My verse for 2018, Psalm 63:1a

For the past several years, I've chosen not only a verse for the year but a word to go with it. I'm not sure who I learned this from...one of my blogging friends, I'm sure! And like many years, I was well into December before discovering what they would be. But as is often the case, God gave them to me during a church service...Sunday school to be exact. Not that this verse was part of the lesson, but it somehow came to my mind at that time.

I'd been watching a webinar that week about goal setting, partly for business, but also for every area of life. That webinar got me thinking about what kinds of changes I needed to make. I've never been very good at setting goals...or maybe it's following through that I have a problem with....which made me think of last year's word....CONSISTENT. Being consistent is something I have a always struggled with...and even when I chose that word, I wasn't sure how it would manifest itself. As it turned out, not at all the way I had expected. I've never been good at remembering to take medication or vitamins on a regular basis, so taking 12 nutritional supplements 2x a day has been a huge accomplishment! Trying to maintain good eating habits has never lasted very long. This time, giving up junk food and evening snacks has not been difficult at all! I've also never been able to follow through on an exercise program, so walking daily has never happened before. I admit I've missed some days, but I'm getting there. 

But when I chose that word, consistent, I was thinking more on a spiritual level, and I have to confess, that is still a struggle. But I've made some steps in the right direction there too, and I really believe that all of the changes I've made in my physical well being have had an impact on my spiritual health as well, and little by little, consistency is coming. 

Still, when God gave me my verse for the coming year, my reaction was oh no, that can't be it! But I know it is, and I know that with God all things are possible. I can do nothing in my own strength, but I can do all things through Christ.....even get up early! Because of the other changes I've made, I now have the energy to get up in the morning and get a good start to my day. I've already started a morning routine that includes a time of prayer and Bible reading, and exercise BEFORE I start anything else. Just as my body needs proper nutrition to function properly, my soul needs to be fed. 

What I need to continue this until it becomes a habit is DETERMINATION....my word for the year.

Psalm 63:1 O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is.