Since 2004, I have made a practice of asking God for a word for the coming year, a practice that I had heard someone in a small group at church mention. It has amazed me how the word that comes to me as an answer to that prayer has played such a part of the year that follows.
Sometimes I’ve received a single word. Sometimes I’ve received a phrase. Always what I’ve received has been meaningful, although I confess I wasn’t as fond of the year my word was “Endurance” as I was of the year my words were “Peace & Simplicity.”
This year, I didn’t have to wait long at all to know God’s word for me was “Grace.” I sensed that He wants me to go deeper into understanding just how amazing is His grace toward me and also to learn how I can show more grace to others around me, to those I love as well as to complete strangers.
I already had my word when I began hearing in the planning community about an online workshop called One Little Word. I decided to look into it and, after doing so, decided to participate as a way to document my Year of Grace.
I’m using a travelers notebook for the project (less space for storage than a scrapbook binder). Each month I’ll be answering prompts and exploring my word in a new way.
Do you ask God for a word for the year? If so, please share what it is for 2018. If not, please consider it prayerfully. I have been so blessed by focusing on one little word each year.
You might want to read Debbie Macomber’s 2012 release, One Perfect Word. In it, Debbie shares what this practice has meant for her. (I gave the book 5 stars on Goodreads).
No matter if you have a word or not, may this be a year where you are constantly aware of God’s grace in your life.
~robin
My word this year is “Kindness”.
My word is also GRACE. About 2 months ago the word came to me in the middle of my small group at BSF. My “desire” is to learn about/how to extend grace to others, but am anxiously waiting to see what God has in mind for me to learn.