“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
–Philippians 4:13 (NIV)

As I muddle through this, the first day of 2014, I found myself going through many of the same processes I would do on any other day. Some breakfast. Going through email. Spending off and on moments on Facebook. A trip to the gym. And here it is, 2:00 and where my day morphs. Today is New Years day. For those sports fans out there that means it’s a day of college football and right now the Rose Bowl is about to start.

Well, a moment of true confession. It’s hard for me to just sit and watch the game between the Cardinal and the Spartans. So, I’m doing what I typically do while watching TV…wonder around the internet. Tada.

The reason I am here, writing this very post is because of something I came across. No luck or coincidence, I am sure. Where I found myself was reading an email from Jeff Goins, urging writers to commit to 500 words a day. Not so much as a resolution, but as a discipline with the hope of being transformed to a habit.

500 words a day.

In some ways it seems like a lot of blah blah blah. Then again, that could be the small voice in my head telling me I can’t do it, telling me I am setting myself up for failure. The other voice in my head is telling me to embrace the challenge. To spend time in contemplation, reflection, observation, exposition, and embrace the hesitation.

As I re-read Jeff’s “directions” on the task at hand, I found comfort AND challenge in them:

• Write 500 words per day, every day during the month of January.
• You can write more if you want, but 500 words is the minimum.
• Don’t edit. Just write.
• If you miss a day, pick up where you left off. Don’t make up for lost days.
• Encourage, don’t criticize (unless explicitly invited to do so).

Hmm. Suddenly the 500 words a day seem doable, especially when I looked at my most recent blog post and it was over 300 words. So, says the small voice in my head, this just might be doable, and which also reminds me Jeff says to not edit. Really? Again, doable. (I apologize in advance for errors). After all, I do like writing, and I do want to spend more time both writing AND reflecting in general, but in particular enriching my time with God.

Remember what I said about this being any other day? That all changed when I read Jeff’s email, and read Jeff’s page with his encouraging suggestion. While Jeff’s prompt in and of itself was good, I found additional encouragement by skimming through some of the other websites and writers who publicly made the commitment to join the My 500 Words:

Asheritah wrote earlier today – “At the same time, people who make resolutions are 10 times more likely to meet their goal than those who don’t.”

Nancy Bouwens who reminded me – “Change Your Habits Change Your Destiny“.

And Kelly West who introduced me to Katie Davis and the work she is doing in Uganda.

So, today is not like any other day. Today God introduced me to new people, new places and new thinking. Today God challenged me anew to draw closer to Him. My hope, my prayer, my goal is to not disappoint Him. While saying that, I am immediately reminded of those words from Philippians 4:13 with which I started off this message. For I know, without His help I will “get what I have always gotten.”

May God bless you in this new year as you strive in your own race.