My Word is...

Faith.

It's the root for faithful and faithfulness. He is faithful, and I can stand on His faithfulness for sure footing to grow my faith.

This word started to stand out to me in my reading of Psalms over the last few weeks. I kept seeing it in conjuction with my word from last year, trust. I feel like the two are related so I wondered if God was really impressing it on my heart for my new word. I am hushing the voice that says, "Yes Lauren, you failed last year so I am giving you a word that means the same thing." I'm learning to spot what doesn't sound like God, so instead of listening to that voice, I asked God to make it clear if this was really my focus for the new year ahead. I immediately, and I mean immediately heard this verse in my head:

I have talked to God a lot this year about pleasing Him. I have a people-pleasing bent and He has been revealing it to me in the gentle way that He does. I sense we will be unpacking how I can please Him with my faith and fill that desire so that I don't spend exhaustive amounts of energy trying to please people when that was never my job.

God wants to set me free from the approval of man. Galatians 1:10 assures me that this can't be my aim, because if it is, I am no longer a servant of Jesus. I need to find contentment in God's pleasure and approval of me. This can set me free from striving and bring room for joy where there has been pressure. The way to please God is to do exactly what this verse in Hebrews 11 prescribes, drawing near to God.

Here is something I love about this verse. It is clear that we are rewarded when we seek God. I don't know if you are like me, but I sometimes have trouble with the idea of rewards from God. I know that I don't deserve them, and it makes it hard to feel like I can let my guard down and accept them. This shows my weakness in understanding the gospel. I still feel like I should earn rewards. I want to rely on my flesh instead of the gifts of God. His gifts sometimes just seem unbelievably good, but I know that He is not unbelievable. In fact, believing Him is what He wants from me. I'm so glad that He knows I do believe Him at the same time that I struggle with always walking it out.

If you notice the end of that verse above, I underlined the work seek. Seek means an earnest, active pursuit to find something. If I am drawing near to God and seeking Him; He is the reward. I will not be disappointed because I will get more of Him.

All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness,

for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.

Psalm 25:10

Prove me, O LORD, and try me; test my heart and my mind.

For your steadfast love is before my eyes,

and I walk in your faithfulness.

Psalm 26:2,3

When God impresses a word on my heart, It seems to pop up everywhere. I love that about His faithfulness. I know my faith will grow because it depends on His faithfulness.

God, thank You that I can please You because of Jesus. Help me better understand how the Holy spirit works in me to produce faith as I seek ou. The more I am with You, the easier it is to believe You.