A Year of Steadfastness

learning to live a life empowered by His Hesed

I recently enjoyed a virtual gathering of women bright and early on the first day of 2024. I loved the encouragement of the speakers, all of whom love God and desire to live for His glory. The gathering was called From Potential Into Pursuit and Megan Valentine organized this time. She started with Proverbs 3:21 from TPT of the Bible: “My child, never drift off course from these two goals in your life: to walk in wisdom and to discover your purpose. Don’t forget how they empower you.“

Many of my friends choose a word or phrase for the year as a kind of theme or reminder to themselves of an area they wish to grow in. For the year 2024, my word is STEADFAST. My desire is to be steadfast in my walk with God, and in other areas of life. I love this verse from Psalm 89:14 (NASB 1995): “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Lovingkindness and truth go before You.” The word translated lovingkindness is also translated as steadfast love, and it comes from the Hebrew word חֶ֥סֶד (ḥe·seḏ), or loving devotion. This word, Hesed, is one of the most powerful words in the entire Bible in my estimation. It’s difficult to translate into English because the word has such a deep meaning in Hebrew. Sometimes people translate the word חֶ֥סֶד (ḥe·seḏ) in these ways: steadfast devotion, enduring love, lovingkindness, faithfulness, covenant love.

My desire is to be steadfast in my marriage, in my relationships, and in my walk with God. I want to be steadfast in my commitment to writing my book and I want to learn to love others as God loves us. My prayer is to respond to others with grace and kindness, even when they don’t deserve this. The book of Hosea creates a picture of covenant love that ironically teaches us about this kind of enduring devotion and love by a relationship God called Hosea to be faithful towards, even though the woman, Gomer, did not honor their covenant of marriage.

Hosea 3:1 Then the LORD said to me, “Go show love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her as the LORD loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and offer raisin cakes to idols.”

God ordained this marriage as a kind of living object lesson on steadfast love. God demonstrates His faithfulness to His covenant with the nation of Israel by asking Hosea to remain faithful and love his wife Gomer, even though again and again she behaved in ways that were repulsive. This verse, Hosea 3:1 tells Hosea to love this adulteress woman who really wasn’t worthy of his love in human terms. In a similar way, the LORD continues to love the Israelites who weren’t always faithful either. I enjoy the way this is expressed–“though they turn to other gods and offer raisin cakes to idols.” But it’s also convicting.

In what ways am I turning to idols (which is really anything that takes focus as priority in my life)?

If something becomes all consuming to me, or becomes a central focus of my time, attention, affections or resources, then it is like offering raisin cakes to idols.

My time and attention are like raisin cakes. Do I offer up my time to the idol of Facebook or other social media? Do I give the first moments of my day to scrolling rather than offering my time and attention to the LORD in prayer and by spending time in His Word? Personally, my prayer is that I will be steadfast and consistent in spending time with the LORD each morning. I want to focus on the things I know He has called me to do with my time. I am a retired counselor and I’m offering coaching sessions to individuals who have a desire to heal and grow. This is life-giving work and I know He has called me to serve others in this way again. I am writing a book, and again this is in obedience to His calling.

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:58

My prayer:

Father, help me to be steadfast, and live out the meaning of this beautiful Hebrew word חֶ֥סֶד (ḥe·seḏ) in my daily life. I know this will involve moment by moment choices in how I use my time and energy each day. Help me to abound in Your work, and to live out Your loving purposes in my life. Help me to lay aside distractions, and to live in ways that reflect the power of the covenant love You have so faithfully shown me. Help me to love my husband and family in practical, steadfast ways that glorify you, even when this means humbling myself and placing their interests ahead of my own, just as Christ modeled this for us. Help me offer up my time and attention to You, and keep me from chasing after shiny objects or human acclaim. You alone deserve the honor and glory. Thank You for teaching me what steadfast love looks like. In Jesus’ Precious Name, Amen.