This just may be the most beautiful asset we can add to our lives in 2022. It is not to be mistaken with graceful—which is lovely, but I gave up on that a long time ago! Grace-FULL, being full of grace, looks something like this:

• Giving the benefit of the doubt
• Forgiving when it’s n
• ot deserved
• Accepting uncomfortable quirks
• Offering your time
• Speaking to a stranger
• Extending a hand though tired
• Refusing to take offense
• Showing kindness
• Speaking gently
• Listening intently
• Praying consistently

I’ve adopted a perspective that helps me be grace-filled—everyone is a package, filled with experiences, hurts, and fears we know nothing about. The package they walk, talk, and live in is a reflection of experiences accumulated over years. Maybe they can do better, act nicer, be kinder—but so can I. I love it when someone shows me grace. I love it when God shows me grace which, actually, is all the time.

Let’s mirror His grace as we walk through 2022, leaving glimmers of God’s light along the way.

Where are you in the cup half-full/half-empty spectrum? True confession, when left to my natural bent, I revert to half-empty, so when I determine to be joy-FULL in 2022 it’s a bit of a stretch.

What’s in the cup varies but, let’s face it, it’s never 100% full—which means it comes down to choice, doesn’t it? Which portion of the cup will I focus on, and how can I pull my attention away from the empty part? The beginning of Romans 15:13 gives me a clue:

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing.

Joy—a half-full attitude—comes from what I believe. When I believe God is…

• In control
• Has a plan for me
• Only acts in love and faithfulness
• Works all things out to bless me
• Supplies my needs
• Cares about me, my days, my losses, my half-emptiness

…I see the fulness in my glass—and the potential for a cup that runs over.

When choosing to view our life as half-empty or half-full let’s elevate our belief in God. When we esteem Him higher than our needs or disappointments, we’ll find that goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our lives (Psalm 23:6).

The joy of the Lord really is our strength!

And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
    and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8

Today’s “filling” is a little harder because it’s more than an attitude—it’s an attitude with feet. When I considered my desire to grow in mercy, I sensed some tension. I realized this was more than an honorable thought, to be mercy-FULL I will need to step out and act. I will have to do something.

When I wrote about being mindful two weeks ago, I said I didn’t want to live my life on autopilot. Being mindful includes an increased awareness of the needs around me… and responding to them. I love to be busy in my head, not so much with my hands and feet.

Yes, we can pray for people with needs, but we know what James says about that,

Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.  James 2:15-17

Ouch!

Becoming mercy-FULL will stretch us. Will you join me in moving from the safety of the sofa to step out and support those who are hurting? Let’s touch, feed, give, host, listen, pray better in 2022. 

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

Thank-full, peace-full, and mind-full. Today, let’s add hope-FULL. I know, this may be as challenging as peaceful. Happily, hope is not dependent on world peace or personal health, not on our environment or pressing needs, not on being loved or family dynamics, not on meeting our bills or getting a promotion. Hope is dependent on where we focus.

There are so many truisms I could throw out here, like…

• God works all things out for our blessing.
• There are purposes at work greater than we can see or imagine.
• This world is not our home—Home is waiting for us.

The Bible has 1,189 chapters that hold many more truths to give us hope. And that’s the point—hope is not found in what we see but in what we believe, beginning with God. When we embrace His love, sovereignty, power, watch-care, purposes, generosity, forgiveness… we find hope.

Are you in? Determine to focus up, not out, and watch 2022 fill with hope!