With the new year usually comes resolutions…or our attempts at them. We want to get fit, eat better, buy exercise equipment or a gym membership, travel more, save more money, get organized.
These are all admirable, healthy aspirations. I’ve made all of these resolutions on a yearly basis (sometimes on a weekly or monthly basis).
This year I’ve made three resolutions of a different sort and here they are:
Abide:
I want to rest in the Lord and wait to hear from Him and what He wants from me. I want to be still until He tells me to move and just how. I want to “act in accordance” with Him. I know that if I rely fully on Jesus to guide my path, He will never steer me wrong. I’m a major worrier. I will pray and ask God for help with something and tell Him I trust Him. Then I’ll worry. Am I really trusting? I feel like I am. I believe I am. But somehow I want to maintain that semblance of control, I guess. I tend to take back the burdens and concerns I set at His feet, somehow feeling maybe I should handle them instead.
That doesn’t work so well though, does it? He truly wants the very best for us, bigger things than we can even imagine for ourselves. We can give Him our worries, our concerns, our joys, and He will handle it all so beautifully and in my favor.
Be Present:
I admittedly spend too much time on social media. I’m writing daily, posting on my own blog, guest posting, and working to build my platform in anticipation of publication of my book. I’m making new connections nearly daily. This is a lot to monitor. In addition to that, I like to keep up with friends and family on social media. I’m constantly checking my phone. It’s hard not to. We can do our banking, use a calculator, read the Bible, use a dictionary, send email, Tweet, update Facebook, pay bills, take pictures, make videos, write letters, take notes, listen to and buy music, read books, watch movies (and so much more)…all from a little phone that we hold in our hands. There’s a lot to look at and focus on.
But I want to shift my focus to people. Real live people right in front of me. My family. I want to be intentional about putting down my phone, setting aside my laptop, turning off the television, and really listening to what they have to say. I want to look at the faces of family and friends, and hear their words and and engage in meaningful conversations with my children and husband, conversations that they will remember and so will I. These are the most important people in my lives and I don’t want to miss a single precious second of life with them.
Be Expectant:
Not with a baby. But when my babies have babies, I will be over the moon elated. Until then (and still then), I want to be expectant of the amazing things that await me. Because I’m a recovering worrier, I tend to worry things won’t go my way. I’ve had a heaping helping of disappointment and hurt in my life and I think that makes one expect more of the same.
But we shouldn’t. God doesn’t want us to live in fear and anticipation of disappointment. He wants us to live in expectation of beautiful things. He promises us beautiful things, a future and a hope! I want to expect only good things. I want to be amazed and downright dazzled by the shower of blessings God will rain down on me and my family. You should be expectant of that too.
I want this year (and beyond) to be one of expectant wonder. I want to look ever forward for the good things and appreciate them when they come, no matter how “small” those good things are. I want to marvel at how well God will provide for us and take care of us. I want to be awed by how much He cares for us even when we think our concern is too small for Him to notice. I want to delight in His glory and care and His tender love for us. I want to claim His promises and believe Him for incredible blessings in my life, to expect and receive His protection.
And you should too…
Be inspired, be expectant, be blessed,
Meet Melanie P. :
Melanie Pickett is a mom, wife, writer, blogger, and Jesus girl. Melanie spends most of her time at her own blog, melaniespickett.com where she writes about her domestic abuse survival, healthy relationships, life, and faith. She is busy with her work in progress, her first nonfiction book. Melanie has been featured on BlogHer.com and published on Splickety Magazine, Whole Magazine, Breathe Writers Conference blog, and various other blogs as a guest writer. Having worked in the medical field for nearly two decades, Melanie recently “retired” so she could concentrate on her family and writing career. She is also a substitute teacher. Besides writing, Melanie loves to read, travel, enjoys hockey, playing piano, listening to music, helping and encouraging others, speaking on Periscope and Blab, volunteering, movies, and hanging out and cheering on her very favorite people: her family. Melanie lives in west Michigan with her husband, two teen children, and her pug Gracie and beabrador Lillie. Her favorite Bible verse is Jeremiah 29:11 and one of her favorite quotes is: “They call us the dreamers, but we’re the ones who never sleep.”
Defying Shadows 