If you have chosen One Word in the past I’m curious what your experience has been like. How meaningful or transformative has it been?
Honestly, my experience has been varied. “Fearless” was a good, focused year. “Choose life” was a little too broad.
There is certainly nothing magic about choosing One Word, or making resolutions or having goals with strategies. Don’t do it if you feel it doesn’t work for you. There are different seasons of life that make this practice more or less do-able. Read my friend Maggie’s thoughts on No Word 2016 here.
I love this line I ran across by Alia Joy : “No resolution will ever complete what grace has already done for me.”
But we do see in Scripture, the value of paying attention, the value of leading an examined life, of keeping step with the Spirit as we cooperate with God’s transforming work in our lives. How we do that can be as individual as we are, but I’m giving One Word another go for 2016.
This year I have been so captivated by the Message translation of Romans 8:15 and the phrase “adventurously expectant”, that I was tempted once again to choose two words. But as I studied the verse further, it struck me that the only way we can truly be “adventurously expectant” is if we trust our Abba – our “Papa”. And the only way to trust Him is to know Him.
So I’m choosing the whole verse, AND the two words – “adventurously expectant”, BUT if you force me to conform and choose One Word, maybe I’ll say “Papa”. Call me a rebel.
In the past I haven’t been super clear on how I wanted to interact with the whole One Word thing, so this year I want to put some commitments into place.
Here are 4 ways I’m investing in One Word that I hope will make it more impactful. Maybe they’ll help you too. Continue reading
