The Question For Your Year

Many of us seek a word. One that will define for us the focus of our new year, helping us stay centered on the calling ahead. Through prayer, fasting for some, thinking real hard for others - this word becomes our tentpole for the 365 days to follow. 

I have definitely done this in hopes that once a word is divinely placed upon my heart it will be my compass - looking to it to keep me traveling down the right road in the right direction. I concede, it is a beautiful thought. My only issue is that, the way my mind is set up, I usually forget the term ever existed as mine by about January 15th. Not out of lack of care or desire to make my way down straight paths. In fact, I wish I knew why it evaporates from memory, lifting  back into the air I pulled it from.

Asking the Lord for a word was not even on my radar in the latter months of the previous ‘23 or the early days of ‘24. I did not even bother to pose the question.

Instead, to my utter surprise, He asked me one. 

Now, I must pause to point out two things:

Firstly, we must understand that when God asks questions, it is not for the benefit of Himself as He is already well versed in the answer - all of the answers, as it were. God asks us questions in his kindness, so that we may have holy pause to gain sober thoughts. Not so we may enlighten God, but so that He, with a loving hand may guide us to difficult answers. 

A few cases-in-point: 

Where are you? (Genesis 3:1-13), Where is your brother? (Genesis 4:1-9), What is that in your hand? (Exodus 4:1-4), What is your name? (Genesis 32:22-32), What are you doing here? (1 Kings 19), What are you looking for? (John 1:19-38), Who do you say that I am? (Mark 8:27-29), Do you want to get well? (John 5:1-9), to name a few. 

And so, when God asks a question, it is wise to be a humble student, bracing for the answer that will lead you down rugged roads to tender truth.

Second, a warning. Once you learn of this question - it will no longer just be mine. It will be yours as well. Beware - it is a dangerous one. It will permeate your being and cause some of your world to be turned upside down and, as it was in my case, some things will cease to even take up space. In light of this inquiry, I had to leave some things behind that I was fully intending to carry.  It is a question that will cause you to let go of what you thought necessary in the realization of Who is.

At the beginning of the year God asked me one question that changed everything:

“Do you mean it?”

“What?” would be a logical query to follow, “do I mean what?”. But, as it happens when the Holy Spirit speaks, it was more clarity than mystery. 

He would pose the question at various intervals while I was minding my God-given business. Particularly when in worship, singing songs about giving Him everything, surrendering all, Him being my one thing, that nothing else will do and the only boast I have is due to knowing Him.

It put a marker in my mind, and when I was inevitably faced with situations where the temptation  for compromise or “partial obedience” (if there was such a thing) did abound - these moments would present themselves again and again - ‘did you mean it? Do you mean it?”

This morning, in your prayer time when you told God that you trust Him - did you mean it? The times He asks for things that, though they may not be sin, are spots, blemishes or wrinkles that you’d prefer to keep around - this after you tearfully sang songs, hands lifted high that “all of the things you thought you wanted don’t come close to knowing Him.” 

- Did you mean it? Do you mean it?

And, this is how my year went. At every turn answering one question over again. Separate situations found me in similar places - were the words I said to my God true and did the speed and thoroughness of my obedience reflect it? 

Or - was I a liar? 

Pause.

Was I professing before God, voice aloud, that I would give Him of myself what I was actually planning to put in the confined spaces of my comfortable desires. Dishonest devotion. Surrendering slightly, saving myself. 

This, dear friend, is the only alternate possibility. A realization whose gravity was not lost on me. Difficult to confront, transformative to consider. The resolve to give God your some is to, in actuality, give Him nothing while deceiving yourself about the state of your salvation.

“Apart from obedience, there can be no salvation, for salvation without obedience is a self-contradictory impossibility.” - A.W. Tozer. 

And so, I invite you into this life-changing space with me. To have at the top of mind, all the time this question as your guiding principal towards the places God has you to go - towards Him. Straight paths are preceded by abandon and acknowledgment  - trading what I ‘know’ for what I say I believe in every decision - nothing being off limits. I am becoming a bit more firm footed on my journey as this question redirects my steps when they threaten to go off the path of obedience or belief.

Now it is yours to bring along as you travel down long roads with your Lord, letting only your love for Him dictate the distance your devotion will go. 

Give me an understanding heart so that I can passionately know and obey your truth. Guide me into the paths that please you, for I take delight in all that you say.
Psalms 119:34-35 TPT

Bonus: A playlist for you to use to ponder this question more deeply.