Happy New Year 2017, dear friends!
The first week of the year is always so exciting, because it is filled with the beauty of new beginnings, fresh hope, a chance to start all over again, 365 blank pages ready to be filled. Resolutions, lists, goals, all being written down or expressed with the desire to be accomplished. You may have read or heard about choosing one theme word to focus on for the New Year. Whether it be, "Love," "Promise," "Restoration," "Joy," "Peace," etc. One word, birthed in your heart, for when lists get too long, resolutions seem too daunting, and the pursuit of perfectionism keeps knocking on your door, you can refer back to, refocus, and just breathe.
The Lord highlighted my theme word on Day 1 of 2017 as I was reading Genesis 6:9, "Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless man living on earth at the time. He consistently followed God's will and enjoyed a close relationship with Him."
My 2017 Word: CONSISTENT.
Consistent is defined as being "compatible or in agreement with something;" "marked by harmony, regularity, or steady continuity: free from variation or contradiction."
How beautiful! I desire for my goals, dreams, and desires to be compatible and in agreement with God's will and my relationship with Him to be marked by harmony.
We are meant to enjoy consistent fellowship with God. This is the very reason for which we are created. It is a joy to follow the Lord, to read His word, to do His will, to be His friend. Though it may not always be easy or what our flesh desires, walking the narrow road is always the best and the most blessed way.
The word, consistent, may also denote routine, monotonous day-to-day- cycles, lacking in fun; however, being consistent is what counted Noah as righteous in the Lord's eyes. There is nothing mundane or boring about being consistent with the Lord, because though it may seem ordinary, it always leads to extraordinary results.
My prayer for 2017 is that God gives me the courage to be consistent in choosing Jesus, choosing to love, choosing to read His Word, choosing to forgive, choosing to bless my enemies, choosing to let go, choosing to be faithful in ministry. I want to be consistent even if it goes against my fleshly desires, even if it doesn't feel good, even if I don't feel like it. Because to love Jesus, means to choose Him every day, not only on the first day of the year, but to be consistent in loving Him every day of the year, 24/7, and forever.
Friends, let's be consistent in following God's will and enjoying a close relationship with Him so that we may be found righteous in His eyes.
Here's to a CONSISTENT 2017! I'd love to hear your word for the year!
Love & Blessings,
Elena Maranian