Choose a Word-of-the-Year
Receive in 2023!
Discover More in 2024!
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
(Ephesians 3:20-21 ESV)
We’re now four days into 2024.
If you know me well or even if you know me only through the blogs I have posted for over seven years, you know I am not keen on making New Year resolutions, but that I do believe wholeheartedly in setting a word or choosing a theme to help guide me through the upcoming year.
This practice began close to 20 years ago when a man in the life group Ron and I attended challenged us to set a “spiritual goal” for the new year. Initially, I balked at the suggestion, but Jim was a persistent sort of guy, and finally I jotted this sentence down in my journal so I could report back compliance:
I want to learn to be a better pray-er!
During the next twelve months, I realized this sentence changed the trajectory of my spiritual journey. Now, it’s a yearly practice. The process has taken on different forms, but I can honestly say the resulting spiritual formation has been life changing.
Many behavior experts suggest choosing a word rather than making resolutions is a more effective way to begin a new year. The brain seems to positively nudge people in a direction aligning with core values that often leads to lasting change, whereas for many people—me included—making a resolution leads to resistance and lack of follow through.
Generally, I begin thinking and praying about the word for the upcoming year in October or November. Sometimes, it comes into clear focus rather quickly, and at other times, it takes a while. About three years ago, while in spiritual direction training, I added a guiding Scripture as well as a prayer to the word, adding depth and richness.
In 2023, the word I finally landed on in early January was RECEIVE. 2023—a time I realize was very difficult for many people—was for me a year during which I received many good gifts.
Of course, there were also difficult moments, times when I “white knuckled” it and declared the verse I believed God wanted me to practice:
… filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse… (Philippians 4:8-9 MSG)
More than once, obstacles collided with personal preferences and self-centered ways. The Suscipe (Latin for “RECEIVE”), a prayer of St. Ignatius of Loyola, often convicted, clarified, and carried me through.
“Take Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will.
All I have and call my own, You have given all to me,
To You, Lord, I return it.
Everything is yours; do with it what you will;
Give me only your love and your grade; that is enough for me.”
Amen
The word I believe I have been led to for 2024 is DISCOVER. It was dropped into my heart in an unusual way sometime last September when I was going about daily tasks with no thought yet of the word to guide me through the next year. The impression was strong causing me to stop what I was doing with a spontaneous prayer, “Lord, I think You just gave me my word for 2024. Did I hear You right?”
In the weeks since, many thoughts have come to mind about areas I believe I need to DISCOVER and others I long to DISCOVER.
What about you? I’d love to “discover” what word/phrase/Scripture you have chosen for 2024 and would feel honored if you shared it!
Blessings as you travel through 2024!
