Over the past week or so, I've been giving a lot of thought to my word for the year. I posted the idea to a couple of my Facebook groups and we had some pretty great conversations on the subject. This got me thinking too. What were some ways to expand the concept and strengthen the possible results?
I then sat down and came up with over 35 ideas to keep our words for the year at the forefront of our minds. The ideas include Bible study, photography, and mixed media art. Whether choosing a word for the year is new to you, or you’ve been at it for a while, I think you might find a few ideas to embrace your creativity as well as nurture your faith.
First off, let me share with you a little of my process over the past few years.
It really hasn't been all that extravagant. From 2018 – 2022 I chose how I wanted my year ahead to go. I would pick a word and tie it to hope. Add in some intention on my part, combine it with prayer and I was on my way. I would say that most years, when I looked back at the end of the year, I could see God honoring those prayers as well as my word weaving throughout my life. To be sure that I am walking in faith and trusting in God, I always commit it to the Lord, whatever the word may be.
Your word of choice has a lot to do with how you want the year to feel and how you want to go about experiencing your life. I’ve found that sometimes the opposite of the word I choose tends to try and monopolize my days. For example, in 2022 my word was DREAM. Looking back, 2022 was one of my most difficult years personally, in recent years. Yet, by God’s grace, a few amazing DREAMS also came true, and they overshadowed the hard in a way that only God could orchestrate.
How awesome is that? God honestly loves delighting you. He wants to bring you joy, hope, peace, and share more of Himself with you, drawing you closer to Him. Your word for the year is a double invitation. The first one is that you make a conscious effort to think of Him more frequently in your day-to-day thoughts and actions as go about your life; all the while keeping the word on the surface of your thoughts in prayer and petition to God. The second one is an invitation to self, making conscience (and as you’ll discover even subconscious) choices that reflect the love and the beauty He shares to nurture and empower you for Glory.
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*** Update for 2024. I'm still deciding my word for 2024. I had one idea...healing - yet, surrender keeps popping up. More importantly, Surrender to Glory. I think that phrase may be the winner.
