Making New Year's Resolutions? Choose One Word Instead...

Okay, so it's not even Christmas yet. I'm well aware of that fact. But as Christmas approaches, I can't help but wonder what the new year will bring. 

For the past few years, rather than make New Year's resolutions, I focus on One Word instead of making those dratted resolutions that last about as long as Christmas turkey. Hmm. Maybe that was the wrong example. 

Since 2011, I've chosen One word each year to focus on. I do word studies and search scripture verses that fit the word. I ask God to show me what He wants me to learn.

That first year my word was commit.Two synonyms for commit are obligate and entrust. I obligated myself to finishing my book, and committed to letting go and entrusted God to get it published. That's when I began enjoying the writing journey. One of the verses I focused on was Proverbs 16:3 – "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans."

In 2012 my word was Listen, and I used the acronym STOP to focus on it: Sit quietly in His presence, Take time to Listen, Open my ears instead of my mouth, Pray for guidance.  

This year, 2013, my word has been humility,not a word I accepted willingly. I am by nature a bossy person, and I want the last word, especially since I've only been wrong once in my life and later it turned out I wasn't actually wrong. Once again, God allowed me to learn that I didn't know everything, and that my way wasn't the only way. A few of the verses I focused on are here.

For 2014, I'm torn between two words. One is becoming. I like that word, reminds me that I am not a finished product. The other word is strength, as in the verse from Deuteronomy 33:2. "As your day, so shall your strength be." God will provide whatever strength I need for each day. 

So, how about you? Have you thought about choosing a word for the year and focusing on letting God use it to draw you closer to Him? Leave a comment and let me know what you think about choosing One Word. 

Patricia Bradley
www.patriciabradleyauthor.com
http://mbtponderers.blogspot.com/
@PTBradley1

Shadows of the Past from Revell February 2014
Available for preorder at CBD: http://ow.ly/qIx2k and Amazon: http://ow.ly/qIx90 and B&N: http://ow.ly/qKdSL

I asked God to teach me patience and He gave me a book to write