My Word for 2023

by | Jan 16, 2023 | Encouragement For Your Heart

Do you choose a word for the year?

I love this practice – it makes more sense to me that a list of resolutions that are loosely related. Choosing a word to focus on is – well – more focused. I will share the word that I have chosen for this year shortly, but first, here are a few of my past words:

Intentional

Pray

Focus

 

When I choose a word, it helps me to build my goals around that theme and I find I remember and realize the goals more fully
Here are some suggestions I would offer if you would like to choose a word for 2023:

  1. Pray about your word!

It’s important to ask God where He wants us to focus! if we believe that God is omniscient – knowing all things – then we also believe that He knows what is to come. He can see the path ahead of us and knows which way we should go.

 

 

     2. Commit to your word!

Once we have chosen a word, we need to commit to it. Write your word in your planner, post it on the mirror or fridge, make this word visible so you can meditate on it throughout the year.

 

 

      3. Study your word!

I love word study – you will discover that in much of my content. Words have meaning and that meaning has power! Look up the definition of your word, find quotes using your word, and most importantly find out what God’s word says regarding your word. Make yourself some notecards with verses and passages about your word and read them regularly to firmly plant the truth in your heart.

 

 

      4. Act on your word!

Put your word into practice! It will take some time for this new word in your life to fit naturally – but you can try it on each day until it does. Is your word kind? Plan how you can be kind today! Is your word generous? Plan how you can give. Is your word peace? Then build peace into your everyday routine. New ideas and new habits don’t happen without action – as you commit and study your word – also put your new word into practice.

 

 

        5. Return to your word!

Give yourself grace! New habits and paths take time to form. There will be days that look farther from your word than you could imagine. Instead of allowing yourself to be riddled in guilt over the perceived failure, allow these times to be opportunities to return to your word anew. Use prayer, your commitment, and the learning and the previous action to help you as you return to your word over and over.

My special friend Lauren loves to exclaim, “Happy New Year!” frequently when she leaves the house for the day. If only we would all approach each new day with the enthusiasm Lauren has – after all, each day is the beginning of the next year! (See the video at the top of the post for the full story about Lauren entitled, “Marking Your Days.”

My word for the year:

I promised you that I would share my new word for 2023. As we began to get closer to the end of 2022, I noticed that my focus seemed to land on words that begin with the letter P and this reminded me of my preschool days (like Sesame Street would say). The year 2023 is brought to you by the letter “P!”
Some of the words I am hearing are:

Pause

Pray

Preach to myself

Plan

Pursue

and Practice

but the overarching word that I keep hearing my soul whisper is

Peace!

Our pastor is currently preaching through the book of 1 Peter, and as I reviewed the sermon notes the other day, my eyes skipped across the page to 1 Peter 3.
For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it.
1 Peter 3:10-11

Seeking peace is not a new journey for me, I believe it is a continuation of what God has been teaching my heart for some time now. Several years ago, Jerry and I felt that we were hearing God say, “Clean up and get ready!” and this was a big command for us since we had made a fine mess. But we took it seriously and we set out on a journey of cleaning up our stuff, our commitments, and our finances in an effort to be more available. Through that journey I have discovered that peace that can be found when I make room for it.

I also tend to be a spontaneous person and I can lack focus. I may be hyper focused in one area but unfocused in every other area and that leaves my life feeling chaotic – not peaceful. But I have begun to think and pray and learn about how to pursue peace in my life. I think you will see this theme – pursuing peace – and all things letter P – in my writing and my videos and even in my art – as it unfolds and takes hold.

I would love to hear from you – please tell me in the comments what word are you choosing for the year? What will be your focus for 2023? If you don’t have a word or a particular focus – then I am inviting you to join me on this journey of pursuing peace.