Pray, Love, and Listen

Sometimes it seems that there are so many things to keep track of, so many priorities to hold before us as we enter a new year. This is true for me. 

How many different hats can a person wear without becoming completely overwhelmed? There are so many areas of responsibility in our lives. It's as if we have multiple (many) part-time jobs, each one sometimes feeling like a full-time job. 

Some of these areas of responsibility or calling in my life ...

Pursuing my First Love as a child of God

Being a companion and helpmeet for my hubby

Loving our four daughters, two sons, and four sons-in-law

Being grama for our five granddaughters and five grandsons

Creating a warm environment in our home 

Caring for the physical needs of family and home

Being creative as a homemaker

Building into the friendships we've been blessed with
Praying for and being God's hands and heart to those around us
Praying for those all around the world, for people to come to know God

Serving as Cru staff in multiple ways each week

Helping lead our CityGroup, small group within our church

Caring for my elderly father who is going through a season of need

Following God's leading to share through blogging

And there are more. Your areas of calling/passion may be similar, and with even additional roles and responsibilities.

For me, each of these areas is not merely a job or responsibility; each one is a passion. Something that I believe that God has called me to. It's what I love to do. They are my avenues of serving and following God's direction and calling for my life. They are my life. 

And I wonder - is there a common factor in all the roles and responsibilities, callings and passions that we have as women? Could it be helpful to focus on different common themes at various times in our lives? Maybe areas that we would like to grow in as we serve in multiple ways.

As I have been spending some time preparing my heart for the new year, there are a few words that keep coming back to my mind over and over again. Words that are wrapping my heart around all these various areas of passion and serving. Words that capture the ways that I long to grow in as I serve. 

Pray - daily, moment-by-moment, faithfully pray for others, for their needs, and for sensitivity to how to serve them well . May my first response be to pray. Seeking God above all, communicating my heart to Him and hearing His heart, bringing all my concerns to Him. Depending on Him alone to do what He alone can do.

Love - daily, moment-by-moment, faithfully love others, depending on God to love them through me. May my first response be to love. "Love is patient, love is kind ... it does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking ... love never fails." (I Cor. 13)  Love others as I am loved, for God is Love.

Listen - daily, moment-by-moment, faithfully listen to each person in my life. May my first response be to listen. For listening is the primary language of love, communicating value and worth. As our loving Father listens to our hearts, and we listen to His heart - we in turn are filled up to listen to others.

Loving Lord, will you teach me more this year as I pray, love, and listen -  to You?  And in turn, by Your grace and mercy, may I pray for, love, and listen to those You have brought into my life. For Your purposes, and by Your power.

And I pray for you,

as you enter into a new year -

that you will learn and grow as you live and serve 

through your callings and passions.

_______

Linking up with Bonnie's Beloved Brews linkup, sharing with others about our One Word for the year, only my one word is actually three words that are linked closely together. Three words that God has impressed on my heart, three ways that I long to grow in during this coming year. And also, linking up with Holley's Coffee for Your Heart linkup, sharing our One Word for the year, as well.