One Word 2012: Burn

Well, 2011 has come and gone.  I don’t know why it was in such hurry to get the heck outta dodge, but it was.  I don’t remember  a year going by so quickly.  As I read back on my OneWord for last year, I am saddened because I didn’t “pursue” nearly as well as I wanted.  I felt like I got stuck.  I don’t feel like I moved an inch.  I hurt people that I truly loved.  I made mistakes. I didn’t go all in.  I kinda just sat on the sidelines watching and waiting for I don’t know what.  I was so excited to “pursue” but quickly found myself retreating. I don’t know why. I don’t know where I thought I was going. I will not give up on my word from last year, in fact, I may have gotten ahead of myself by choosing “pursue” for last year but certain things have to be taken care of first.  Thus, my word for 2012: BURN.

In a conversation with my dad recently he reminded me of the story of Cortez burning his fleet of ships so that he and his men had no chance of retreat, no chance to run back to where they had come from.  That is the first reason I chose this word and the first thing I am doing in 2012.  I am burning the ships of not only 2011, but the ships of all my past.  Today I am allowing the Father to begin the process of burning away my lust for acceptance, my silly need for people’s attention, my addiction to pleasing others, my sinful act of operating under the influence of my peer’s opinions.  I am letting Him burn the ships of guilt, shame, pressure, the feeling of not being enough.  The ships of regret, of pride, of survival.  I am allowing him to burn them because I don’t need them anymore.  Not where I am going.

I also chose the word burn for 2012 because that is what I desperately want to do. I want to burn brightly in my walk.  I want people to be drawn to the Jesus inside of me.  I want His love, peace, comfort, forgiveness, and grace to be blinding.  I want to burn as a dangerous man.  I want to burn brightly so that I can lead people to the holiest of places.  I want to burn brightly so I can be a voice for people that don’t know how to say what is on their minds and hearts.  I will burn brightly this year with the flames of passion, desires, dreams, future, friendships, love, forgiveness, grace, and most of all my walk with my Father.  I will not retreat.  I will not run.  I will not turn around.  I am burning my ships and will walk into the rest of my life with a heart on fire.

I am praying for all of you in this new year.  I love you guys.