2020 is almost here, a new year and a new decade. It is a time of anticipation and excitement for everything new that God is doing and has planned. Several years ago, I started the practice of choosing a Word of the Year.
What is a Word for the Year? It is one word that helps focus your thinking, unify your goals and keep them in front of you. A theme for the year, a word that you go back to for every decision, and every situation. One word that sums up who you want to be or how you want to live in the upcoming year. If found with prayer, it lights the path where God wants to take you. It is a word He chooses just for you. It gives you a glimpse of what He is wanting to do in your life next year. It gives you the direction He wants you to focus on and grow in.
If you google choosing a Word for the Year, you will find lists of words-lots of words. So how do you choose just one? And how do you know it is the right one? Well, take the pressure off yourself, any word you choose God will work with. The first year I did this, I was overwhelmed! So many words and I wanted to do them all. However, I calmed myself down and ask the Lord for my word. I set aside some time to worship and as I did, I got my word-and it wasn't on any of those lists!
Now this is one of the easiest things I do. There are somethings that I pray and seek God for over and over, but discovering my word for the year has never been one of those. Sometime after Thanksgiving, I start to ask for my word for the upcoming year. Within days, a word comes to me and just won't leave. Soon after that, Holy Spirit leads me to a scripture that confirms that word. He has even gives me a bible character that exemplifies that word in some way.
Here are 3 steps you can to take to discover the Word for the Year God has for you.
- Ask: There are many ways to choose your word, but the best way I've found to get my word is to ask the Lord for it.
- Take some time to reflect on where you have been and where you want to go. Is there a direction you feel God is leading you? Start making a list of words that come to your mind.
- Pray, then sit still and quiet your mind. Expect to receive a guiding word and scripture to confirm it. If it doesn't come immediately, just go about your life. Your word will bubble up from your spirit, random thought from out of nowhere. It will just hang on like a song you can't get out of your head. Then watch for confirmation of that word; scripture, stories, signs, and wonders around your word.
Once I have my word, I look up its meaning. I study it and look for other scriptures that speak to this word. I mediate on my word and scripture almost every day. It becomes an anchor for my faith all year, a guiding light to what He is doing in my life for the year.
So you want to know what my word is for 2020?
It is COLLABORATE. I know, it's big word that I don't normally use. I'll admit, I tried to change it to something similar like cooperate and even co-labor that I understood better, but Holy Spirit kept coming back to collaborate. I'm looking forward to see where He takes me with this word.
Scripture verse is Psalm 90:15-17 in the Passion Translation. I feel this is not only for the new year but also for the new decade.
Do you have your word for the year? Share it with us in the comment below so we will pray it over you.
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