2018 has come and gone. For me 2018 was the fastest year on record. It went by like the blink of an eye. It was an amazing year in so many ways, but also very challenging. As always the two parallels of life. The good and the bad. The triumphs and the failures. The moments of love and then heartbreak.
The biggest thing I learned from 2018 is to embrace uncertainty. To be OK with not knowing. To completely trust God and His plans for my life. To fully embrace that there are no accidents in life and everything happens for a reason. I realize that is so much easier said than done. But coming to the realization that control is just an illusion has brought a sense of peace and joy to my life that I have never had before. 
That brings us to 2019. Instead of making some short lived New Year’s resolutions or some big elaborate goal setting plan, I like to choose one word to focus on for the year. My one word I chose for this year is abundance. Abundance financially, in relationship, in my ministry, spiritually and physically.
The scripture that I will be focusing on this year is John 10:10. “The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy. I come that they have life and have it abundantly.” There it is, right in scripture. I will believe that promise and come to God with positive expectations knowing that there is no limit to what God can accomplish.
As the year of abundance plays out in my life in 2019 I will continue to raise my vibrational energy to become more like Christ. That means coming from a place of wholeness. To believe that I am limitless because God is limitless. That I lack nothing. I am so whole and complete that I feel like I have everything.
My word of abundance is centered on forgiveness and compassion, mystery and joy and surrender and vulnerability.
God is a forgiving God. From the scripture Luke 23:34, Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Jesus modeled forgiveness and compassion as he was crucified on the cross. When we live a life of forgiveness and compassion we are living an abundant life.
Our God is an amazing God. He is beyond anything our human mind can comprehend. I have learned to embrace the mystery of God. That as my Creator he always has my best interest at heart. His goal is to make me more like Christ. Often times this process is through our trials.
Through this mystery and often times suffering, I have learned that there can still be joy in my life. Joy comes from an internal state knowing that God is a God of love and grace. That he loves me so much that he sent his Son to die on the cross for me. That is enough to bring me joy despite any circumstances I may face.
Finally the word of abundance means to surrender everything to God. That means being vulnerable and living with an open heart. For the first time in my life I am learning to not shrink back. To play big because I serve a big and amazing God. By surrendering my life to Him, I gain everything. By being vulnerable I let people in to my life so they can see what God has done for me.
As I step into 2019, I am expecting abundance. I don’t know how it will show up in my life, but that is part of my faith adventure. I will live a life of compassion, joy and vulnerability in 2019. I will live my life with child-like faith expecting God to do far beyond I can ask or imagine. Let the adventure begin.
Troy Ismir, MS
Spiritual Warrior Coach
