C-L-O-S-E-R. That’s the “One Word” I chose back in January to give me direction for the year.
C
L
O
S
E
R
It has occurred to me of late that these letters might form a good acronym, or acrostic, with each of its letters standing for something that can help me draw nearer to God.
I got the idea while reading Brother Lawrence’s Practice of the Presence of God. The C world popped into my mind, and then an L word.
But for right now, just C.
Brother Lawrence mentioned several times that without God’s help he would fail. He said,
“I shall never do otherwise [than fail] if You leave me to myself;”
“Lord, I cannot do this unless Thou enable me…”
This post talks about how this is true for me, too. For all of us.
What to do?
Sensibly and simply, Brother Lawrence petitioned God for His help
He “implored”
He “trusted in Him” to help as His word promises,
He “begged” His assistance,
“praying for His grace with a perfect confidence,”
“relying upon the infinite merits of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
At the beginning of his day’s work he said… “O my God,… I beseech Thee to grant me the grace to continue in Thy presence; and to this end… prosper me with Thy assistance.”
Brother Lawrence needed God’s grace to succeed in this.
So do I!
So what to do?
CALL ON GOD to do what I cannot, to help, by His grace.
There’s the C word: Call (on God).
And not as just a one-and-done deal, but a constantly repeating one, to CONTINUE doing through the day.
So here’s my first and most important step to drawing CLOSER:
CALL ON GOD!
And for what do I call out?
Yesterday’s sermon nailed it, spot on, in its scripture text verses:
“My GRACE is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor 12:9).
and
“God is able to make all GRACE abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” (2 Cor 9:8).
His grace, manifested in His help, through the Helper, His Holy Spirit.
*****
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I keep seeing this choosing a word to focus on throughout the year. Where does that come from? It’s a neat idea!
I think you’ve chosen an excellent focus for your “c”. We all need to call on God for His grace in our lives!
Mary Beth
newlifesteward.com
Hi Mary Beth,
I happened on the One Word concept in a roundabout way, from watching as other bloggers chose their word for the year. But I just found this website, which may be where it started: http://myoneword.org/ It’s a good approach. Narrows one’s focus. Now I’m narrowed down further to the letters! heh. That’s just something I started doing this month.
Mmm, lots of truth here. So many important facets – it must be hard to sum it all up. I think “call” does a good job, though. That plant, those verses – so much in this post I need to remember. Thank you for this!
Dear Sylvia and friends,
I began to name my year with a word at the suggestions of Ann Voskamp over at http://www.aholyexperience.com. She started doing this and I began to read her in the fall of 2010. That December she asked her readers to pick a word for the year 2011. Mine was the Year of Now. All year I focused on doing the next right thing, appreciating the now (not mourning the past or anticipating the future). It changed me.
2012 is the Year of Grace for me. You say a lot about grace today in your post, Sylvia. I am off and running…
Thank you,
Dawn
Hi Mary,
Since you read this post in its very unclear, over-complicated form, I’ve totally rewritten it, as I’ve said at the beginning of the rewrite, above — and removed the picture of the plant, because I think I’ll put that, with its question and answer, in a later post. I hope you get to read this, because I think the new post is much clearer, just in God’s good simplicity.
And may He richly bless you this day!
Dawn, what an excellent One Word — grace! I don’t know if anyone could think of a better one. How good a word for your 2012, how good to be seeing the evidence of His grace in it!
More grace to you today!
I learned so much from that simple little book. Brother Lawrence’s connection to God was deep and intimate. Thank you for sharing this and pointing to the power that calling on God provides. Great post!
Yes, Christina, deep and intimate — and simple. There is so much to learn that I seem to have missed my first time round. I am gaining so much more on this more focused read-through. Thank you for stopping and commenting.
I love your “C” word :). I can’t wait to read about the next letters in the acronym. Brother Lawrence has inspired me many, many times. Carrying God with me is lighter since reading his precious book.