Do you choose one word or short phrase to frame the coming year ahead?
I have chosen one word for a number of years. In fact, last year I shared a decade of this practice. Most years the selected word amazes me in how it shapes my point of view and directs my steps. The word represents where my heart and soul are right now and more importantly what I am desiring to be over the next 12 months and how God is shaping and transforming me.
There are many resources to help you chose. Click on these links to read a few articles.
I know other bloggers follow this practice and I am especially excited to participate in a regular reflection of my word along with kindred spirit Lisa Burgess. Clicking here will lead you to sign up for her monthly email and questions for reflection to share and keep your word front and center throughout the year. Thank you, Lisa,!
Lisa wrote this blog post last week titled “3 Steps to Choose One Word for 2021” and used the delightful acronym of LAP to help you decide or how I like to say it: slow you down to listen to what word in calling you.
L – Listen
A – Abbreviate
P – Plan
Isn’t that a great guide?
I am adding one letter to her practice, “M” and making the word LAMP. A lamp to light your way in 2021.
“M” stands for marinate. I find it takes time for me to discover the right word. I make a list of what words resonate, shimmer, call to me. I pay attention to all the places words exist: books, blogs, Bible, conversations, sermons, and even commercials. In late 2020 some of the ideas on my possibility list included reboot, gaze, embrace, enough and becoming. Usually, I find one word slowly emerges, echoing in my heart and reverberating in my spirit.
Then I let that word MARINATE. I bring that word to God, open palms in stillness and silence. I sit with that word – does it feel right? Energize me? Give me life?
The next step is to share it with my journal, my spiritual direction group and now here.
My 2021 Word is:
GO.
Very simple. To be honest I was surprised with this word, but now am finding so much meaning carrying this in my heart. Go gives me life.
Often, I hesitate and don’t take risks. In 2021, I will go.
Many times, my introverted self doesn’t reach out, ask for help, share my deepest needs. In 2021 I will go.
God certainly stretched us all in that chaos of 2020, but his faithfulness and presence stayed with us. In 2021 I go with God.
Go also symbolizes a new spiritual practice for me which I will write more about later this month: GO stands for Grace Observed. What am I seeing grace each day?
Inspirational phrases contain the word Go. Go with boldness. Letting Go. Get up and go. Go for it. Go the distance.
Bible verses inspire this word too:
- “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.”
- “Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?” (I love these two questions to use in my prayers and journaling)
- “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
- “Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay.”
- “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?”
- “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”
“Go” is my 2021 word and will serve as a lamp as I step into a new year full of possibilities, life, challenges, and growth.
What word is calling you?
Jean, this is such a great post, filled with much wisdom. LAMP is such a good acronym. I look forward to reading about your journey with “Go”, as I am sure to learn much from you. So glad I stopped here this morning. Many blessings in 2021~
so good to hear from you Joanne. I love playing with words and Lisa’s LAP inspired me. Go is a powerful but somewhat scary words too, Just this week just saying it made a difference in me deciding something. It turned out right too. God is so good!
Marinate. I like that, Jean. That’s how I operate.
My word is serendipity. I think. And because it’s so filled with delight and possibility and unknowns, I feel like I’m being let off the hook when it comes to planning.
Lisa’s keeping me in line and moving forward. And that’s a very good thing.
And so is GO!
Marinate is a good word isn’t it Linda? Love serendipity too. I can feel its energy and delight. Thanks for sharing
Wow, Jean–look at all the wisdom, encouragement, and inspiration you’ve already gathered for a two-letter word! LOVE it! God’s Word–even at its shortest–never comes back void (Isaiah 55:11). I’ve been contemplating the word “courage” for 2021; lo and behold Denise (below) has chosen the same! ‘Think that might be the affirmation I’ve been looking for.
A simple but powerful word, isn’t it? It is so small I almost didn’t chose it but it kept chasing me, LOL Courage is a great word.
My One Word this year is courage. I feel it has been chosen for me because Joshua 1:9 has come up on my feed several times in the past few days. I feel I need to be courageous going forward this year as I am facing some medical challenges.
I love LAMP to help keep me focused. I will be searching for more verses that speak to me on courage going forward.
Jean I love your word Go and the 2 words that came to you from that word. I wish you much success going forward this year.
I really look forward to your posts each month.
Oh my goodness, Denise, that’s the word that’s been playing in my mind for 2021 also! Here’s another scripture for us as we step into 2021: “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.” May those medical challenges become victories of courage and faith!
Thanks Denise. Courage is part of my bible verse of the year. This verse jumped out to be since it contained the word GO but also courage. Joshua 1: 9
Ooh, I love the addition of M to make LAMP! I definitely had to marinate in my word this time. I’m still not sure where God wants to go with it…but it’s all SO fitting since my word is Uncertain. lol. I’m going to try to get my post up about it tomorrow.
I love your word Go and that it stands for Grace Observed. I’m currently reading 40 Days of Grace by Paul David Tripp. I need to do a review of it soon so I’m reading it fast right now, but I’ll go back through it again slowly for Lent. God’s grace is what’s saving me in this season and I need to observe it more often! So glad you linked this with our Facebook group now and hope you’ll also link it at my blog on the 21st; it’s encouraging to read about your process and your word.
Thanks for the inspiration, Lisa for this post. This will be so much fun this year, exploring our words together.
Thank you for sharing both your words and ways to find that word. I like adding the M to LAP for we do Ned to do that as well while waiting on just the word God has for us. GO will surely take you in my directions. May He go with you each day.
Thank you for your blessing, Linda
Fantastic word for 2021, Jean! Yes, God wants us all to get up and go for His purposes and His kingdom. May “go” bless you richly this year.
Get up and go for God! Thank you for your kind blessing, Martha