Instead of a resolution, choose a word for the year
Well it’s almost that time of year when the regulars will have to wait six weeks to find a parking spot at the fitness center and Lowe’s will run out of gadgets for home organization. The sad truth is most New Year’s resolutions are broken long before the year month ends. Don’t get me wrong, I am not against resolutions and I am definitely a goal setter, but rather than making a New Year’s resolution, I prefer to do something different this year.
PICK A WORD
Instead of a resolution, I am choosing a word for the year. I plan to meditate on it, study it and live it. I know a woman whose precious mother bought a new Bible every January and focused on one word. Through the year she read Genesis to Revelation, made notes in the margin and highlighted her chosen word. In December, one of her children or grandchildren received it as a treasured gift. Maybe someday, but I am not that ambitious this year. Instead I have a simple idea.
MY WORD
My word for 2016 is believe. I could have chosen an area of weakness like gentleness, controlling my tongue or pride. Somehow I thought it would be easier to build on a strength instead of focusing on a fault. I believe God. And trust me, all of my beliefs have been tested over the last two years. Every single one of them.
Romans 4:3, “What does Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.'” NIV
MY BELIEF
While I believe God, I want to increase my belief. Abraham believed God would allow his “dead body” to reproduce through his wife’s postmenopausal womb. Do I believe God like that? Oh wait, no, I do NOT want a baby! But I do want to believe God for the impossible. I believe His word and I trust His love, but do I fully believe when reality threatens my faith? No, the truth is my belief is more of a paradox.
Mark 9:24, “Immediately, the father of the boy cried out, ‘I do believe! Help my unbelief.'” NIV
Does reality threaten your faith #believe Click To TweetMY PLAN
A new journal I received for Christmas will be dedicated to my word – believe. I’ll begin with a definition and synonyms then look for my word all around me. I’ll take note of what areas I believe and where I suffer from unbelief. Romans 4 will be my launching point, but by the end of the year I plan to unearth new insights from Old and New Testament references. I think I am even strong enough to lug my Strong’s concordance off the shelf and look up original the Hebrew and Greek words. Yeah, I like words that much.
Romans 4:24, “But for ours also. It will be counted us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord.” ESV
YOUR TURN
I’m going to focus on what I can learn about belief in God. There are a multitude of various words you can choose from:
- hope
- faith
- love
- strength
- renew
- pray
- grace
- cheerful
- imagine
Non-Biblical words are fair game too, such as intentional or positive. You could even choose the word Word.
John 1:1-2, “The Word was first, the Word present to God, God present to the Word. The Word was God, in readiness for God from day one.” MSG
So pick a word, any word
Will you make a New Year’s resolution? Or will you join me in choosing a word. Let me know and as always, join me on the porch by entering your email address for weekly posts by email.
Happy New Year. I believe this will be better than ever. Blessings to you.
Spread the WORD.
My word for he year is going to be IMAGINE… I’d like to imagine my life without carrying around weight, weight from pounds, weight from grief, worry, circumstance, I want to Imagine sunny days where cancer isn’t in my everyday conversations . And it’s from one of my favorite go to songs, “I can only Imagine “… And Somedays if that’s all I can do, well that will be more than enough.. Because I have a God who gave me the ability to imagine.. So I’m going to do just that!! Thank you for your beautiful words… You inspire me everyday to be a better me…
I love the word imagine. My favorite verse associated with it is Ephesians 3:20. Keep up the good work and stay tuned. I have a new prescription coming out soon to help achieve your goals
I love this post! Before reading it, I had already decided that 2016 will be the “Year of Purge.” Yes, the ugly word “purge” is what I will concentrate on. Purge the stuff, purge my body and mind of anything unhealthy, purge my time of what is consuming but not productive. It’s not one of the pretty words like in your list, but I know God is leading me to clean out – purge – what is keeping me from being who and what I need to be.
And the word “imagine” has been on my mind also. I want to become the person that I imagine I am when my mind is dreaming up life scenarios – you know, the strong, smart, healthy (to whatever extent is reasonably possible) woman we all dream that we are.
So I have an ugly word “purge” and a pretty word “imagine.” At least I’m balanced in words!
Purge is not a word I thought of but it’s certainly fitting. Makes me think of Phil 4:8 as a tool to decide what stays and what goes
My word for the year is going to be strength. For the past three-four years I have felt weak being diagnosed with multiple medical conditions and then certain medical conditions getting worse. I would like to have the strength in 2016 to not end up in the hospital multiple times, to not let stress control me. I associate the word strength and strong together and when I first started my battle in 2012 with my medical conditions, my go to song was “Stronger” by Mandisa. My strength has definitely been tested time and time again since 2012. It would have been so easy for me to have given up a long time ago but with God as my Strength, I have been able to persevere. I plan to look for more ways that the word strength helps me through the hard times in life and in what areas of my life there is weakness that needs made strong.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
Isaiah 41:10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Although I didn’t consciously do it, I think that was my word last year. I ran across Eph 6:10 this week. Here’s to a strong New Year
My word will be FAITH. It is funny because the other day I was thinking on my word and I debated with myself about serenity and peace. But FAITH is more in line with 2016.
