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.

How Do You Review your Writing Goals? By Sandi Somers

Do you review your yearly goals throughout the year? If so, how often? What is your process like? If you don’t review your goals, what would be the challenges and benefits you could derive from doing so? Tell us about your process.

“A View from the Balcony”

This morning I’m basking in the sunlight on the porch of my next-door neighbours’ house, notebook and coffee with me. My neighbours have asked me to house-watch while they’re on vacation, and this morning I’m finishing my goals review and writing this blog.

 View From The Front Porch Next Door

I often review my writing goals every six weeks or so while outside the city. In the wide view of the parkland and mountains beyond, I’m enveloped in God’s creation. My head clears as I gain a new perspective on life and writing.

Last summer I discovered a wonderful set of questions to guide my review process. Rochelle Melander advocated getting away from your usual space—to a balcony, as it were—to rethink your goals. (Check the link.) Her questions were as revealing as they were thorough.

As a result, I’ve developed better action plans. Part of the plan was to break down goals into three-month or even one-month segments.  It worked! I couldn’t believe how much doing so focused me on the immediate and realistic priorities and tasks.

I’ve also begun to interweave a spiritual component with goal setting. This summer as I reset my goals, I prayed for God’s grace, insight and wisdom.

Insight came from our pastor’s sermon on Ruth and Orpah, the two young widows faced with a choice: they could walk into an unknown future in Israel with their mother-in-law Naomi, or they could return to their native Moab (Ruth 1:1-18).

Orpah chose to return to Moab and to her gods—she played it safe and lost so much of God’s potential for her.

But Ruth, drawn to Naomi and Naomi’s God, dared to believe that He could do great things.

Decisions

And without knowing her place in history, Ruth became the great-grandmother of King David, and Jesus’ ancestress.

         

 In reviewing my notes from that sermon, I came across these profound quotes:

“It takes faith to walk in a new direction. A bold choice." 

"When you honour God with your decisions, He honours you.”

“Pay attention to His tugs—His promptings.”

“Bold decisions impact our faith. God wants you to risk boldly.”

“Believe God can do great things!”

“Step out from the familiar and attempt something daring.”

 God is challenging me to be a Ruth and step into God’s greater plans. As a result, I've asked Him to:

·        Do something to bring the greatest glory to Himself.

·        Confirm me in the next stage of His greater plans.

·        Bring people into my life at the right time to implement components of those plans.

·        Fill me with His words: to exalt Jesus and to impact people in my generation and in the next.

 “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him” (Philippians 2:13, NLT).

“Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God.” 

William Carey

“It always seems impossible until it's done.” Nelson Mandela