Discussed in this episode:
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Simplify Things with One Word
Can you simplify things with one word? Will choosing one word of the year make a difference in your life? Can having one word define your year alter the rest of your days?
Having one word to define your year focuses your heart so you can hear God’s heart. Having one word to define your year cultivates a posture of listening. Each word will impact your story and draw you closer to the heart of the Father.
How do I know? Because these are the benefits I’ve received as I’ve chosen one word to define my year.
I first heard about choosing a word of the year in 2012. I’d always set goals and new year’s resolutions, but I liked the clarity and focus that choosing one word to define your year promised.
Having one word to define my year has been a process of intentionally pursuing the heart of God. It’s a way to focus my thoughts and seek God in a new way. Each word has been a revelation of who God is.
2012: Intentional helped me see my life in light of eternity so I could live my life on purpose, with purpose.
2013: Hope reminded me no matter the circumstance I always have hope because I always have Jesus.
2014: Delight taught me every good and perfect gift comes from God as I sought out things that delighted my heart and brought His praise to my lips.
2015: Believe allowed me to see all things are possible for she who believes.
2016: Rest taught me to rest in who God is and be secure in His love for me.
2017: Be helped me to be still and trust God.
2018: Brave opened me up to discovering His love makes me brave.
2019: Haplotes helped me to pursue simplicity with the purpose of being devout, to live with single-hearted faith in Christ. (I talk more about that in Episode 1.)
2020: Abide taught me to abide as God’s beloved and create fruit that abides.
2021: Steadfast helped me stay settled when and steadfast when circumstances tempted me to give up.
2022: Less taught me to prune my life so I could do less with purpose.
That brings us to 2023. And before I share my word for 2023, I want to walk you through the process I use to seek God for one word to define my year.
Five Steps to Seek God for One Word to Define Your Year
Pray
I confess that I start seeking God in prayer early in the year for my next word. (Think July early). That doesn’t mean God answers me early, but I try anyways.
Pay attention
Notice the words that seem to consistently come up that cause a stir in your heart. The word “simplicity” has come up for years, but simplicity only reinforced my current words.
Pray some more
Continue to seek God for word He has just for you, for this season. That will bring you closer to Him.
Peruse Scripture
Every word God has given me has had a verse to go along with it. Some years the verse came later. But when you find your word in Scripture, it can confirm what God has been speaking to your heart.
Prepare for a twist
Allow God to define your one word. Every word God has given me has involved more than I expected, even a simple two-letter work like “be.”
I sought God for my one word this summer. I paid attention as words came up that stirred my heart. As I prayed some more, the word “connected” continued to rise to the surface.
I want to grow more connected to God, my husband, and living more connected with my why.
I wanted to be sure about connected, and I couldn’t find a verse with the word “connected” that spoke to my heart so I went to synonyms and found “joined.”
In 1 Corinthians 6:17 I found a verse that spoke to my heart’s cry: “But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.”
I considered the word “joined” as my word. But even though it’s what’s used in the scripture that spoke to my heart, it didn’t resonate with me but “connected” did. My word for 2023 is connected.
If you’ve never chosen one word to define your year, I hope I’ve convinced you to give it a try this year. As you pray, pay attention, pray some more, peruse Scripture, and prepare for a twist, you will cultivate a posture of listening to God. Then you will learn to listen for and hear His heart for you. And, sweet friend, that’s what it’s all about.
But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.
1 Corinthians 6:17
Question to Journal About or Simply Contemplate:
Each episode I want to offer you a question to journal about or simply contemplate: Who is God calling you to be, or in what area is He calling you to grow in? Is there a word He has been speaking to your heart?
I hope this this simple encouragement of simplifying things with one word can help you cultivate a rhythm of rest. Because while it’s true that life is complicated, our hearts find rest when we keep first things first and release the rest.
I created the Close to His Heart Bible Reading Plan. It’s a 365-day plan with daily readings from four different sections of the Bible. The way this plan differs from other plans is one of those sections is the Gospels. This plan was my answer to Jesus’ invitation to learn from Him and find rest for your souls in Matthew 11, and it’s my gift to you. Click here to sign up. Let’s learn from Jesus and find rest close to His heart together.
As we close, I want to leave you with a quote from Henry David Thoreau: “You cannot hear music and noise at the same time.”
Thank you for listening, sweet friend. Until next time rest in Christ.
