popularity or the p.c. police, because you’ll be doing what is right in the eyes of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Now I ask you, how could it get any better than that?

Praying today that you will find your word and use it to follow Him wherever this life may lead. Amen