This picture is not a mistake. Really, it’s not. Let me explain.

I have been sharing the “word for this year” fad, and the fact that the Lord had finally given me one this year….courage.  I have also shared that there is nothing “magic” about having a “word”, it doesn’t cause anything, change anything, or guarantee anything.  It’s just simply someone’s idea a few years ago to give people a goal or attribute that they can focus on.

Unfortunately, this concept has been distorted and misused to the point that it is no longer being used for its intended purpose. Every year it gets more elaborate.  People now rush to choose their word before the end of a year, whether it is a valid idea or not.  There are now necklaces, bracelets, headbands, bookmarks, everything available to have “your” word engraved or sewn on.  Beautiful slogans accompany these:  “Wear your word close to your heart”.  “Share your word with others by wearing this gorgeous bracelet”.  Etc, etc. All sweet and pretty and delicate and designed to let everyone know your word and how to get their own.

As stated above, my word this year is courage.  Courage.  As in, no fear.  Brave.  Bold and new.  Trusting God as never before.  But let me tell you….there has been nothing pretty or sweet about my experience!  I made my first “mistake” by writing down Scripture verses about courage, and finding out that I was going to be in WAY over my head with this subject.  Courage in the Bible is not instant, but it is to be desired to the point that fear is conquered and God is honored.  It is FIERCE.  It is almost always used in battle or dangerous situations.  It is not a delicate word for a delicate necklace…it is a battle cry.  It is complex, and it is deep.  And it has slapped me in the face more times than I can count since God gave it to me.  God has shown me so many places that I have been in a rut, comfortable, and not really growing.  He has turned the spotlight on a lot of different areas, and I have not been proud of what I have seen.

So, I have struggled to live out this word this year.  In the big and the small.  I have changed little things, like eating habits, and I have changed big things, like giving up a small business I thought I needed to supplement our income, but which proved to be a mistake.  I have let God remind me (over and over) that I have been doing a lot of “helping” His plan and provision for my life, and not paying attention to what He was actually wanting to accomplish.  I am also working..sometimes on an hourly basis..to surrender my future to His agenda and not mine.

And the point of the picture above?  In a free self defense class recently, I found a new passion that fits in perfectly with GOD’S plan for me, not mine!  One thing He has shown me is that my physical wellbeing had been shoved to a far corner of my life…very far.  I have always approached exercise as a thing to be dreaded, or at the very least just tolerated, in some sporadic attempts to “get in shape”.  And my consistency has been sad to say the least.  But no more!  I am now a student of self defense…officially known as “krav maga”.  I am in love with it.  Forty five minutes twice a week, late in the evening no less, and I LOVE IT.  I EAGERLY leave the house to drive to it.  I am invested in money and time and I wouldn’t change it for the world!

Why?  Because.  Because the classes are all about protection and learning not to be a victim, but they are about WAY more than that.  I am learning confidence, and trust, and the ability to practice and persevere until a skill is learned.  It is fun, and my muscles and joints are loving being used in so many different ways.  It’s tough, but for all the right reasons.  And I am encouraged by my fellow students, all of whom have been doing it much longer than me.  It’s amazing.  But more than that, it is all about COURAGE.  And for me, it has also brought Scripture passages to life, especially the ones on spiritual armor and spiritual warfare.  Just as I am getting used to new equipment and how to use it, I am being reminded that I have weapons for spiritual battles that have gotten way too much “dust” on them.  And as I learn that I have so much to learn in protecting my physical body, I have even MORE than that to learn about spiritual protection.  The similarities are amazing, and as I build confidence in my earthly abilities, I am also being reminded by God of my spiritual abilities through Him.

Courage….what an amazing word!  How grateful I am God is using this word in my life, and how awesome is His willingness to always teach us new things, and to give us power and authority through HIM to face each day with confidence.  I’ve got my gloves…do you??