The first year, my word was "Hope", the next year it was "Anticipation", and last year...well last year I cheated a little and chose two words - "Incredible Mercy." Each year, these words have proven to exemplify what I was going through that year and truly be what my year was all about. (Hmmm, makes me want to go back and look at all the pictures from this year and remind myself of just how merciful God has been to me this past year...but that's a blog for another day.)
This year however, as Christmas drew closer, I realized I had nothing. Seriously nothing. I looked forward into 2013 and felt nothing at all. Usually I am so excited about the new year, but this one seemed just blank. So, I prayed. You know, you have to be careful when you pray...God has a tendency to answer! Within a couple of days, I had my word. "Move."
I wondered if that could seriously be my word for 2013. I mean, it doesn't sound very spiritual; but the more I mulled over it, the more certain I became that it was my word for the year. At first, I thought of all the ways I could live out this word. Getting up and turning off the tv definitely came to mind. Taking the time to exercise each day was another option worth considering...but I knew this word had to have a spiritual side that I wasn't quite getting.
I did a search and these are a few of the verses that came up associated with that one simple word - move.
Isaiah 43:18-19
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”
I love this verse! It was one I worked on memorizing last year on New Year's Day! While it doesn't say the word "move", it's all about moving!
Check out this one from Philippians:
Philippians 3:12-14
Pressing Toward the Goal
“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
Finally, there's this one from Isaiah:
Isaiah 40:31 “but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
While all these verses are about moving forward, there was more. There was the feeling that it is time to move spiritually. Like God is setting the stage and now is the time to move.
Two of the more interesting verses about moving that I found were from Exodus 14:15-16 and they follow one of the most well known verses about NOT moving!
Exodus 14:13-16
Moses spoke to the people: “Don’t be afraid. Stand firm and watch God do his work of salvation for you today. Take a good look at the Egyptians today for you’re never going to see them again.
14 God will fight the battle for you.
And you? You keep your mouths shut!”
And you? You keep your mouths shut!”
15-16 God
said to Moses: “Why cry out to me? Speak to the Israelites. Order them
to get moving. Hold your staff high and stretch your hand out over the
sea: Split the sea! The Israelites will walk through the sea on dry
ground.
I have a feeling that this will be a year of amazing things in God. I'm not sure what it will include...so far for me it looks like it will include a mission trip to Cambodia and Vietnam, perhaps a career change from classroom teacher to administration, and....and....and I have no idea what else! But I do know it will be an incredible adventure.
So...what will your "one word" for 2013 be?
For help choosing your word, you can check out this site: http://myoneword.org/
On
a much lighter note, to begin my year on "the right foot" and move, I
am trying a one hundred day challenge to exercise each day for the next
100 days. I'm posting a picture on facebook to keep me "moving" in the
right direction.
7 comments:
Thanks for sharing your journey! Excited to see what God has for you this coming year. For the first time, God gave Michael and me separ@ate words for the coming year (2 words each, actually): Michael's words are "Get Ready" and mine are "Radical Change," words that certainly go together. Maybe the Mayan calendar was accurate, just not the way we thought - maybe 2013 will be an end to the lives we know as God moves His people into new things! Happy New Year sweet friend. :)
I love your word! AND, you have inspired me! Now, to "pick" my word...did you just close your eyes [so to speak] and choose??
Deidra - I love the words for both you and Michael! Talk about exciting!
Robbie - I don't think I pick the words so much as I finally quiet my spirit enough to hear the word God has for me. They sort of "pick" me! LOL
I love the idea of choosing a word. While I was reading your blog, I started thinking about what my word for the year would be. And the word "fruit" came to mind. I thought it was weird and didn't think about it anymore. Then, as I began reading a chapter in Samuel, guess which word was in the first sentence? Fruit. So, that's my word. I'll take it! There are so many areas in my life that I would like to see fruit. As always, thank you for sharing!
Kelli - so glad your word "found" you! Praying you have a very fruitful year!
Donna,
My word is "less". More is less, right? I need more of the good in my life, so I've decided to focus on less. Less worry, anxiety, stress, procrastination, less random spending, less junk food, etc.....to recieve more of what God would want me to have..namely Him. Thank you for encouraging me with this post. Hope your new year is wonderfully blessed as you "move"!
Donna.....the other one.
Oh I LOVE this!! Isn't it SO cool when God gives you a word like that.... you go on a treasure hunt to find verses. Love that! And they always speak straight to my heart!!! PS ~ LOVE the idea of posting pics to keep accountable for exercise. I'll have to figure a way to apply that with Weigh~In Wednesday or the FB group. Great tip!!
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