Core scripture: “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 43:19)

Message: It was mid-December when my word for 2022 came to me.  I forget what I was doing when the Lord first impressed it upon me, but the word stuck.  I think I might have asked Him for a different word, but there were crickets after that.  Dead silence.  I went to Him in prayer a week or so later, asking if that was really my new word for the new year.  His reply was simple.  Yep, Clint.  It is.  Deal with it. 

As Steve Irwin used to once say, “KRIEKEY!” 

I suppose I should back up.  Especially for new followers of my blog.  With every new year, I select a new word to revolve my year around.  If you go back and look at my previous blogs, there will be a specific post about my old words for the year right around this time.  You can search them up if you’d like.  But the point is, you pick a word you feel like God is giving you to work on in the new year. 

Is it a new year’s resolution?  Kinda.  The idea comes from a book titled One Word That Will Change Your Life (http://getoneword.com/).  I have never read the book myself, but the concept was explained to me by a friend.  You select a word where you feel God is challenging you a bit.  A place in your life that you need a little push to get out of your comfort zone.  Then, you begin the new year devoted in prayer to that word, taking baby steps to embrace it in ALL areas of your life.

Want to know my word?  Yeah, I thought you did!  Drum roll … brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr … CHING! (big reveal): PATIENCE!

As Homer Simpson loves to say, “DOH!” 

What?  You don’t understand my mentality?  Let me explain.  Yes, I realize patience is a good thing.  It is one of the fruits of the spirit.  It is something we all aspire to have more of.  But here is the thing … when you ask God for patience, does He give you patience?  No, but what He does give you is opportunities to utilize patience.  Now do you see where I am coming from?  Slight foreshadowing for 2022: I will be given plenty of time to grow my patience.  Gee, thanks, God! 

As Arnold from Different Strokes would say, “What you talkin’ bout, Willis?”

So, how did I get this word?  Honestly, it just came to me.  I need patience in my marriage.  I need patience at work.  I need patience in fatherhood.  I need patience in chasing my hopes and dreams for the future.  This word truly encompasses all areas of my life.  I am tired of having that whiney kid attitude of Veruca Salt, saying, “I want it now, Daddy!”  Guess what?  Daddy, our amazing God, works on His timetable, not mine. 

Need proof for that one?  I love quoting Isaiah 55:8-9 when it says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” 

Boo-yah!

Once you get your word for the new year, I always like finding a scripture that epitomizes it.  My scripture about patience is found in 2 Peter 3:9, and it says, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”  I like that.  Such truth!  If God is patient, we should be, too. 

So, what are you waiting for?  Why are you still reading my blog here?  Seriously!  Go out and get your word.  Live it out!  Shout it from the rooftops, and begin 2022 with a bang.   

Challenge: Meditate and pray about what word God is placing on your heart for 2022.  Journal about that word.  Talk about it with an accountability partner or friend.  Begin to hash out a plan on how to live your word out with tangible action. 

Prayer points: Lift up the following areas to the Lord …

• Praise God for all the ways He grew you in 2021. 
• Pray for the Lord to lay the right word on your heart to live out in 2022.
• Pray for submission, change, and a positive outlook for the new year.

Song application: “Into the Wild” by Josh Baldwin

There is a calling
You’ve placed upon me
I’ve felt it all my life
Step out with both feet
Walk on the water
Leave my past behind
I wanna follow, follow Your heart
In the face of the unknown
I wanna trust You, trust who You are
When I let go, I’m halfway home
Into the wild, oh
It’s time to dream like a child again
Into the wild, oh
Letting go is where life begins

Just for fun: I drove past it today on my way to Target, and it still confused me: Gus’s Fried Chicken World Famous.  No, I have never eaten there.  I am sure it is delicious.  All fried chicken is delicious.  Especially with mashed potatoes and gravy.  What I do have a problem with is the name.  Shouldn’t it be Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken?  Who is the genius that switched Fried Chicken with World Famous?  To take it to another level, if this fried chicken is indeed world famous, I suppose if you went anywhere in the world, people would know about Gus, wouldn’t they?  I don’t think so.  False advertising there.  Might even be able to win a lawsuit on that if we took it to court.  Hey, at least they got the apostrophe in the right spot.  As a Language Arts teacher, I respect that. 

    

Prayer: Father, You are the ruler of my heart.  Guide me into this new year to do what You need me to do.  Amen.