I’m a “words person”. A few years ago I started hearing about people who would pick a word at the beginning of each year to help define the coming year. It sounded neat but I wasn’t really sure how one goes about picking a word.
Partway through 2016 I noticed a pattern in my life of things God seemed to be trying to teach me. It boiled down to two words: TRUST and REST. Those two went together very well during that period of my life and were things in which I had plenty of room to grow. I spent a lot of time that year trying to really embrace what God was inviting me into and I think it made a noticeable difference focusing my energies those specific ways.
Thinking about those words and that time encourages me today. I was struggling and striving. God gently encouraged me to let go of control and of my ideas of how I thought things should be and let him do what was best for me (and trust that he would come through for me). My relationship with God deepened that year.
Last December I wanted to purposefully choose a word for 2017. I still had no idea how to pick a word that would encompass the year. So I did what I do when I am unsure. I prayed. I asked God to give me a word for the coming year. He did. And I didn’t particularly care for the word he gave me.
TRUTH. That was the word whispered into my brain. What did that mean? I supposed that was part of the adventure of the word, figuring it out.
Truth can mean a lot of things. It could be God’s word found in scripture. I can always benefit from spending more time reading the Bible and meditating on verses. I can definitely benefit from acting on the truths found in the Bible.
Truth could also mean the way I speak, think, and live. Truth can mean living with integrity. I definitely want to be someone who is trustworthy and authentic.
Perhaps truth means speaking what is on my heart even when it may not be popular or readily accepted. This is a hard concept for this recovering people pleaser.
I have thought a lot about TRUTH this year and think that my journey has encompassed all of these things. It has been an interesting year.
I was a little excited and anxious to figure out my word for 2018. Again, I prayed about it. I know what it is and it terrifies me a little but I anticipate growth and God’s provision for the journey ahead. The new word is BRAVE.
I don’t yet know what it fully means. My initial thoughts are choosing to be brave in following where God is leading me and living the truth of his word. Not letting fear keep me paralyzed from action. Being true to who I am even though it may invite criticism or judgment from others. I suppose I will learn more as I go through the year.
It seems like a bit of a continuation from last year but with more action involved. I am interested to see what the coming year holds and the ways I will be invited to be BRAVE.
Have you ever picked a word for the year? What was your experience like? If you’ve picked a word for 2018, please share what it is!
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