I will THRIVE in 2015

Over the last few days, since God revealed my guiding word for 2015, I've been thinking of what it might mean for me to thrive in the coming year.  I thought back to when I did my first Christian Life Coach training and we were asked to fill out a "Wheel of Life Balance" - to find the areas where we could improve balance or satisfaction in different areas of our lives.  We rated health, relationships, career, faith, family/friends, community involvement, finances, and peace.  (Currently, I would also add my home to this wheel, because there is a definite lack of satisfaction in the state of my home.)  Some areas I rated fairly high, others were quite low...my life was obviously out of balance.  While I think I have improved some areas in the last couple of years, there are obviously still areas where I am only "surviving" and not "thriving."   I know this because for one thing, there is an overall lack of peace.

So, how will I thrive in 2015?  My plan (and I say this knowing that God may have other plans for me that I don't know yet!) for the moment is to take a look at each of these areas during the year to come and find ways to grow and flourish, to progress, to prosper.  How can I shine for God if I am not taking care of myself the way I should?  How can I give generously to those in need if I don't even manage my finances for my family properly?  How can I love those around me if I don't give attention to relationships?  How can I live a life of balance if I don't put God first in everything?  How can I thrive if I am focused only on surviving?

What would God have me change?  What can I let go of, say no to, or take on in order to live in the peace that God offers through His grace?

  The Lord gives strength to his people;  the Lord blesses his people with peace.

Psalm 29:11

The area most on my mind right now is my health and fitness.  I will be very honest here and say that while I used to workout and walk regularly, it's been a long time since I have had any sort of regular fitness routine.  I joined a group at church a year ago that focused on the Daniel Plan - a wonderful program that encouraged good health, nutrition, faith, and support from friends and family.  I lost a few pounds, and when the formal group ended at the church...I let what I had learned slowly fade from my daily routines.  Now, I could stand to lose about 30 pounds, and have a stack of jeans that fit about two (or three) sizes ago....  I have started to stress eat more and more often...and it's usually junk.   

I think about what I could do if I felt better overall.  I think about how the added pounds have made even simply going up and down the stairs in my house tiresome some days.  I think about how tired I am because I don't drink enough water each day, or eat foods that give me healthy energy.  I think about how God would have me take care of my body...and I realize I am not doing a very good job of taking care of His handiwork. 

For this month, I will be focusing on my health and fitness habits, allowing God's Word to help me learn to thrive in this area.   I want to be healthy and fit so that I can do the things I need to do without my lack of fitness getting in the way.  I want to take care of myself in a way that glorifies the One who created me.

 For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 

 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.

Psalm 139:13-14

I will thrive.

One Word 365 for 2015

For several years now, I've chosen one word to focus on for the year.  Last year, my word was ponder...and as you can tell, I didn't write a lot here at the blog.  It felt like such a big word...and not a talkative word at all.  I spent the year thinking a lot about what I was doing, where my life was going, relationships, finances, my home, my children.  I spent a lot of time holding things in my heart and praying on them.  I was given a wonderful opportunity to write devotionals for a special project and even found some new things to ponder in those assignments - and perhaps even some healing.

So, we are now at the beginning of another new year.  I'm still amazed at how quickly time goes by and it's already January first again.  So much has changed in a year, and so much has stayed the same...but I have not.  I find that I have a new sense of....something....I have this urge to do....to clean up and clean out....to look forward with hope...to seek God's will for all I do...to THRIVE.

If you've read many of my blog posts in the past, you know I like to look at the definition of words.  What does it mean to thrive?  Here's the definition from the Merriam-Webster dictionary:

1: to grow vigorously : flourish
2: to gain in wealth or possessions : prosper
3: to progress toward or realize a goal despite or because of circumstances —often used with on <thrives on conflict>

Flourish, prosper, progress.  It certainly feels like it's time for all those things!

 Proverbs 11:28 says: 

Those who trust in their riches will fall,
    but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.

The righteous will thrive - grow, flourish.  Seems this word comes with many facets and I am looking forward to seeing what 2015 will hold for me.  I don't want to just survive...to just be here in my little spot of the world...I want to THRIVE! 

Want to choose your One Word?  Check out this website for more information and ideas....