The year is halfway through. How has it been?
Maybe it’s been a swirl of exciting events, or a rainstorm of disappointment. Maybe both.
Can you see God at work?
Sometimes it’s hard sorting out what God is doing in our lives. All the events of the year can seem haphazard and unrelated. What if God could connect some dots and sum it up in a word?
Your Word of The Year.
Not sure what that is? I didn’t know either until about 5 years ago.
Our Word of the Year is our theme for the year.
Sort of like a themed kid party.
If our lives were a kid party, Spider-Man or Disney Princess would be our word for the year.
More than just fun at a party, though, this word will be worked into the fibers of our character. It’s God’s goal. The pressure is on Him to create this in us, stringing it through the events of our lives.
If we don’t ask God for the Word, He will probably still do that work in our lives. He is always creating new things in us. But it’s fun to know what He’s up to. He has secrets and He wants to share them with us, His friends.
Picking a Word
The other day, I had lunch with some girlfriends. Everyone shared their word of the year stories. One wise friend shared how this January was different. Instead of making resolutions based on failures from the previous year, she would focus, this year, on her strengths. I thought that was genius. And liberating.
She picked her word accordingly.
My word this year is learn. Mostly, I’m learning about writing, what to write and what not to write. I’m learning the techy end of this website too. (Yikes.) Six months in, I can see how much I’ve learned, and how God is leading me.
As we told our stories, fresh faith flickered in our eyes. We saw God dotted throughout our circumstances.
How about you? Have you seen God working your word in your life these past 6 months?
If you don’t have a word yet, good news. We still have six months to go. Go ahead and ask.
Happy July!
Your Quick-fire Challenge
Ask God for your one singular word of the year.
I was a Christian for way too long before I asked God for a word of the year. I kept thinking God wouldn’t tell me. So, I never asked. I didn’t want to be disappointed. When I did ask, he answered. I felt noticed.
“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him?” (Matthew 7:11)
If we had the means, wouldn’t we give our little girl a princess themed party too?
Take a minute to ask God for a word.
He may reveal it to you instantly or slowly over the next couple of weeks. He’ll provide ‘you-specific’ confirmations along the way. Ask for a verse to match.
Have fun. Share your word and stories in the comments.
Real Life Examples
We moved to a different state for my husband’s job. It was a hard year for me. My word that year was joy. I knew the joy of the Lord was supposed to be my strength, not people or things. For a daily reminder, I bought a key charm necklace inscribed with the word “Joy”. I even bought an essential oil named Joy. I looked up all the verses on joy. I think my favorite verse to say when I am feeling down and lonely is
“… In His presence is fullness of joy.” Psalm 16:11.
So when I am lacking joy, I know the best place to run, and the only place to run is to His presence!
-TLast year my word was listen. Proverbs 18 was the chapter. I listened to dozens of books and podcasts last year. I learned how to be quiet and listen to my spouse and friends more. A book titled The 40 Day Word Fast, by Tim Cameron, landed in my hands. I knew it was a must read.
It was hard to hush sometimes, but I think Im a better friend now.
-TI left an abusive relationship after several years. Shortly after, I was in a yoga class when the teacher asked us to pick a mantra for our life. I asked God. “Healing”. I didn’t even know what a word of the year was. I began counseling that year. I was baptized too. It was a transforming year.
-LSelflessness. I became a mother that year. Enough said.
-N
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