As this year comes to a close, I’m thinking about the word that God placed on my heart about a year ago…my word of the year…compassion.
What has God done in my heart regarding compassion?
How has He shown me new things about Himself and others?
I have shared bits and pieces throughout the year regarding my word of the year…however, a few short months ago, God showed me something completely different about my word of the year. He shifted my thinking quite a bit.
I had been praying about my compassion towards others. I had been praying about showing true compassion to those that have hurt me in the past.
However, God revealed something to me when I was at a low point during my days of depression…
He wanted to show me His great compassion for me.
Wow. A complete paradigm shift. A complete change in what I had been praying and meditating on. Yes, I am to show compassion…and I do feel compassion for many hurting around me. However, during some of my lowest days, I had forgotten that the God of the universe, the Father to the fatherless, the mercy giver…I had forgotten that He wanted to show me His compassion.
Thank You, God for this gift. This gift that You want me to receive. A gift from the mercy giver…a gift that keeps on giving, no matter what. No matter how many times I disappoint Him and myself…He continues to pour out His compassion on me, His child.
**For the past week or two I’ve been thinking about what my word for 2010 will be, and if I should have a new word of the year. I decided that I do want to have one…it gives me a word to study, scriptures to look up and meditate…and I know God has taught me new things this past year that I would not have seen had I not chosen a word. So…I do have a few ideas, but am still thinking and praying. What about you? Will you choose a new word for 2010? Is God allowing your heart and mind to gravitate towards a certain theme?
So very true! We work and strive to show God’s love to those around us and so often forget that He also wants to show that love to us. I think the word of the year is a great idea. I will have to start praying for one for myself.
I’ve done this for the last few years – this year’s word was intentional and last year’s was conscious. I’m really feeling pulled toward gratitude as my focus for 2010.
The theme God has placed on my heart to study, pray, and meditate on is the “Fruits of His Spirit”. I know the Lord is going to do a work in my life this upcoming year regarding His fruit being shown forth in my life.
Also, have you ever heard of a “life verse”. I had never called it that, but since I was a teenager “Trust in the Lord with all your heart…” (Prov. 3:5-6)has always been “my verse” that would always come up. When I was reading a book a year or two ago it mentioned the term “life verse” and I knew I had one. Cool huh?
Thank you so much for your blog. It is always an encouragement and speaks to my heart. Merry Christmas!