I can bet most of you are probably familiar with the concept
of choosing a word for your year.
When I first stumbled across the My One Word website just
a handful of years ago, the simple power of the concept instantly grabbed hold
of my heart. And I’m not the only one. In a pretty short space of time, the
concept has ignited a firestorm of followers: an ever-increasing number of
people determined to ditch those long lists of New Year’s resolutions in favor
of choosing just one word to encapsulate their year.
Grace.
Truth.
Compassion.
Sparkle.
Trust.
Nurture.
Persevere.
Thankful.
The words are as different as their bearers. Uniquely gifted
to us. Because when God shows us our word for the year, it is a gift. Amazing
how one simple word can give us laser focus. Can trigger radical change. Can be
so simple, and yet unleash such growth in our lives.
Unlike a long list of resolutions, which are quickly
forgotten and serve only to document our shortcomings, one word is a seed
planted in our spirit. It resonates through our weeks and months and helps to
frame our year.
Even this scatter-brained mother-of-three can remember one
word.
I’ve seen the power of one word clearly in my own life. The
last time I prayed for God to reveal a word to me for the year, he gave me the
word “Connected.”
Connection. It was something I craved for, as a writer
tucked away on the other side of the world. I longed to be part of the thriving
writing community I’d caught a glimpse of at the one Stateside conference I’d
attended. But I hardly knew where to begin.
This one word, given to me by God, informed the decisions I
made that year. It takes time and effort to form relationships with others, and
that’s one thing I have little of. Not to mention that I’m an introvert by
nature. I don’t put myself out there. Yet, every time I hesitated before typing
an email or leaving a comment on a blog, the same word whispered through my
spirit. Connected. And so I would forge
ahead. Take the time. Reach out a hand. Interact with openness and
transparency. Communicate love to others.
And soon, sooner than I’d imagined or dreamed, strangers
become friends.
The miracles God brought about through that one word? A
critique group of American ladies who’ve become treasured kindred spirits. An
overseas trip to ACFW conference, where I formed many wonderful new
relationships. And finally, the chance to become a part of the Writers Alley,
where I found my writing family. What an unexpected blessing.
All because of one simple word.
Fast-forward to this year. I sought God. I prayed about my
word. I dreamed up various possibilities that I thought might help me along the
path toward my goals. Words like Focus. Discipline. Self-Control. Good words. Useful words. Words I need to apply in my
life.
None of them felt right.
It wasn’t until post-baby hormones and stressful
circumstances recently combined to leave me an emotional mess that God finally
whispered my word, clear and true, through the email of a fellow Alleycat.
Abide.
See, God seemed to be saying, you’ve had it all
back-to-front. Don’t focus on the fruit you want to achieve. Focus on me. I am
your source. I am your lifeblood. Abide in me, and I will bring the fruit.
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in
him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5, ESV)
I’m excited about tapping into God’s vision for my life this
year. I’m excited about growing one word closer to the woman God wants me to
be.
Why not take the One Word challenge yourself?
Do something about one thing this year instead of nothing
about everything.
Will you join us?
What is your word for 2013?
Karen Schravemade lives in the land of Oz and likes to confuse her American friends by using weird Australian figures of speech. When she's not chasing after two small boys or cuddling her baby girl, she spends her spare minutes daydreaming about the intricate lives of characters who don't actually exist. Find her on her website, on Twitter or getting creative over at her mummy blog.
