Naming this New Year

There is no way to slow it-this passing of time.  It billows over us knocking us over, taking us below where suddenly we can't even breathe and all we feel is the urgency to try and come up for air.  The days are flashing by and my kids are another year older and I am almost 30 (!) and suddenly it's 2011. "Stop!" I want to yell.  "Stop going by so quickly!" But time won't slow because this is how God's ordained it and who am I to question Him?

In the frenzy of each day I compartmentalize so much, rushing from task to task and forgetting God.  I pray and praise Him for the gift of my kids; five minutes later harsh words fly from my tongue because I'm annoyed that they've "interrupted" me.  I read God's Word and then a couple moments later, I'm completely lost in myself and all that I need to do, forgetting all that He's already done.  Time rushes past and it's bedtime again and I don't want to keep segmenting my day!  I want this year to be spent continually aware of my Savior.

Ann Voskamp over at the breathtakingly beautiful blog, Holy Experience, posted recently on her practice of choosing a name for each year:  


"Not like a Chinese New Year with its zodiac and twelve original animals, but as we name our newborn, so we name our new year, christen it so it knows who it is to us. Named, we now have a destination, a way across the next twelve months."


I've thought about this.  I've prayed about this.  I've asked others for their thoughts.  And God has whispered to my heart the name for my new year: Abide.


The Greek word for "abide" is "meno."  It means to remain, to dwell, to tarry (not to depart), or to continue to be present.  The BDAG lexicon (apparently the "best of the best" according to my hubby) says the term, "is a favorite of John to denote an inward, enduring personal communion." I read those words and I feel like my soul literally sighs.  Yes!  This is what I want.  This is what I need;  I want to abide in Him this year.


"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."  (John 15:4-5 ESV)


Jesus, help me this year to truly abide in You.