Anna Moore

I love clean slates. A freshly cleaned kitchen with the smell of soap or a candle in the air. Uncluttered surfaces. Shiny floors. Or even clean laundry. Hot from the dryer and folded up and put away. A new planner. Blank pages and spaces. A new notebook. Empty lines with so many possibilities.

The start of a new year is always exciting for people like me who find pleasure in those little things. A new year is like a clean slate, in a way. No, your life doesn’t start over, but you get to renew your mind and try to start again.

Instead of listing resolutions, I prefer to set intentions in the new year. Actually, for the last handful of years, my intentions have been broken down to one particular word that I select at the beginning of the year, or at the very end of the previous year. The word, for me at least, always has multiple meanings that stretch out beyond the surface-level meaning. For example, my word for 2021 was “surrender”, which was a big focus for me as I tried to hand over all I had to the Lord as He worked in me and led me to where I am today. I wanted to “surrender” in multiple areas, not just one. With my job/career, my family relationships, my marriage, etc.

A former word of the year of mine has been “increase.” While there was a scripture behind it (John 3:30), my intentions also were to increase my desire for God and his written word, as well as increase things like my savings account or increase my awareness of my health.

In 2020, my word was “thrive.” I wanted to “thrive” in my job, my marriage, my church, etc. It was a weird year, as you know, and that was a weird intention of mine that didn’t work out how I envisioned it. I don’t think my heart was in the right place at all when I decided on that word, and I definitely did no “thriving” in 2020. 🙂

The point is, I’m always looking to grow and build upon whatever season the Lord has me in. My intention for 2022 is to grow in a new way. I want to persevere.

I’ve been studying Romans in my quiet times (this is what I call my bible study time) for the last few months and I’ll still be continuing on with that book until I feel I’m ready to move on to whatever the next one is.

A particular, and popular, text in the fifth chapter ultimately helped me determine my “word” or intention for the new year. Here’s what Romans 5:3-5 says in the New King James version:

“And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; ⁴ and perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵ Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”

Romans 5:3-5 NKJV

The version I study (English Standard Version) uses the word “endurance” rather than “perseverance,” so looking up the definitions of both, here’s what the Oxford Languages say are their meanings:

Perseverance: persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.

Endurance: the fact or power of enduring an unpleasant or difficult process or situation without giving way.

The use of “delay in achieving success” for perseverance is why I ultimately decided to go with that word, though both of them would work. I know there are prayers that will have delayed-to-me responses, so I am prepared for that. In doing so, I want to persevere in faith, KNOWING good things take time. I am praying for signs of seeds planted that will lead to fruitfulness in the lives of some people in my life. I’m praying the Lord will lead us to the house he wants Blake and I to purchase. I’m praying for mine and Blake’s sanctification and confidence. I’m praying for our family. I’m praying for church community and feeling like we belong. I’m praying for authentic and spiritual friendships that will enrich mine and Blake’s lives. And so much more. These are the kinds of things that will take time.

Perseverance.

Delayed gratification.

I don’t want to get impatient or discouraged, I want to persevere. I want to see these things through because I know God will surely do it, in HIS way and HIS time. If I don’t get to see the fruits of those prayers while I’m on this side of heaven, that’s God’s will. He is sovereign.

My aim is always to grow in Christ-likeness/sanctification so I want the hard things to be used for good. I want to produce character. In order to do that, I have to be persistent. I don’t want to just give up on the things I’ve been praying for and have seen little or no progress. I want to persevere through the hard things, through the discouragement, through what feels impossible.

May God lead you into a deeper relationship with Him in 2022.

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