Yes, it’s January 22nd and I’m just now posting about listening for your word for the year. But no worries. All that means is that this is not about perfection – you don’t have to have your word by January 1st in order for it to be meaningful. And that I’m living into my own imperfection and owning up to my busy life.
That being said, for the past five or so years I’ve joined with others to listen for a word that will “guide” me for the year. It has become a powerful practice for me for two reasons. First, rather than choosing a word you think might symbolize your year or inspire you, the idea is to receive your word. This requires being still and listening, paying attention for words that come up for you in prayer, silence, reading, conversations, and other ways, seeing what resonates for you, and being open to words the Spirit might use to lead you to new places in life. It’s a beautiful way to begin the new year.
Second, each year I really have carried my words with me throughout the months. I do this by creating – or again, receiving – a seven-word prayer that includes my word. This prayer becomes a mantra I can incorporate into my prayer time and repeat throughout the day, which keeps the word in front of me. As I experience life, I hold my word up to the experience to see what I might learn. For example, my word for 2018 was abundance. When we were shocked to learn of my husband’s new appointment, I quickly turned to God to discern the ways in which God’s abundance would be revealed during this life change. And when we chose to downsize our living space from 3,000 sq. ft. to 1270 sq. ft., I learned that abundance can be about the abundance of free time that comes from having less (abundant) stuff and space. But my favorite lesson was in paying attention to the simplest moments and recognizing an abundance of God’s deep love in them: my cat purring; my son strumming his guitar; the sound of holy silence as I sat with a loved one who was grieving. My word served as a simple but powerful tool for contemplation and discernment.
Have you begun the process of listening for and receiving your word for 2019? If not, I encourage you to begin paying attention for the word that might be revealed to you. There’s no need to rush the process. Just pay attention. Sit with different words you’ve begun to hear, listen for what resonates or feels right, perhaps journal about it or talk it over with a trusted friend. Keep in mind that you can’t mess this up, so whatever you go with God will use for good.
Once you have your word, share it with me. I’d love to hear it! And as in year’s past, I’ll gather all the words and share them with our collective audience.
Again, there’s no hurry and no pressure, but if you’d like for your word to be included in the collective announcement, please share it here or on Facebook or Instagram by Friday, February 1, 2019. Once I’ve heard from everyone, I’ll choose one name at random to receive a free book and set of prayer beads! Yep: giveaway time! And when I announce the winner, I’ll share the word I’ve received for 2019. Blessings!
Balance ✌️
My 2019 word is HOPE.
My word is Respond (not React)
As a perfectionist, I love your comment about whatever word you go with, God will use for good. This takes off all the pressure of finding the “right” word. It reminds me that God can work in my life in many ways if I am willing to let Him.
My word this year is contentment. I need to remind myself to find joy and be grateful, no matter the circumstance.
By the way, your weekly love notes are a great way to remind me to be content because I am deeply loved.
The word that came to me several weeks ago was ‘patience’. Although I may appear to be a patient person on the outside, I know that inside I am very impatient and that as that impatience leaks into the world in subtle ways, it can be toxic for me and others. So this year it is patience. I’m sure God will give me many opportunities to exercise it!
My word is insight
My word for the year is Gratitude. God has so richly blessed me that I want to honor Him by being grateful.
Reflection
“Looking back so that the view looking forward is even clearer.”
As I reflect on the past I pray that I will be a reflection of God’s love.
(This is my 8th year of using My One Word by Ashcraft and Olsen)
My word is calm.
I use StarWords each year. While it’s not sitting with a word or words for a space of time, rather picking a star with a word on it, it works well for me. I’ve done this for most of 10 years now. I sit with the words as I cut them out each year, and on Epiphany (January 6th) I pull my word. This year, 2019, my word is Awakening. It will be a journey to see where and how this word manifests itself in and through my life this year.
HOPE will be my word to focus on this year. I love Romans 12:12 that says for us to let hope keep you joyful, in trouble stand firm, persist in prayer. Thank you for the challenge and reminder to have a focus for the year. Life always brings challenges (that I often call “adventures”) but God is always with us.
Relinquish
My word(s) this year is lean(into). It chose me when I was reviewing the past year and looking ahead to the new. My mom just passed away on Sunday, and the word has already shaped my reaction to all that is going on.
My word is Blessings.
My word for 2019 is grateful. There is so much to be grateful for in my journey.
REJOICE is my Epiphany Star word for 2019.
Psalm 118:24 is one of my favourite verses “This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it”. I wish I could find an alarm clock that would waken me with this each morning but until then I find myself quietly saying it to myself as I rise.
I really began to hear and see the word “rejoice” or “joy” over and over again during Advent then through the first week of the new year and I decided that God was giving this word to focus on.
I saw it at the beginning of each week in the Lord is Near study. I heard it sung in many Christmas hymns including the refrain of one of my favourite’s “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”. I read it when I started a 365-devotion book that focuses on embracing joy in Jesus’ presence on the first of January.
I want to rejoice even during difficult times this year so I remember that God is near me, hears me and loves me.