“I do not speak because I have need, for I have learned in whatever state I am to be content.” Philippians 4:11

So if you read my last blog post, I know what your next question is. Natalie, you shared your word for 2017, but what is your word for 2018? I know that you have lost sleep over this. It has consumed all of your waking moments trying to figure this out. Well guess what! You are in luck today.

Now let me move back into reality because that thought came from far off somewhere in space. I guess it’s just the “Natalie” in me coming out. Side note: for those closest to me, this needs no explanation. Now moving right along.

After much prayer and seeking God, He directed me to my word for 2018. It is “content.” When He drew me to this word, it wasn’t the one that I would have chosen. I would have much rather picked joy, prosperity, blessings, or abundance. You get the picture. Something a little more exciting or fun, but that’s not what He drew me to. So instead He picked a word that sounded like a year of boring, nothing new, and mundane, but boy was I wrong!

As I always do, I searched out the definition of my word. It means to be in a state of peaceful happiness, satisfied, pleased, gratified, fulfilled, happy, cheerful, glad, unworried, untroubled, at ease, at peace, tranquil, and serene. This sounds like the furthest thing from boring and mundane to me. In fact, it’s the exact opposite.

Then God began to reveal His truth to me about my word for 2018. After a much needed year of emotional healing, God has drawn me to a peaceful place. This place is one of enjoying every day of my life. It doesn’t matter if I’m doing the normal things that we all have to do everyday like going to work, commuting, paying bills, getting the oil changed, or working around the house. I make the choice about how I’m going to approach each of these. Instead of dreading and complaining about work, then I make up my mind that I’m going to be thankful that I have a job to go to each day to be able to provide for my needs and those of the kingdom. I can be thankful that I have a vehicle to be able to get the oil changed in. I think you get the picture. Each of these daily mundane tasks can be an act of worship as I do them unto God.

God also showed me that if I can’t be content in this season of life that I’m in right now, then how can He trust me with anything else? It’s kind of like the children of Israel. I don’t want to be stuck in bondage for 40 years when I could be out in 40 days. We set the pace for how long we stay in our valleys. So I want to be happy, satisfied, and peaceful for every place that God has brought me to. I’m there for a purpose. God hand-picked it for me. I don’t need to know all of the details as to why things are the way they are. I have to trust that God has worked it all out just the way that it needs to be at this particular season of my life.

So when I think about all of this, I like my word. I don’t want to be guilty of not being content in any season of my life. I want to enjoy each of them for in those small, unknown, and obscure seasons, God pours forth truth and a rock solid faith that can’t be birthed any other way. I know that I will look back at 2018 as a time of more growth and a deepening of my spirit that will last into 2019 and every year for the rest of my life. Thank You, Abba, for loving me this much!

Love Your Beloved Daughter,

Natalie ❤️