Relentless Pursuit
The Year of Relentless Pursuit!
Okay, it is two words. Come on, did you really think I could do just ‘one’ word? You can read the last post if you wonder what in the world I am talking about.
I LOVE it! 2011 begins the relentless pursuit to redeem and reclaim each of the essential or foundational areas of my life. Relentless pursuit of the essentials!
My essentials?
Spiritual Essentials:
- Relentlessly pursue a consistent prayer time (in addition to my regular quiet time)
- Relentlessly pursue fasting 1-2 times a week
- Relentlessly pursue thankfulness
- Relentlessly pursue JOY (daily)
- Relentlessly pursue scripture memory
- Relentlessly pursue a quiet and gentle voice
Wifely Essentials:
- Relentlessly pursue ways to bless and honor Brian
- Relentlessly pursue submission
- Relentlessly pursue serving him
- Relentlessly pursue intimacy
Motherly Essentials:
- be PRESENT in each moment
- be fun, laugh, smile, play
- be gentle (reflect the Father’s love)
- be physical (hug and touch often)
- be consistent
Keeper of the Home Essentials:
- be disciplined with school
- persistent with schedule
- inspect, inspect and inspect
- hold children accountable
- keep my heart at home
- restore structure to our day
Physical Essentials:
- early to bed, early to rise
- back to more nutritious eating
- gently ease into exercising (not obsessing)
As you can see, these really are the basics, the essentials, that should be in place before we are running off playing or serving others. Having been sick for so long and delivered of so much junk, I am relearning who I am and how to do even the basics! If I don’t relentlessly pursue them I will follow the path of least resistance. I have learned over the years to not make this into some type of ‘works’ mentality. While these are the things I will relentlessly pursue, I will do so in His grace, with His leading and with His strength. (not going down ‘that’ road again)
Both Brian and I feel like this is the year to ‘get our home in order’. Perfectly? No, we know better 
but getting on top of life just a little bit. Like a dear lady recently said, “thriving instead of just surviving”
There you have it. Relentless Pursuit. Don’t you think it is perfect? Brian had suggested the word ‘persistence’ yesterday, and while it seemed nice enough, it was just to ‘steady’ for this radical woman. We laugh, now, as we see that ‘relentless’ is the word ‘persistence’ with teeth! 
What about you? What is your word or words? Do you have hopes or dreams for the coming year? Please share!
May the God of hope fill you all joy and peace, in believing, that you may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
11 comments:
Oh I love that!! It seems to encompass so much and yet still have action, it is not just a feeling, it is motivation, it is not giving up, it is seeking, stiving...
ahhh, just wonderful...
I will be doing much of the same this new year, especially now that we just found out at Christmas that we are expecting once again in August!!
I am looking forward to keeping up with you and your blog this next year.
May the Lord bless you abundantly as you pursuit Him with all your heart.
Can I join you with your relentless pursuing?! I've recently stumbled upon your blog, and I am looking forward to seeing what 2011 will hold for you and your family. My husband has had some similar health issues as you, so I am hoping to take some time and read some old posts as well as your other blog.
Love how you share your heart - your joy for life, your family, and especially the Lord spill over!
Happy New Year!
These are WONDERFUL!! I'm partial to the word Pursuit!! ;)
I'll be putting this post in my bookmarks to be able to refer to it often.
Like how you broke down each area of your life.
Brian and I are setting goals for the new year.
My word (at this moment) is Contentment.... *sigh*
This sounds great. Ever since I read Ann's post earlier this week, a theme for the year has been on my mind too. Mine will be Joy. I have been wanting more joy in my life and I feel like the Holy Spirit is leading me to this. Yesterday I came across the same Bible verse twice in one day and I have also come across a certain pastor's messages twice in the past week.
May you be blessed with a Happy New Year with your Relentless Pursuit!
Dearest Michelle,
I may not be fasting food, but there are enough things in my life that I could fast and still draw closer to Him, Amen!!!
This is SO GOOD!! I love the simplicity of it and pursuing the basics. The thing the Lord keeps putting on my heart is to "be still" (psalm 62)...waiting on the Lord, being led by Him in every area of my life, with my husband, our children, and our home.
I like it and getting back to the basics is sometimes the best way to think of it. Blessings in 2011
First, I followed you from Ann’s
Your word is spectacular. Your essentials are perfect. And relentless pursuit “in Grace” there’s the magic. And relentless, better than persistent - ‘persistence’ with teeth :)
Your question? Mine word is connection – living life connected horizontally and vertically. The Vertical comes easy to me – the horizontal – that will be the effort.
I’ve just finished praying for your year of “relentless pursuit” that it be a race run well.
May God bless and you and all of yours
My word for this year is Betrothed.
I recently listened to some teachings on the subject of Godly Courtship, in which the speaker made several references to being betrothed to Christ. In short, he was saying that before considering marriage to another, one should be betrothed to Christ. In his opinion (and I wholeheartedly concur) one should be so thoroughly engrossed in seeking the Lord before being betrothed that it will be easy to discern the leading of the Lord concerning a future soul-mate.
Therefore, this is my word for this year, betrothed to Christ. I am going to pursue a deeper relationship with the Lord. I want to be betrothed to Christ as it is referenced in 2 Cor. 11:2 -4
"I am anxious for you with the deep concern of God himself--anxious that your love should be for Christ alone, just as a pure maiden saves her love for one man only, for the one who will be her husband. But I am frightened, fearing that in some way you will be led away from your pure and simple devotion to our Lord, just as Eve was deceived by Satan in the Garden of Eden."
Needless to say, I have been led away from my “pure and simple devotion” to the Lord just as Eve was. It was about half way through 2010 that I came back to the Lord. Now I want my “pure and simple devotion” back again, and I want it to be deeper and more intense than ever before. Instead of putting in extra hours at work or spending my free time surfing the web, I am going to pursue a passionate relationship with the Lord. I want to know the Lord like never before. I want to be betrothed to Christ.
Hosea 2:19-20 "And I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and in justice, In lovingkindness and in compassion, And I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness. Then you will know the Lord (emphasis added).
My parents have been telling me this same thing for many years but due to my rebellious attitude, I wanted nothing to do with it. Now I want to redeem the time that the enemy has stolen. Thanks Mom for the inspiring post, the Lord had been working on my heart and leading me in this direction before I heard your post. It was then that the specific word for this year was given to me. Thank you.
Always your loyal son,
Luke
Wonderful word(s) for this new year. I have mine and will share soon, but we are once again dealing with sickness:( Hoping to catch up on all your posts soon!
Love you!
I love your word(s). :) Yes, I agree that relentless pursuit is so much more engaging than persistence! I could relate to many of your pursuits, especially the motherly essentials one. We are on this journey together, and I pray that the Lord will show Himself to us in amazing ways this year as we hunger for Him!
You already know my word from my blog post today, but I'll post it for others: Satisfied.
"Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may be sing for joy and be glad all our days."
Kristen Feola
Author, The Ultimate Guide to the Daniel Fast
www.ultimatedanielfast.com
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