Ok, so I still don’t know what my “word” is but I do have an idea of what God wants me to focus on this year … 

                                                                            Prayer. 

I have to confess this nudge from the Spirit came as a bit of a shock to me since He has been teaching me for years to pray daily – to pray throughout the day – to stop and pray with and for people – to pray as the Spirit leads – to pray the scriptures back to God – to pray when I awake at night (which is more and more the older I get – LOL!) … But I also have to confess, when I stop and think about it, that the nudge was somewhat expected as I’ve recently realized that I’ve been letting time and events and life get in the way of practicing these things well. 

So, this morning when the Spirit ‘nudged’ me – I journaled: “TEACH ME TO PRAY” and Ephesians 6:18 came to mind … “Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere” … This led to Romans 12:12 where Paul gave instructions to be constant in prayer … And from there it was Colossians 4:2 where we’re told to devote ourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving … He kept leading and I kept journaling. The verses weren’t new to me but they were a wake up call to how lax, even weak, I have become in my prayer life – not in the practice of it but in the depth of it. 

And so the FOCUS for 2019 has been set in motion. 

Learning more about prayer … More about … What it means to the Father and what it means to me … about what affect it has … and how to be constant(ly) in prayer … More about praying in the Spirit and on all occasions as Paul instructed … About how to listen and not just talk to God … How to pray not for my will but in alignment with and for His will … How to be more faithful in praying, not just telling God what I need and thanking Him for all He has done (Philip 4:6-7) – but for others, I mean Paul said: “all believers everywhere” … And being more faithful not just to say I’ll pray for you but to actually stop and pray for/with the person asking for prayer … And the list goes on …

So, it seems like there will be much to learn – or relearn – and much, I’m sure, to put into practice if I am to go deeper into prayer. I am humbled for sure but eager to see where and how He leads, teaches, changes, and grows me in this amazing gift and privilege that comes with being His daughter.