WORD OF THE YEAR

In many of our churches, having a theme is the order of the new season. These themes are foundational for structuring the areas of focus and they guide us through the year as we purpose to have our lives patterned after them. My church is no exception. Every year, God has ministered to me through various themes. Aside from the church theme, I usually seek God and I pray over a word, a personal word that is specific to my journey. These aren’t words that just disappear when a year ends, they hang around because God uses these words to leave imprints in my life. They are doorways that usher me to new levels of growth.

1. In 2018, it was Deliberate (Ephesians 5:15-16)
2. In 2019 Arise and Access (Joseph, Moses, and Gideon).
3. In 2020, Partner and participate (Psalm 25:4; 1 Corinthians 3:9; 2 Corinthians 6:1)
4. In 2021, Bloom (Jeremiah 17:7-8).
5. In 2022, Ease and Plenty; My year of Rehoboth. (Genesis 26:22)

With every given word, I have experienced the tangible effect of every word sent forth, and the scriptures accompanying them have come alive in my life. Just this past year, I have seen the Lord make room for me in spaces and He has contended for me and I have lived in victory and in an unexplainable kind of ease and peace. If you have never gotten into the habit of seeking God and letting Him shape your year by giving you a word to live by using His word in the Bible for reference, I pray your mind will be changed after reading this post.

Here are a few tips that have helped me identify a word for the year, with God’s help:

BEFORE IDENTIFYING A WORD

1. Spend time in reflection: Get into prayer, praise, and watch God make a visitation. These words aren’t meant to be created out of oblivion or because they are trendy. The most impactful are the ones that come from God; well suited to what He is doing (or about to do) in your life.

In reflection:

• Ask yourself what you need in your current season of life (can be informed from the previous year’s occurrences and some of the things you noted as areas of growth)
• Be conscious of some of the patterns or themes that have been evident as you’ve journeyed through different seasons.
• Evaluate some of the goals for the year and see if there is a correlation or something that connects
• Write down a list of word(s) that come to mind

2. Pray and let God affirm a word choice as He illuminates with reference from Scripture. Let Him give you a word, help you recognize it, and confirm it.

3. Give it time. You may not have it all done in a day. It could take two days, a week or even month for the word to fully be affirmed in your spirit.

AFTER IDENTIFYING A WORD

1. Research it: Get definitions and meanings. Look for synonyms. It is crucial that you learn as much as you can about the word since it will help you have a deeper understanding of the word. Read books, search for podcasts and text references from the Bible
2. Anchor the word to a verse in the Bible. This ensures that even through different seasons, you will prioritize God’s perspective
3. Place the word somewhere you can see frequently; You don’t want to pick out a word and let the year pass you by only for you to remember it in December. It could be on your work desk where you frequently sit or at your entryway or in a frame in your living room. You can be extra and have it embroidered on clothing or jewelry just make sure it is on display somewhere
4. Journal; This is a work in progress for me since I have never set aside a specific journal for this specific task and used it consistently but I am committing to doing so this year. Many times, I just wrote it at the start and then used my Scripture Journal for study purposes so maybe that still works. I believe writing down is a great way of keeping track of all the ways that God shows up and how it is seen in your life.
5. Identify some of the areas the word could be applied to; This ensures that the word isn’t left in a vacuum and it allows for it to be in play at actionable areas. For example, if your word is Bold/ Courageous and your scripture reference is Joshua 1:9, you can choose areas you need boldness eg in your workplace, in setting boundaries, etc

Get a word from Him and watch Him do more than you imagined. When you get that word, read your Bible and study the lives of the people in Scripture; get examples, and get encouragement. The Bible has it all!

I have seen God do great things as He has molded me through His word. I have experienced growth and transformation. I am still deliberate in how I live, I still arise and take up spaces of influence, and I still rejoice in partnering with God. I have stayed anchored and bloomed and ease is a posture I will live by all the days of my life. The same awaits you as you lean into God to show you the way to go as He instructs us in Psalm 25:4 “Show me your ways O lord and teach me your paths.”

May the year 2023 be the year that the Lord will have His way in your life. May you walk in provision, protection, peace, love, joy, and fulfilled dreams. May God bless everything you touch. May He give you an endless hunger for Him and for the things of His Kingdom. May you be a carrier of His presence so that men may see you and glorify Him and may you sing praises all the days of your life. May your life be a testament to His faithfulness, His love, and Mercy. Happy New Year.

God Bless You

You are light and you are so loved. Stay Anchored and keep His light shining through.