1 Corinthians 10:31 - Jeannie Waters, Writer & Speaker

What Can We Create This Year for the Glory of God?

January 22, 2025Jeannie Waters24 Comments

Have you read the answer from an online quiz, then, based on the result, decided the program must be flawed?

At the end of December, I took an online quiz that promised to present the perfect biblical word for me to focus on this year.

I thought about words my friends have chosen to study like peace, holiness, faithfulness, or an ouchy one—self-control. My quiz response this year? Create.

A Puzzling Word

Surely, the answer was wrong. Frankly, it didn’t sound as holy as my friends’ words. Maybe I should pick grace or faith or love?

Create? Create what? I’m a writer, but I’m not sure what God wants me to write this year.

I don’t knit scarves or make jewelry, nor do I sew quilts from t-shirts. I don’t draw, paint, or sculpt—unless you count the Play-Doh snowmen I make with my granddaughters. I even use a recipe when I make chili—yes, really.

Create? I didn’t think so.

I almost erased the word from my notes. Instead, I prayed and decided to see if God would use the online quiz to teach me.

Then I put it aside and forgot about it.

A New Year

On New Year’s Day I started my new Bible reading plan.

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

Genesis 1:1 ESV

The familiar verse reminded me of my word, create. God created. A Latin term in the margin caught my attention—ex nihilo, to make from nothing. God made the world and all that’s in it from nothing.

I can’t create from nothing, but I can create from the gifts, ideas, memories, experiences, and biblical truth God gives me.

That same week, I listened to Reagan Rose on the Redeeming Productivity podcast. He suggests we write goals to steward the next year for the glory of God.

Redeeming Productivity podcast

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV

As I prayed, God connected my unusual word to the goals He’s leading me to accomplish.

With my new word, I’m even more excited about how my goals will help me steward 2025 for the glory of God:

Create more relationships, beginning with two neighbors I recently met.
Create more meaningful relationships with people I know.
Create an organized home for hospitality purposes.
Create a more in-depth Bible study plan.
Create a monthly nachos and game night for my family.
Create simple meal recipes for a weekly Bible study with friends.
Create a wisely planned budget.
Create a new notebook to record prayer requests.
Create a notebook of memorized Scripture verses with notes.

I wonder what else God has in mind. This year my word is create. I’m excited to see how God will equip me to create for His kingdom’s work as I seek Him.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 2:10 ESV

Your Turn

Do you have a word for this year? If not, borrow mine. What do you feel led to create in 2025? We can’t create from nothing as God does, but we can create using the gifts He gives to us.

I can’t wait to read your thoughts below in the comment section. Your examples will encourage the rest of us as we seek to steward 2025 for the glory of God.

How to Delight in God’s Daily Walk Invitation with a Powerful RSVP

June 14, 2022Jeannie Waters30 Comments

How does your morning begin? After I’ve hit the snooze button once or twice, I glance out a bedroom window. If the sun is up, I admire its light filtering through one of our tree’s big green leaves.

The sight reminds me the Light of the World wants to shine through my life, and He invites me to walk with Him through a new day of adventures.

The thoughts prompt memories of the times my family rounded the last curve in the long country driveway to spend the day with my parents. Daddy, who’d been standing on the porch to wait for us, would wear a broad smile when he hurried to the car to welcome his children and grandchildren.

Imagine our heavenly Father standing on the porch of heaven before He illuminates the sky with warm light and paints splashes of color in the eastern sky. I imagine God stretching out His arms in anticipation of sharing the day He has made with His beloved child.

He doesn’t reach out to us from obligation or duty. His invitation is born of love, unconditional love. Love that sent His only Son to die for you and me.

Whether we bounce up with gusto in the morning, or roll out slowly, we can proclaim,

“This is the day the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
Psalm 118:24 NKJV

Our heavenly Father knows we need Him, and each morning He waits and beckons us to spend the day with Him.

Our heavenly Father knows we need Him, and each morning He waits and beckons us to spend the day with Him. Share on X

My favorite morning prayer often serves as my RSVP to God’s invitation.

Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, for in You do I trust. Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You.
Psalm 143:8 NKJV

Let’s consider the powerful RSVP strategies below to help us react with joy.

How to RSVP to God’s Daily Walk Invitation

R Respond to His invitation. We can respond to God

with love because He first loved us.

with awe because He is Almighty God.

with our questions which He welcomes.

with thanksgiving for generous blessings.

in repentance when His Spirit convicts us of sin.

with obedience which demonstrates love for Him.

with the delight of a beloved child placing her hand in her Father’s.

S Spend time with Him at His invitation

in service to others as He leads us.

in worship and praise as we ponder His attributes.

in laughter when the joy of Jesus bubbles up in our hearts.

in prayer, an engaged conversation throughout the day (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

in His Word filled with wise counsel and fresh revelation to apply to our lives.

V Value what He values

by trusting Him.

by using our spiritual gifts to serve others.

by helping a person in need (Hebrews 13:6).

by living for God’s glory (1 Corinthians 10:31).

by giving our money, possessions, time, and talents.

by telling someone about our daily walk with Jesus and His grace and mercy.

by remembering to “Do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8 NKJV).

P Proclaim truths from His Word.

“Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning” (Lamentations 3:23 NLT).

“The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth” (Psalm 145:18 NKJV).

“It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man” (Psalm 118:8 NKJV).

“Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at His holy hill. For the Lord our God is holy” (Psalm 99:9 NKJV).

“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory. No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11 NKJV).

Like the way my dad delighted in our family spending time with him, God delights in our acceptance of His invitation to walk with Him each day. Our powerful RSVP of “Yes, Lord,” fills our hearts with His peace and joy, helps us enjoy His presence, and honors our Father in heaven.

Tag: 1 Corinthians 10:31