My word of the year + February Goals!

Hi y’all!

Yes, I’m late to the bandwagon regarding “word of the year”, but let’s hope you all have forgiveness in your hearts for another fellow mortal who has a tendency to get pre-occupied with life! 😂 And what better? Live to the full, people! That’s what this year – every year, really – should be about: living the best life you can, and striving to not get caught up in things that don’t matter in the long run – like social media or student grind – and focusing on what DOES matter, like the eager pursuit of knowledge and lasting relationships!

The last couple weeks has been a bit of a blur, with more of a focus on artsy stuff. (Be prepared for an art post soon! Knowing me, “soon” could be anywhere from tomorrow to four weeks from now!) But art cannot satisfy when you know that there’s so much more to life than living in a self-absorbed bubble.

(I haven’t known what to pick as my word of the year – I’ve never done it before. In fact, I’m still not sure if it’s the right one! But I’ll try it and roll with it, and we’ll see what happens!)

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This year’s word means a lot to me because, in the last few weeks, I have slacked off a bit on my goals and vision for my future. Activities like sketching, reading, and cleaning are all well and good in their time, but not as a lifestyle. I want to get up and back into my routine from December and early January, when I was smashing goal after goal and feeling so accomplished. Going back mentally to a time when I felt “fulfilled” has helped me to decide what it is I want to do so that I can work towards fulfillment again.

(And, here’s my opinion – Fulfillment comes only through the pursuit of your passions. TRUE fulfillment comes only through the passionate pursuit of YHVH. If we are “pursuing God” by robotically “doing the things” (like reading the bible and praying) but we are not passionate about it, then we will simply end up dry and empty. When we have a passion for YHVH and His Word, it is THEN that we experience true fulfillment.)

So, without further ado, my word of the year is ….

Determination.

Determination to finish the essay. Determination to follow YHVH whatever turns life takes. Determination not to let a friendship die. Determination to stay true to your beliefs. Determination to not quit. Determination to succeed – to grow stronger, faster, smarter, better.

“I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Phillippians 3:14, NKJV

“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”

Phillippians 2:12-13, NKJV

(I did some research on the above verse – the word “work” means to “bring to completion”, to “achieve”. “Working” out our salvation thus means to pereservere and not give up until we reach the end of our days.)

“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27, NKJV

“Yet the righteous will hold to his way, and he who has clean hands will be stronger and stronger.”

Job 17:9, NKJV

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”

Hebrews 12:1, NKJV

What’s neat about Paul and his letters is that the majority of these letters were written to new believers – like me. Believers who lived in places where the Word of God was blasphemed in even the everyday activites – like the place I live. Believers who suffered persecution from their families and from the government and experienced hardships, including even the normal ones that everyone experiences. I’m so sick of the hardships. Sometimes I get so sick of it all that I don’t want to continue being “different” anymore. I’m sure that the new believers in the first century also has these doubts, insecurities, and moments of weakness. I’m sure that many of them thought of deserting – of simply fading back into the immoral background again.

But Paul’s advice reminds us of why we’re here, why we came to Christ in the first place. Because we are empty shells, in need of the Holy Spirit, the Holy “breath”, to FILL us as the Word we read FULFILLS us. We can’t forget the reason we’re here. We must have determination.

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Alright! Now, for my February goals!

(Note: January goals were … a flop! I read up to Amos, not Malachi – I went to bed at ungodly hours – RPC tanked this month because of technology issues. But am I completely ashamed? Nope! I did more math than I’ve done in months, connected with some friends, drank water, and read a huge portion of the Bible! January was a great month, and although I know that I can do better this month, I’m not going to toss my efforts in the can saying “well, THAT was a waste of time.” January was a month of learning, and I’m proud pleased to say that I learned a lot of life lessons indeed!)

Goal #1: Go to bed at 9:30 80% of the time. (A much more sustainable goal than last month. My schedule doesn’t allow for me to go to bed at 9:00, and often I get so overwhelmed with trying that I skip this goal of a proper bedtime altogther. I hope this time will be more comfortable for me, and I think it will.)

Goal #2: Read less – write more. (When I borrow a series from a friend, I tend to binge read, leaving school and extracurriculars half-done or not done at all! But writing expands my brain, gives me a clearer head, AND attacks some of those assignments that regularly pile up!)

Goal #3: Read Micah to Malachi, and the four gospels (Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John.) Any joiners? 🤣

Goal #4: Throw myself into school, doing whatever random asignments I can find, then clean up and organize everything ASAP, hopefully by the end of this month. I hope to finish the RPC Grade 10 English course by the end of this month.

Goal #5: Make my website! (I can’t wait for this! I’ll be launching a website as a part of my Business course, and of course I’ll let you all know when it’s up and running, hopefully by the end of this month!)

Goal #6: Begin the 2019 Summer Shred Challenge! (Whew, this one lasts 35 days! It’s a lot longer than the others I’ve done, but I’m planning to take it slow and treat my body carefully. ✌ I’m putting NO stress on myself to do the workouts perfectly, but I’m going to do my best!)

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Well, I hope you all are having an amazing day! What are your goals for February? Let’s chat it up in the comments!

Makayla

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