Beth Grider Do you have a word for the year? Let me be real…initially I wasn’t a fan of having a word for the year. God doesn’t need a special word to do something amazing in my life. The Bible is His Word. It is living and active and filled with words for me. I didn’t want to undermine His Truth by having a word. However, a couple of Christian friends had a word a few years ago. So, I decided to pray about it. To be honest, I didn’t actually think I would end up with a word. I simply decided to pray and see if God revealed a word for me. And He did. I’ve been praying for a focus word ever since.
God is moving me, forward- last year’s focus word.
There is nothing mysterious about the word. People who have a word, determine it in various ways. For me, it’s a point of prayer. God gives me a word that offers encouragement in the new year. At the end of the year, I compare the year to the word. I use the word to forcus on where and how God has worked in my life and how I’ve changed and grown. I pray regarding the word for a few weeks, until I begin seeing a word frequently appear in Scripture, sermons, Bible study, and in my time of prayer.
Last year, my focus word was “forward”. I was excited for the word and felt like I knew what it would refer to. Forward…it was a really good word for my year. I knew that it was time for me to move forward in several aspects of life and I knew God would guide me on when, where, and how to move.
From My Prayer Journal
I eagerly wrote my word and Scripture inside the front cover of my yearly prayer journal…in bright, pink ink. Here’s what I wrote and how I lined it out:
Forward –
- Move forward with the LORD
- Move forward in career & family changes
- Move forward in church and friendships
- Forward in ministry, missions, giving
- Forward in depth with God
Psalm 42:7
Deep calls to deep at the sound of Your waterfalls; All Your breakers and Your waves have passed over me.
Isaiah 43:19
Behold, I am going to do something new, Now it will spring up; Will you not be award of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.
I specifically wrote the situations in which I thought God was calling me to move forward. I wanted to be accountable throughout the year. I desired to see how God would move me forward especially in my relationship with Him. Writing specific situations related to your focus word, will allow you to intentionally look for God’s plans throughout the year.
Whenever I choose my focus word, I also choose Bible verses to focus on for the year. The verses deepen my understanding of the word. Last year, I felt like God was calling me into a deeper relationship with Him. And, He was reminding me that things were going to change…that He was doing something new in my life and in the life of my family.
As the year was wrapping up, I looked back at the front of my journal. I evaluated my word “Forward”, the Scripture I wrote, and at all of the ways I believed I would move forward. While I didn’t move perfectly, I took steps forward in most of the areas…the movement in some areas was bigger than others. That’s the beauty of having a focus word and Scripture. I’m able to see where I grew and where I could afford to grow more.
We Moved Forward
One of the most challenging ways we moved forward, was by stepping out of our home church and ministry. We have practically lived in two places for over a year and have more fully transitioned to one location. Last year, we committed our membership to Hiland Park Baptist, which is local to the area where we are living. That change was difficult because we had many close friends and spent many hours in service in our home church. However, God is growing our family tremendously through this transition. I’m not sure where or how I will serve within our new church. I just know that God is trustworthy and He moved us for our good and for the good of others. And, He is continuously drawing us nearer to Him.
Another way God moved me forward was through my career. I completed the nurse practitioner program and was licensed in April. I applied for several jobs. I only had two NP job opportunities and after prayer, I both. For this season, I have accepted a job that was not on my radar. I’m working at the local college, preparing nursing students. In this situation, I moved forward in a very unexpected way. However, when the doors opened, I knew it was from God.
Our family moved forward in an exciting way. My daughter was married in June, which created a brand, new position for me. I am a bonus mom to my son-in-love. We gained a son. Along with the beauty of their marriage, was changes within our family. We no longer have one of our daughters under our roof. Our family dynamics have changed as well as our parenting and the guidance we give. God continues to grow and teach me how to be the best mom in all of life’s changes.
I continue to move forward in my relationship with God. I’m learning to trust Him and to go wherever He leads. Sometimes moving is difficult because we get comfortable where we are. Last year, God led me through a few moves, including moving to another state, job, and church. Taking a step forward is I want to be in the presence and will of the Father. I desire to grow in obedience by moving for challenging when we’re growing and serving the Lord where we are. However, God sees a picture that we can’t see and He knows what is best. I want to be like the Israelites who followed the cloud by day and the smoke by night. When the presences of God moved, they moved; when it stayed they stayed. I desire to recognize God’s leading and obey.
Forward was a great and challenging word for my year. After, reviewing the ways the word played out, I thought it should be my word for this year as well! The word reminded me that I should always be moving forward with God and through the changes of life. But moving forward is not always easy. Moving forward involves leaving some things behind. I’m happy to leave frustration, bondage, disappointment and doubt behind. Yet, it’s difficult to leave behind relationships, service, comfort and joy. Moving forward deepened my relationship and dependence on God. I had to trust that His plans for me were better than my plans for me.
In Exodus, the Israelites were told to move forward into the Red Sea. Exodus 14:14-16 states, The Lord will fight for you, while you keep silent.” Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the sons of Israel to go forward. As for you, lift up your staff and reach out with your hand over the sea and divide it, and the sons of Israel shall go through the midst of the sea on dry land. Though God specifically told them to move, it was challenging for the Israelites to move forward. They were certainly happy to leave behind slavery and abuse. The struggle was leaving familiarity, stability, and the place they new as home. To move forward, they had to trust and depend on God and His plan.
Philippians 3:13-14 states, Brothers and sisters, I do not regard myself as having taken hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Choosing a Word and/or Scripture for the Year
If you haven’t chosen a word and Scripture for the year and would like one, it’s not too late. I waited to post this until January was well on the way. Whether it’s January or July, it’s never too late to have a word or Scripture for the year. I encourage you to pray and see if a word and/or verse stand out.
Having a word doesn’t limit God or what he will do in your life. God is not limited by our thinking. God is going to do amazing things. Having a word allows me to remember what He did over the year. It allows me to look at my year in a different light.
How to Choose a Focus Word or Scripture for the Year
- Pray about a word and Scripture for the year. Ask God what word would open your eyes to His work in your life this year.
- Be aware of the word or words that you are seeing/hearing frequently. Listen as God speaks through your prayer. Consider what you’re reading in His word and the Scripture you’re studying in Bible study or church. Is there a theme?
- Continue praying and reading your Bible. Pray over the word or words that you think you are hearing. Listen for confirmation as you read the Bible.
- Choose your word and Scripture. Through prayer, God will remind you of His faithfulness through your word.
Share Your Focus Word and Scripture
Do you have a word and/or Bible verse(s)for this year or have you had a word in the past? I would love to hear your story. Comment and share your word and Scripture for the year and how you saw God use your word.