Sometime soon I will lose my husband and faith will get me thru it. Faith will bring me to the other side, faith will set my feet in the right direction for my future without him.
I will pray for you and your word and would appreciate the prayers for me and mine.
Some of your posts have been on the mark for me and I have loved them all.
So very sorry about your husband. Your faith is an incredible gift from God. Prayers for you
Great minds think alike! I heard this one year from our pastor who encouraged picking a word rather than making a resolution. I am trying to figure out which movie it was where “God” spoke to one of the characters and told them when they pray for something God does not just zap them with that “power” but rather provides them with the opportunities to develop that character in their life. I distinctly remember my word that year was COURAGE and how profound it was when I heard this in the movie. GOD definitely provided me with many opportunities to develop courage that year.
This year I have chosen “more”. I want to read and memorize MORE of HIS Word. I want to spend more time with family and friends. I want to focus more on serving HIM and encouraging others in their relationship and walk with HIM. I found an NIV Bible in 90 days to help me read through the bible at least one time this year. It only takes twelve pages per day. I am excited to see what 2016 holds!
I referenced this verse earlier, but Ephesians 3:20 is perfect, “Now to him is able to do immeasurable more” I love more. May you have an abundant New Year overflowing with more
Silent or silence because I want more of Him and less of me Be still and know that I am God
That is a tough one for me but it will be worth it
I think I will choose renew. Psalm 51:10. As I become older sometimes I feel stagnant in my faith and thinking. I want my faith to be renewed this year and to find new ways to experience God in my daily walk. Happy New Year!
Perfect for the new year. One of my favorite verses
The scripture, ” My Grace is sufficient” is resounding through me during a very seemingly listless time in my life. My word will be Grace for I know it’s the glue that holds all the unanswered questions at bay. I don’t need answers because of grace. It soothes the sore places in me and speaks peace.
My word for 2016 will be Grace.
Grace. It doesn’t get better than that
I have decided to go with strength. Throughout life we each face so many different challenges. When something challenges me, I immediately think “I’m over it already, how am I going to get through this?” My answer is through God! My strength comes from God. So as I enter a new year facing the unknown, I will focus on the strength I have from Him to shine my brightest.
I certainly spent a lot of time reading about strength over the last couple of years. Eph 6:10 Be strong in the Lord
Purpose. That’s my word for 2016. I am a stay-at-home mother and a newlywed. I never thought I would be a stay-at-home mom because I love working, dealing with people and solving problems. My son is now 15 months old and as my husband and I try for another I struggle sometimes to find the time for “myself”. Not for manicures and pedicures but for bettering myself and keeping my identity. I love what I do, I’ve simply got to search for or recognize my purpose.
Romans 8:28. you are called
Took one of those facebook tests to see what my word for 2016 would be the other day and facebook gave me the word truth. I am going to keep this word and apply it in the new year. At first all I could think of was me and others telling the truth. After contemplating the word for several days and reading your blog I have come to understand there is so much more to “truth”. I will enjoy figuring out the work truth in the new year.
Great word. Jesus was full of truth and grace. John 8:32
My word is trust God has been faithful in all things and I want to trust Him in all things
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
My word is redeemed. I want to focus on my redemption and also how Christ can redeem all things I surrender to Him. Praying the LORD continues to bless your ministry.
He redeems ALL things
I think my word for the year is JOY. I need to discover what is true joy and how can I find it and LIVE joy to the fullest, let it become the reason I keep going
There is definitely a difference between joy and happiness. Praying Neh 8:10 for you
My word for the new year is “change”. Just like most people I don’t like change very well so I am going to force myself out of my box and try to embrace some change this year. It should be an interesting year.
I love that and how timely. You may want to check out the new feature I added to the website today called Prescription for Change. It’s on the About page. You have to enter your email address separately. Mark 9:23
Hmm. Well, for some reason, I typed “love this” and hit enter and it posted! Ha! SO
Love this!
My word is “GO!” all caps and loud.
After helping so many others, it’s my time. I just hafta get this act of mine together and the time is now.
I shall not be able to see the word “go” in the Bible, though, without recording it. Yay, YOU! Haha!
Again! Haha! <3 K
Have fun with that! You GO girl. Gen 12:1
Ha! The very thing I don’t like–no map!!! Haha. I am going, though. I am going!
Came to this blog post because the new year is still fresh. I love the Mark 9 verse. When we don’t believe and when our faith is wavering, we can ask the Lord for help even in our unbelief and lack of faith. Often, that’s my first kind of prayer about an uncomfortable or difficult situation.
Glad you stopped by. Thanks for sharing your thoughts
Hi, Vickie. Followed your link from Christa’s site today. 🙂 I’d love to hear an update about how “believe” impacted your year last year. It’s always fun to hear the “end of the story,” too. 🙂 “Believe” is such a good word. Thanks for sharing. Nice to meet you!
Nice to meet you too! Thanks for stopping by and that’s a powerful question but the end is not fun. After starting with the concept that Abraham was considered righteous because he believed God even when he could not foresee the outcome, I ended with “I believe, help me overcome my belief.” I’m still glad I chose the word because my life completely unraveled over the last year and if I had not known what I believed and why I believed it, I could not have survived. This year I am choosing joy because “When troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy” 2016 was an opportunity for joy!