My One Word 2013 - Diligence

According to Wikipedia -
Diligence is steadfast application, assiduousness and industry—the virtue of hard work. 

According to  Merriam-Webster:
Diligence is persevering application 

My favorite definition, according to Dictionary.com:

Diligence is constant and earnest effort to accomplish what is undertaken; persistent exertion of body or mind.

I have so many things I need to improve on in my life -  lose weight, be more financially responsible, keep my house cleaner, cook more instead of eating out every night, keeping my regular quiet time/bible study time, be more productive at work.

I look at that list and think "I'm a mess, I'm hopeless.  There's no way I can do any of the things."

It's all a vicious circle.  I'm overweight, and that make me have no energy to clean, exercise, cook, even study my Bible.  

When I first heard about the book "My One Word", I was intrigued.  I bought the book for my Kindle, read it and started searching the internet (Google is my friend lol).  I found several blogs, lots of people have been doing this for years and they think the concept is amazing. I prayed and prayed, and started my own list of words I might pick for the year.  I wanted something like "Joy" or "Love" or "Peace".  You know, easy words.

 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not My ways.” [This is] the Lord’s declaration. “For as heaven is higher than earth, so My ways are higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”—Isaiah 55:8–9

 The first word to come to me was "Diligent".  I crossed that one off of my list right away!   Then other words starting popping into my mind. Words like "Mindful", "Discipline", "Intentional", "Fruitful".  I started look up verses & definitions.  The word I kept coming back to for almost 2 weeks was "Diligence"   I found a picture:

source

This is ME! I would rather sleep than anything.  I LOVE sleeping.  But, what blessings am I missing out by sleeping?  I wake up to dishes in the sink & start my day off in a bad mood.  I eat a double cheeseburger and large fries and have massive heartburn.  I am convicted when I go to bed and haven't made time for God.  

So, I have committed to Diligence as My One Word for 2013.  I have it on my computer:

I have the squirrell as my computer desktop background. I have started a Pinterest Board here. I have a list of Bible verses that I'm still adding to. 

I'm looking forward to getting better next year.  My first step toward diligence is to post something here weekly about my progress.  No, my first step is going to be pray, pray, pray.  My second step will be posting here weekly.