Thought I’d update you on my word for this year. As I’ve prayed and asked for a new word for this new year(instead of a resolution), I’ve landed on freedom.
Freedom is one of my favorite words. I love singing the worship song, “I am free to run. I am free to dance. I am free to live for you. I am free!” Like a kite soaring above me, my heart flies closer to God when offer up these words.
You’d have to know my life story to really understand what the word freedom means to me. I’ve been so bound by shame, my body image, my negative thoughts, other people’s opinions, my past choices, and so much more. I’ve lived much of my life in an invisible cage, thinking that’s my lonely place in the world. Maybe that’s what made me want to minister to teenage girls behind bars. I’ve lived it–in my mind.
Over the past 8 years especially, I’ve been rattling the steel bars I sense in front of me. One by one the bars are slowly falling away. Because of this, I now see life through a new lens. A clearer lens. I’m optimistic and hopeful. I dream for His greater love to be known on earth. I believe God desires to heal any sized wound. I’m learning to feel comfortable before a Holy God with my uglies exposed. Naked at heart. I can trust Him because with all of me because He cares for me with perfect love.
So as I start 2009 with freedom in mind, I’m learning I cannot enter mental jails anymore and be content. They no longer feel like home. Sure, I step in willing from time to time, but I no longer prefer a small view, darkness or stench. God’s home for my heart is spacious, bright and smells sweet!
Here’s what I know to be true: God’s Word leads to freedom. His Word reminds me I can live free. I can explore His Word and presence at any time, any way.
When I think of freedom, I think of our American military men and women that fight for our freedom every day. The cost for freedom is great, sometimes lives are lost. Jesus paid that price for you and me. His life for ours. This truth makes me love Him more.
This year, my mission is to find a deeper sense of His amazing freedom and offer it freely to others. I’m also on guard of the bars that are set before me. I’m determined with God’s help to get rid of them. They lead to slavery.
The truth is I AM ALREADY FREE! And, so are you!
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1(NIV)
You, my brothers(sisters), were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. Galatians 5:13(NIV)(Added word and emphasis mine).
Amen! What a great word for the year! My freedom in Christ is a treasure to me… it truly is a wonderful thing. There is a verse I often think of when I am out running, I think it is Psalm 119:32, but I could be wrong, but it states:
“I run in the path of your commands for You have set my heart free!”
I am so thankful to God for setting my heart free!
Blessings!
I love your word, Tiffany. Sometimes I wonder if you know how beautiful you are on the inside and out. It’s the inside beauty of what God has done in your life that breathes healing to me.
My word for this year is gratitude. Every day this year, I want be aware of and tell God, “I’m grateful for…” I want to intentionally guide my feelings, thoughts, opinions, words, and ways to sing a new praise song to God every day. As I express my thankfulness, I want to remember that gratitude is more than uttering words, it’s how I live.
These encouraging words by author Melodie Beattie speak Biblical truths, “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity…. It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.”
I Want 2009 To Be…
“Another year to live!
To banish worry, doubt, and fear,
To love and laugh and give!
This bright new year is given me
To live each day with zest . . .
To daily grow and try to be
My highest and my best!
I have the opportunity
Once more to right some wrongs,
To pray for peace, to plant a tree,
And sing more joyful songs!”–William Arthur Ward
Let’s sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in our hearts to God for the freedom he gives.
Amen! May we never be bound by those chains again. But may we walk in His freedom and grace. Thanks for sharing my friend! I hope you enjoy the rest of your week!
Hey friend, Papa once told me that I was a freedom fighter…. so I will fight alongside you for your freedom… It IS for freedom that He has set us free….
Can’t wait to see what this coming year will bring to your life…
I look forward to watching, cheering, fighting and standing alongside you.
FREEDOM is one of my absolute favorite words since I began to walk hand and hand with Jesus!
In fact at my other blogsite I answered what I was thanful for and said, FREEDOM, and even posted a neat picture for it :O)
wwww.2totrainup.blogspot.com
In Him, Deanna
Tiffany,
Longing to hold my chains high above my head and be ‘undone’ with you. Freedom…what a great word..what a great life. Thanking Jesus for the ultimate price He paid to give it to us.
Loved your post, my friend.
Feels pretty good huh? Whee I am free! My word is Faithful. God is so faithful to his word that I stand amazed. He is committed to me and my maturity in him. He is the only one in my life who means what he says and I can trust him for his perfect timing in what he has asked of me. He will move heaven and earth on my behalf and that is mind-boggling to me, let alone his death. It didn’t just stop on the cross my friends, he continues to be involved with us forever. Praise the Lord!
Tiffany, you express yourself so well. I couldn’t help but feel a bit of myself in there.
We are truly FREE. Amen.
Heres to living like we are truly FREE!
What a beautiful word for 2009, Tiffany. I love the picture of the kite–I could feel my spirit soar when I looked at it.
Live free, friend! He died so we could.
Sending love,
Laura
Dear Tiffany – what a beautiful post! God bless you and what a blessing to connect with you through Twitter. You echo words that have been in my heart and soul and finally found their way free after I was diagnosed with post polio syndrome in 2006. Through the grace of God I have found freedom of mind, body and spirit although every day I constantly strive to maintain the freedom and not lock myself away inside. You are so eloquent and I feel as though I have found a soul sister. With my love, Mary
Dear Friend, Thank you for this post-it is beautiful. I absolutely love the song and love to dance to it. You are simply amazing and I pray the Lord will show you just how much He delights in you. My word for 2009 is TRUST. To simply trust Him with all, my hubby and all that life entails. Blessings to you this day.
Hugs, Noreen
I love your word. I sense it is very appropriate for you because that this the journey you have been on this past year that I’ve known you.
Mine is order. I need to get my body in and health in order. I need to create some order in what is rather, uh, shall we say unorganized at home. Not every room and not every thing, but the hidden things. Closets, drawers, storage room, file cabinet. Things that Mike and I know I’ve neglected, but have not taken care of. I’ve just kept up appearances. That’s not acceptable in my spiritual life, and it’s not acceptable in my earthly realm either.
God bless you this year as you celebrate freedom.