A New Beginning

A new year and a new start. Nothing better than a clean slate where we can begin again!!!! So sorry I’ve been missing in action for a while. I wasn’t feeling that well, and with all the doctor visits, tests, etc., I felt I lost my momentum with writing, thinking, commenting, etc. I’ve missed being here and visiting my favorite
Bloggy places. I’ll be catching up just as soon as I can.

The few places I have been have intrigued me with goals, resolutions, thoughts, and even chosen words for the coming year. It made me stop and think --- to think back over the past year and where it brought me from, and to think of where the road in front of me is heading. My first thought on New Year’s Day was a line in a song I love so much --- “Whatever my lot, it is well with my soul!” I’m a whiner at times. A complainer. A worrier. All of these seem to be strikes against what I call a strong faith and confidence in a God that I say I trust with my life and soul. Can I HONESTLY say in the darkest of times that “it is well with my soul?” I want to make that my goal for this coming year -- to grow into that kind of steadfast faith!

Which brings me to the thing about a “word” for this year. I’m so intrigued by that! I’m so wordy, and to boil something down into one word is almost impossible for me. But the word “STEADFAST” has been slamming me up against the wall for a while now. I don’t think I waver much in my faith, but I DO waver in my walk. Even as I typed that, I thought, if my walk isn’t right, isn’t that the evidence of my faith?????
I want to follow God’s words to Jeremiah : Thus says the LORD, "Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, Where the good way is, and walk in it; And you will find rest for your souls. (Jer. 6:16)

The word, “steadfast” appears numerous times in Scripture, and has its roots in Greek where the roads were made of clay. As the chariots would go up and down these roads, ruts were formed, similar to the ruts of old country roads and driveways. The smoothest and safest way to travel these roads was to keep the wheels in the ruts. To remain steadfast would mean for us to stay in the ruts that have been formed by those who have gone before us, the good way, the ancient paths.

Years ago, I lived in the farm country of Virginia. The house sat on a hill, a ways off the main road. It was an old 1800’s home, and the driveway leading to this house was as old as the old farmhouse. The ruts had been dug out over the decades to where the fencing now stood higher than the roof of the car. And we all knew that the safest way to ride that driveway was to stay in the ruts!

I want to be known as a “steadfast” person --- someone who doesn’t quit, swerve, back up, or try new and questionable ways. And if I only move one step forward this whole year, I will have considered it a profitable and successful year.