Jan 10

Jan 10 My Word for 2020, (Featuring: The Giving Keys)

Hello beautiful friends! I hope everyone's 2020 has gotten off to a great start! :-) In a recent blog post, I encouraged you all to find your word for the upcoming year. A word to focus on that helps you grow, overcome, and thrive. Personally, I had a lot of strongholds in 2019...that I carried over from 2018...and from 2017. The more I held on tight for “control,” the more I lost myself in anxiety and fear!

Today, I'd like to share my word of the year with you all that I believe will break the crazy cycle I’ve been experiencing once and for all! (PS. As you can see, I went one step further to get my word engraved on a key necklace from one of my favorite organizations, The Giving Keys, who I rave more about more down below, and have an affiliate link if you’re interested in purchasing! It supports me in a small way that means a whole lot, and so I thank you!) Now, to introduce my word for 2020…

“ABIDE”

1 : to remain stable or fixed in a state. "a love that abided with him all his days." 2 : to continue in a place : "sojourn will abide in the house of the Lord." abide by. 1 : to conform to abide by the rules. 2 : to accept without objection : to acquiesce in will abide by your decision. (Definition of Abide by MERRIAM Webster)

"We were not made to dwell in the past but instead to ABIDE- to soak in and be saturated - with Christ in the present." -Lysa TerKeurst

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland." Isaiah 43:18-19

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” - Jesus in the Book of John 15:4-10

Abiding in Jesus would translate to staying stable, or fixed in Jesus. When we abide in Him we find rest. We find peace. We find contentment. We find purpose. We find fearlessness. We find forgiveness. All the things I’d been searching for on my own, but was so overcome with fear and anxiety from past events, there was no way I would ever truly be secure! I searched for Bible verses that included the word “abide,” journaled a bit, and meditated on Scripture.

On December 31st, before the clock struck 12am, and the New Year began, I made a commitment that I was going to fully surrender my anxieties and fears to God and was NOT going to carry any old baggage into 2020. (This included grudges for those who've wronged me, what if’s?, fears of the unknown, etc.) I found that the years I refused to surrender these things to God were hands down the worst years for me mentally.

People change and life circumstances change, but God stays the same. Thank you, Lord. Shifting my focus from fending for myself to abiding in Jesus and His stability has made me feel more safe and excited for a New Year than any other! I have such high hopes for 2020 because I’ll be working on surrendering more and more to God each day! I've committed to read the Bible each morning to fill my mind with His truth, and learn how to truly follow Him in my actions. I’m desperate to surrender, and yet completely at peace knowing my life is safe and secure in His hands. I’m praying to grow in nearness and obedience to God which means leaving all the junk from 2017-2019 behind. I’m ready to ABIDE!

What are you carrying into 2020? What are you abiding in? Have you thought about surrendering it over to God? I wish I surrendered sooner, and I now have full confidence that anything is safer out of my hands and into God’s. He is worthy of our trust, and there really is freedom in surrender! I'd love for you to share your word for 2020 down below, and I encourage you to trust God with your biggest fears in 2020 because even if the worst case scenario were to come to fruition, He would still be enough to get you through. I wish you a wonderful 2020 abiding in Him! Love you all!

[[You can order and engrave your OWN word for 2020 on a necklace from The Giving Keys with my affiliate link here!]] The Giving Keys are a wonderful organization, and this will be my second time buying a necklace from them! They specifically employ those transitioning out of homelessness! You buy a key engraved with a word you need, and then you later pass it on to someone that needs it more!! I did this once before, and it was not only impactful for the other person, but for me! Thank you for supporting me, as it means the world, and please tag me on IG (coolmomandcollected) once you receive your necklace!