Choosing a word for the year is like picking out an outfit to wear to a very special occasion. What if I pick the wrong one? What if I get there, and it doesn’t fit quite right? What if when I get into the light, my shoes don’t match my dress? What if no one notices?
I feel the pressure. Do you?
Last year I didn’t really pick a word per say. It really picked me. I’m guessing you can probably figure it out.
Hope soared in my life in 2012. It hung on every sentence. It floated in the air like a song. God used it in a mighty way in my life to remind me that He is still here at work in my heart. He pressed me to share it with others. “It” being hope and my heart. I said, “Running to Jesus always brings about a miracle,” and I have seen it with my own eyes this past year. How else do you explain 26,000+ women carrying around their Kindle with a book you penned on it? Really? Hope has spread. I am humbled.
In my own life hope has stirred something down deep. I have been moved from a place of merely surviving my life to a place of longing. I no longer want to be holding on for dear life. I want to move forward. I want to step out. I want to become who God wants me to be.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not discounting the years I’ve had surviving. God met me in the most amazing way. I love what Corrie Ten Boom said, “There is no pit so deep that God is not deeper still.” Amen? Amen.
Hope met me in the mess. He let me know in every way that He was for me. He showed me the way out. Hope challenged me to wave my white flag so others could join me on the journey. And they did.
But today, I feel as though I am sitting on a precipice looking out on the landscape of my life. I have forty or so years behind me. I have, maybe 40 or so years ahead of me. I want to “use my influence well” as Jen Hatmaker challenged. I know it is crucial to become more of who God wants me to be.
Become.
A change of state.
To come, change, or grow to be.
To come into being.
Oh mercy. It sounds a whole lot like process. I am not a fan of process. This is how I can be 100% sure this word is from God. He is stepping forward into the great unknown of this coming year, looking back over His shoulder and calling me out off my precipice. . .
Come now Stacey.
Let’s become.
There is more this year.
There is growth this year.
There are changes to be made.
I have no idea where He is leading. That in itself is a little frightening. But I have the feeling it is going to be one great ride. I have the sense that this year of making me more like Him, will be hard and good all at the same time.
I think, and correct me if I’m wrong, you feel the same way, too. Recently I asked some friends what they were hoping to find when they stopped by my blog. The vast majority said, “I want to grow. I want to be stretched. I want to become.”
Ok, well, they didn’t say all that. But they did check the box that said “I want to read more about growing as a Christian woman.” So in the year ahead I’ll be checking in with you and telling you more about become and how God is working it out in me. It is always more fun when we do life together. So, I’ll be looking for you, here, and out there during 2013.
Hello, my name is Stacey and my word for 2013 is:
Become.
Are you with me?
Yes I am with you! I was foreign to this word thing until my mother-in-law said something New Year’s Day! My chosen word came to me right away. I went home and prayed about this and still the word was the same. Patience. I am a mother of 3, 6 and under. Patience is definitely something I need to work on. But it’s not just with my kids, it is with my husband, my mother, my disease… I was diagnosed a year ago with an auto-immune disease and it’s been a struggle to be patient with my body and understanding where I go from here. I pray that your process of become will be great in 2013.
Kori I am praying for you right now, that God would bring not only patience to your heart, but healing and peace as well.
Oh friend, I am so with you. Praying blessings for all He has planned for you to become. . .
I love your post and am excited to he stretched right along with you. My word for this year is Better! I haven’t wrote about it but this encourages me to do so.
I absolutely love the one word challenge and hearing the words that God lays on hearts. This is beautiful, Stacey! I am with you, sister! I too want to become who He is making me to be (which is why my word is faithful!). Love that I get to follow your journey- thank you for sharing it with us!!!
Yes, girl, I am so with you. I want to become all that He ordained me to be. Beautiful post!
beautiful words … and beautiful word. oh how i desire to become all that He wants me to be. thank you for this beautiful inspiration today … i needed it and it fills me … love you sweet friend!
Thank you sweet friend.
I love your word and how it so connects with mine…emerge & embrace. Excited to see what the Lord is going to do in us this year!
I loved this post and can feel the hope and intensity and scariness of it all. I’m kind of in a similar spot and am really clueless about what God is going to do in my life this year…but I think it’s going to be a doozy in the best way!!
I love this post. I need to be reminded constantly to become more like a child, more of what God wants me to be. My word for this year is PEACE. I want peace for my family (the boys have been fighting so much), peace in how I talk and go about my day, peace for big decisions we are making. God’s peace would make such a difference for us right now.
Oh love that Meaghan. I’m also learning if I want something to be true of my girls, it has to start with me! Praying for you!
I love your word become. Enjoy your journey! The word The Lord gave me for this year is intentional. Being purposeful in all that I do. As a daughter of the King, a wife to my husband, mom to our 3 boys….everything that The Lord has put into my hands!
Hi Stacey,
This is my second year with a One Word. Last year, my word was trust, this year it’s praise. It’s not the word I planned, but it’s the word He gave me. (I wrote the story here: http://bit.ly/131WkhP) Considering my year has been off to a rocky start, God obviously knew I’d need the reminder! He’s so good that way! 🙂
Blessings,
Laura
Stacey, this is my second year doing One Word, and it really made an impact on my life last year, and I really needed it. This is going to be a year of “becoming” for me as well. Last year my word was Fearless. My word is Believe. I agree with you that this year is going to be a wild one, and I BELIEVE a good one! I attached my One Word post below.
I loved this — simple, elementary – things we learn to value throughout life, even when you are older like me. I really appreciate your style of writing.
Thank you Maggie!