I have read several things lately about people choosing–or praying to receive–a single word that will represent 2012 for them. One of my writer friends, Jessica Patch, wrote a fantastic blog post about her word for the year, “Strength.” Author Debbie Macomber was featured in this month’s edition of Guideposts magazine, writing about choosing a single word for the year. She’s working on a book on the topic and talks about it in this video, A Word for the New Year. 
I always struggle to come up with the perfect word. It seems silly to pick my own–I’d probably choose something like SUCCESS or FUN. I’ve prayed for God to provide a word, and occasionally I feel Him trying to whisper one in my ear, but I think I’m a little hard-of-hearing and never quite get it.
I often seem to discover my word of the year in reverse. I think about it in January, but don’t seem to put it together until December.
In 2009, it was DELIGHT (Psalm 37:4: Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart). If you go back through my blog posts, you will see that verse quoted repeatedly. It popped up everywhere I went (including Beth Moore’s Living Proof Simulcast, “The Heart of Our Desires.”). I even blogged about DELIGHT on June 3, 2009.
The word for 2010 was MORE. I blogged about the concept of MORE in June, 2010. The key verse didn’t present itself until later in the year: Ephesians 3:20-21. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Again, it followed me around, popping up in numerous church services, Bible studies (specifically Priscilla Shirer in Faithful, Abundant, True), and was even featured in the Women of Faith arena event in 2010.
I’m still fuzzy about 2011’s word. Sometimes I think it might have been BALANCE (see Feb. 21, 2011). I felt a little out of balance all year, carving out more and more time for writing, at the expense of time with my friends and family. But, I feel even more strongly that it might have been IMAGINE. Ephesians 3:20-21 still resonates with me, especially the line, “more than all we ask or imagine.” It’s almost like God was pushing me not just to ask for MORE, but to IMAGINE the possibilities of what He could accomplish in me, if I’d only ask.
It’s interesting how the words feed into each other. DELIGHT. MORE. IMAGINE.
Imagine more delight?
I think I like the sound of that. How much more delight is He desiring to offer us–if we only ask? If we imagine. If we obey. If we seek. Just imagine.
Maybe God is writing His own story in each of our lives. One word at a time.
So, what’s your word?
I love that! Imagine more delight. I suppose where God is concerned there is always more! Great post and thanks for the mention! 🙂
Mine must be Christ-like. The Lord gave me a mission this year, also to lead the ladies in our Assembly, to search the scriptures in our daily readings to see the smallest details everywhere we read and find who we are to be, in Christ.
As women, we want DETAILS. So we are searching and sharing weekly with each other what we have found that gives instruction on who we should strive to become.
Of course, we will be tested but so was Jesus by Satan in the desert and He resisted by God’s word. What better place to find our instructions by which to live?