What is Your Key Verse or Word for 2020? – by Sandi Somers

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As we begin 2020, our writers will focus on their verse or word for the year, and what it means for themselves, their faith and their writing.

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Before I explain my key words for 2020, I want to share with you what I discovered through my verse for last year. While working through interpersonal and situational issues, God gave me the verse, “Be of good courage and He shall strengthen your heart” (Psalm 31:24).

I decided to be intentional in keeping this verse in mind. I began a new process of reviewing every month my experiences and growth. I summarized discoveries and scriptures to understand more clearly what God was doing in and through me.

Then towards the end of 2019, I read both my journal and summary notes. This was an important step, because in the rear-view mirror of the year, I discovered that God was doing a larger and deeper work in me. Patiently step by step, He guided me in ways I didn’t always see at the time. 

From There to Here: Discoveries

Receiving an instruction and a promise: My verse came in two parts—I was to work at becoming strong, and God promised to give me strength, wisdom, and insight. Throughout the year He also stepped in with many encouraging words and promises.

Waiting on God: It took time, concentrated prayer and journalling to discern what was askew and to absorb what God was teaching me. I needed to wait in God’s presence. God was working in me to develop my character and maturity, to sink my roots deeper into God, and to find Him in the broken places of my life. I was amazed to discover just how specific and detailed were God’s solutions, solutions that had previously eluded me.

Focusing on God instead of my worries: In October I visited persecuted believers in Egypt. They reminded me how important it is to look to Jesus. “The enemy wants us to live in fear,” one leader told our group. “We focus instead, not on the persecution, but on our Faithful Father.” They were enthusiastic about God’s vision for their lives and ministry and what God was doing, rather than their persecution. What a wonderful model for me!

Forgiveness: How well I remember David Jeremiah’s words, “Forgiveness is always our turn.” As an important component of developing strength, extending forgiveness to others is becoming part of my prayer time. It’s not always easy, but it’s necessary.

Intercession: I discovered deeper lessons in interceding for persons and situations, and appreciated how much the Spirit intercedes for us when we don’t know how to pray.

Helps to others: Towards the end of the year, others began asking me for advice in the particular areas I had struggled with. God does extend our struggles into ministry to others.

Gratitude:  I look back in gratitude for this year. I have seen God do what seemed impossible, and this leads me into my words for 2020: 

God is the Lord of the Impossible. 

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These words come from Lloyd John Ogilvie who added, “The Lord constantly wants to surprise us with what he can do if we dare to risk, to accept his gift of faith and to leave the results to him.” [i] I pray to make this concept go deep into my life and writing.

I include with a prayer, which includes my prayer for you:

Dear Father, I invite you into my word or verse for the year. I long to accomplish Your plans and purposes for me. Shine Your light into what You want me to do and accomplish this year in both my life and writing. Build my faith to: “Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God” (William Carey). As I thank you in advance, I will give You my praise. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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[i] Lloyd John Ogilvie. Lord of the Impossible. Nashville: Abingdon Press. 1984, p. 10.

Incentives to Write - by Sandi Somers

New Year’s Greetings for 2019 to everyone!!

January is usually the time we write new goals for the coming year. This month, our writers will look deeper, exploring incentives that help them keep on track with their writing goals.

Goals and Goads?

Several years ago while reading comments on a blog about goals, I came to this typo: “I have realised the importance of writing the goads down.”  (She wasn’t an InScriber. Whew!!)

This writer spoke more truth than she realized.

Now a goad is a club, sometimes with sharp nails, that ancient farmers used to get a balky ox to cooperate. While Saul (later called the Apostle Paul) was persecuting Christians, God was speaking to him, but he was kicking against the goads (Acts 26:14).

Sometimes we need goads—er—incentives to keep us on track with our goals.

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Our Courage, God's Strength

Humour aside, as I was thinking of this blog, God brought to mind the following verse:

“Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart” (Psalm 31:24).

God was prompting me to rethink "incentives" from the viewpoints of my courage and His strength.

Courage to bring my goals before God

God has a message for me to write and speak, and opportunities come up that point me in His direction. For example, this Fall I was given an opportunity to lead a healing prayer time on a mission trip to Haiti (to come in February). This project involves preparing a training seminar for Haitian prayer leaders. I needed to write a training manual so that it can be translated into Haitian Creole.

God’s strength and inspiration to focus on this project comes with His reminder: “We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps” (Proverbs 16:9).

Courage to set long-term goals while focusing on short-term plans.

          While attending one writers’ conference, I found a secret that made sense to me: to break down my goals into three-month or even one-month or weekly plans. This helped keep my focus whereas longer goals sometimes got derailed by other life events.

          God’s strength comes from His promise: “Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure” (Proverbs 4:26).

Courage to keep my vision in mind when other events in life overtake me.

          One of my coaches suggested that when life takes over, we still write for five or ten minutes each day—a thought, an idea. It may not seem like much, but it captures a key component which contributes to one of my current projects. And often those five minutes add up to a few more moments stolen from a busy day.

God’s strength comes with His promise: “May your strength be sufficient for each day you live" (Deuteronomy 33:25).

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What incentives keep you on track with what you hope to achieve? How are God's nudgings part of your incentives?

You may wish further suggestions. These blogs (Jeff Goins here, James Clear on repetitions here and our own InScribe Shirley Tye here) may give you some food for thought.