My One Word for 2016

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If you know me at all, you know I face fear. One a DAILY basis. It has been my biggest challenge in life and one of the biggest methods God has used to draw me to Him. My fears have morphed over the years from spiders to public speaking to failure as a parent to dealing with community. Yet, fear has allowed me to walk closer to Christ and develop a deep relationship with Him. Ironically, it has been fear and anxiety that have taught me how trustworthy He is and that I have nothing to fear.

Every year I pick one word to focus on. {See more about this here.} This year I don't want to move on. For 2015, my word was HOPE. It has been the best year in regards to any of the words I have picked in the past. I have so needed hope after several tough years dealing with relational angst. I even considered doing a second year of hope, but then decided it was time to move on and be brave. You see, for the past couple of years I have isolated myself. I am not a hermit, but I have lived within a small group of people, because  several of my relationships broke so tragically in 2013, I needed a break from it all. It just may be time to fearlessly re-enter the world and step out a bit. I have to admit. I don't want to. I am extremely content in my small world, but I know I can't live like this forever.

So this year the word I have picked is FEARLESS. To step out of my comfort zone and give Christ my anxieties. I have been learning to do this all along, but I could learn more...do more. Please stop by as I will be sharing my journey and offering ideas on how to battle anxiety. If you, too, suffer know that I am praying for you {I pray for my blog readers even though I don't know who they are.}. I hope that what I share will also help you.

To start off here are a few resources I use to battle fear and deal with anxiety...

Running Scared: Fear, Worry, and the God of Rest-A great book for dealing with the spiritual side of anxiety.

The Anxious Christian: Can God Use Your Anxiety for Good?-This book takes a slightly different angle than the first. Sometimes we need to allow God to use our fears.

When People Are Big and God is Small: Overcoming Peer Pressure, Codependency, and the Fear of Man (Resources for Changing Lives)-So I struggle tremendously with the fear of man. This is such a great book to give you ideas on how to deal with it.

31 Days of Overcoming Fear- I LOVE this devotional filled with verses and ideas for dealing with fear.

I look forward to this journey!

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