{source}

If you need to know anything about me, it’s that I’m obsessed with planning and organization.  I actually enjoy that which makes stronger women cringe (except washing dishes, ick!).  To me, a messy room is like a grand opportunity.  To me, New Year’s resolutions aren’t about writing down things that I never plan to obtain, but rather about planning the exciting possibilities for the New Year.  Lately, I’ve been thinking about how I want to improve my walk with Jesus this year.  This new opportunity of 2013.

As the slightly OC planner . . . I tend to get carried away with things.  If it were up to me, I’d have an intricately formulated list of how I plan to improve my walk with Jesus.  God had other plans.  As I began to get all OC and me-centered about how I was going to attain this closeness and how my walk was going to be closer, He dashed my plans!!!  God knows so much better than I do about what I need.  This year, He doesn’t want me to get carried away by anything but by Him.

Specifically, God gave me a one word plan, “Grow!”  Immediately, I thought, but God’s that’s just too simple.  He was like, “exactly.”  God doesn’t want me to be disheartened when I do not reach my personal goals, but wants me to be encouraged by my growth toward Him.  What God showed me is that He created me to grow and there is nothing that I can do to achieve this growth except to depend on Him.  How can I improve my walk with Jesus in 2013?  Grow.

“Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,” Ephesians 4:15 (ESV)

Is God placing a calling in your heart for 2013 that is equally as simple?

Are you depending on God for your growth in 2013?

© 2013 – 2014, Brooke Shambley. All rights reserved. Love it? Please share, pin, tweet or email but do not use my work without permission.