She suggests a 'life verse' too (mine is 1 Thessalonians 4:11).
I'm pretty tender-hearted - on the inside - most of the time, and there's the catch. What's inside pops up at the least lovely times. Sometimes it's deeply embedded behavior raising it's ugly head. So I've been thinking about gentleness lately.
For 2009 I've chosen two verses:
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1,
and
Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Philippians 4:5
I'm planning to go through my concordance, pull out the verses on gentleness, and study them. There's also a study on gentleness as a fruit of the spirit I'm going to look for at our church bookstore.
The first verse suggests that something was said that could raise up some ire (gee, that never happens), and I'm being challenged to respond gently (gee, that doesn't always happen either). Then I'm told what to expect if I don't.
The second one tells me the condition of my heart is going to be obvious to those around me. And while 'The Lord is near' is speaking to Christ's return, it is a good reminder to me that He is omnipresent, knows my thoughts, hears every word I speak and sees my actions. Very compelling and convicting.
Tomorrow I'll share my 2009 resolutions, all three of them.
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7 comments:
Thank you for an inspiring idea.
That's a wonderful thing to do. It will help keep focused on being a shining light for Christ's glory.
Many sweet blessings to you and yours!
What a very good idea! I'll have to pray over this one.
For the last 6 years I have chosen a "Word of the Year" and used it as my theme, learning verses and lessons and asking God to teach me what He wants me to know about that theme.
2008 was LISTEN and I am not sure what 2009 will be yet. I am still praying about it and asking God to drop His word into my heart.
I love the theme of gentleness. That is a really good one. I have often thought it would be great to take several years and do the Fruit of the Spirit.
I hope you will keep us posted on your theme. Happy New Year Bev!
Thanks for sharing these 2 amazing scripture verses. I working through leading the women at our church through a challenge of each memorizing 2 scriptures (of our choice) each month in 2009.
Gentleness....something we all need to desire.
Mine is Psalms 46:10...Be still and know that I'am God....I say it daily sometimes 10 times....I think though my life one is Jeremiah 29:11.....it speaks to me so true.
This is a lovely idea. I've heard of choosing a word for the year, but I like the verse idea. My life verse is Phil 4:13.
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