My One Word 2015//Humility

My one word for 2014 was "Rid". I vowed to rid negativity out of my life in all forms: people, relationships, conversations, etc. While I could always still improve in this area and every area, I feel very accomplished and successful in my one word for 2014. I broke away from a lot of negative relationships that were doing more harm than good to my walk with Christ. I formed some new positive relationships as well. I did very well in avoiding people trying to suck me in to conversations talking bad about another and became very good at just saying, "oh  okay" or "oh" in response to people talking bad about someone to me and trying to get me to, in turn, say something bad about that person in response. This made me feel very good as well, as I have been the victim of idle gossip and firsthand have seen how it can ruin relationships. It was a sense of accomplishment to be able to stand strong in my commitment to avoid such things.

Always recognize the difference between venting and gossiping! The wise seek out Godly counsel and therefore if you are truly just venting, you're likely going to be only talking to one or two people and those people would be classified as Godly counsel. They will give you Godly advice and encouragement and will not further help you tear down whomever you are speaking about, nor will they repeat the conversation to another. If that's not what your conversation looks like, it IS very much gossiping.

O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge- by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith. Grace be with you. Amen. -1 Timothy 6:20-21

Now I urge you brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. -Romans 16:17-18

For 2015, after much thought, my one word will be humility. While with 90% of my relationships, I am very humble and don't have a pride issue at all, there are those 10% of my relationships that I do struggle to be humble and that pride is used by the enemy to interefere with my walk with Christ. The Holy Spirit convicts me of this often and that is why I have vowed to correct this this year! I know with constant conversation with The Lord and constantly asking Him to let The Holy Spirit fall on me and consume me so wholly that there's not an inch of me that's able to be prideful, I can overcome this in the same way I did negativity in 2014. I will be working on my pride in the area of subliminally and subconsciously judging someone and also in the area of not being humble in my understanding of someone or a situation. One thing that is very important to me is listening with the intent to understand, not the intent to reply. This can be better accomplished by having absolute humility. 

Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature. -1 Corinthians 14:20

But I want you to be wise in what is good and simple concerning evil. -Romans 16:19b

PRIDE IS EVIL!! And the Bible tells us that pride comes before a fall!

Let your gentleness be evident to all. -Philippians 4:5

May my gentleness be evident to you all in 2015! ❤️

My One Word 2014

As we neared the New Year, I began to think about what my one word should be for 2014. I wanted it to be something really good, something that would truly make me a much better person throughout the year. I began seeking clarity from God on what this one thing should be. It was not long before I had my one word and knew without a doubt it was the most important thing I could work on this year.

My One Word for 2014 is Rid.

Philippians 4:8 says, "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be praise, think on these things."

I want to rid myself, my life, my thoughts, my words, and my actions of anything negative, unholy, or not pure. This means no negative talk, no negative thoughts, no negative anything! If I am sensing myself getting frustrated with someone and just simply thinking negative things alone in my home, I immediately stop what I am doing and begin to pray that God will rid my mind of these thoughts and help my to focus on something more positive today. ....And you know what? I can proudly say it is working! My Mam-ma used to always tell me that most people's problem is they won't ask God for help because they think it is either something too small or too unimportant that it would be silly to ask God for help with it, when in all reality, we should be asking God for help with anything and everything. She used to really emphasize to me also how we should pray specifically for what we need. Don't be vague with God! He is our Rock and anything we do will be easier and smoother with His help and guidance. It is amazing to me how easy it is to rid myself of all things negative when I just simply stop what I am doing and ask Him for help.

Matthew 7:7 says, "Ask, and it shall be given unto you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you."

I hope you will join me on this journey this New Year with whatever your One Word may be as well. May we all be able to encourage one another in bettering ourself through Him.