January 7, 2015

Life Word and Verse For 2015...What's Yours?

While everyone is busy trying to stick with their resolutions, or second guessing them, I'm coming to you today excited to give you an alternative to a typical resolution. We're going to talk about finding your life word and verse for 2015. So first we need to talk about what a life word and verse is, and next why do we choose one, and finally how do you choose one or how will you know what's right for you. So let's get to it!

What is a life word and verse - a life word basically is a pretty simple concept, it is a single word that resonates most deeply with you as something that you want to focus on throughout this year to understand better or to dig deeper into with your daily life. Basically it can be used as a term to focus on in order to become more mindful and to practice a new behavior and mindset. This helps keep you focused and committed to a specific goal throughout the year and it can allow you to come back when you get off track, by reminding yourself of what your focus is and what you're supposed to be rooted in this year. Some people's life word stays the same for multiple years as they continue to refine and grow in that purpose, and some people change their's every year as the Lord leads them. 

The life verse is basically a verse that coincides with the word you have chosen. It is something that should remind you of why you chose that word, what you are trying to learn or understand about that word, and how it relates to you personally. It should be a scripture that you can memorize and keep tucked away in your heart and mind to give you strength and accountability as you return to it in study and meditation.

Now, why do we choose a word and verse instead of just doing a basic resolution or going through our Bible studies as normal and not pinpointing a certain word or Scripture in the Bible for ourselves? Well, the reason we do this is because our lives get so busy, so scattered, and so full of attention on other things that we often forget to focus on growth for ourselves in a specific area that we have had struggles in. Sometimes we brush it under the rug, sometimes we just don't know how to approach it to learn more about ourselves or to grow. So by doing this we can have something that we can call our own to focus on and help us reach out to Christ and ask him to refine us, show us what we need to change or what we need to learn about ourselves through this word and through the Scriptures. We can also use it to learn more about others and to better relate to them and love on them. Instead of something that is fleeting, like a resolution or a temporary promise, this is a focus in God's Word of something within you that you want to re-purpose and live out in a more meaningful way.

Finally, how will you choose your word and verse, and how on earth will you even know what fits best for you in this season of life? The first part of that is an easy answer, pray to God. God will reveal to you the parts of your heart and your being that He wants to transform, grow, or sometimes eliminate all together. If you pray to the Lord and seek earnestly for His answer of what you can change about yourself, what you can make better, and how you can be the best you this year and be able to give back to others the best way possible- He will speak to you and reveal something that will help you in your journey and in your walk. Even if you don't understand it but you're continually getting confirmation of a certain Scripture that keeps coming to mind, a certain word that just keeps weighing heavily on your heart. Those are the signs of how God is trying to speak to you and let you know what His Will is for you. The second way is to just look within yourself and see perhaps something you've been struggling with, or something that you have wanted to change for so long and you just feel so lost and don't know how to approach it. Ask God to reveal to you the perfect Scripture and word that correlates to that behavior, habit, or attitude that you want to cleanse yourself from. He will always show you the right way and He will always reveal the best purpose for your calling and for His Kingdom. You can also ask others around you. Don't be afraid to ask what qualities they see in you that they really love, what things they see in you that they feel you're still timid about or may need to blossom in. Constructive criticism from godly counsel or another practicing Christian is an invaluable resource, however, always make sure that you get confirmation from the Lord as He is the only one that has the sure answer on these things.

So basically just pray on it, look into your own heart - you know yourself better than any other human on the earth, so trust in that and know what you start to seek out what you want to focus on this year, what you want to improve, who you want to be. That should lead you to a Scripture verse, and then you can start growing and becoming accountable in that area so that by the end of the year you should see a huge transformation in that specific area of you as a person or in your life. This is why we choose one word, because we have a habit of wanting to change everything at once and solve every problem, and in essence what we end up doing is pretty much giving just a little piece of ourselves here and there, and here and there again, and never really focusing in deeply to change one specific area before we move on to something else.

That's what we want to attempt to do here; let's focus on this one characteristic, this one heart struggle, whatever it might be for you - then let the Lord refine it, grow it, eliminate it from our life if that is His Will. But to do that we have to pray to Him, we have to choose our word and verse, study it and memorize it, and apply it daily to our lives. If any of you need help finding your one word or need Scripture help to be pointed in the right direction to something that correlates to a word you've already chosen - please feel free to contact me and I would be happy to counsel you in that area and see if we can go to the Lord in partnership and ask that you are led to the perfect word and verse for 2015- a word that will make this the abundant life and year that God desperately wants for you. You all are so precious and favored in the Lord's eyes, and I am excited to be with you on this journey.

My word for 2015 is "loved" - I want to focus on knowing my worth through Christ's eyes, find value in myself, and remind myself of the sacrifice he made because I am loved. My verse for 2015 is Zephaniah 3 :17. This scripture states, "The LORD your God is with you; his power gives you victory. The LORD will take delight in you, and in his love he will give you new life. He will sing and be joyful over you". Would you all leave a comment with your word if you have chosen one, as well as your Scripture if you have one. If you don't have both or either yet, feel free to say that as well and I will be happy to reach out to you and see what we can partner in to make sure that you have your word and verse for the year. Thank you sweet readers, & I will be back with you tomorrow with a short video and on Friday we have our next article. Be blessed!

6 comments:

  1. What a sweet spirit you are. I appreciate the word and can tell your heart is as kind as the words you speak. Thank you for the uplifting message. I look forward to more.

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    1. Thank you so much! I am grateful to have your feedback and that you will be following. Blessings!

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  2. My word for 2015 is "'priority", and my scripture verse is Matthew 6:33, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you". (NKJV)

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    1. That is a great word, Cynthia! And a perfect Scripture to embody where our priority should lie first and foremost every day of our lives. Thank you so much for sharing!

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  3. My word is FREEDOM. I am always reminding myself to give God my problems, worries, anxiety. I can't do it alone. God gladly takes it all and gives me FREEDOM...FREEDOM from earthly things. 1Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
    My verse is Psalm 55:22 Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.
    Yes, I snuck 2 verses in there...You can never have too many verses ;)
    Thanks Deb

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    1. I smiled just seeing your word...feeling free is a beautiful thing, but sometimes so hard to do. I love your verses, and when you give all of your circumstances over to the Lord, the solutions will be clearer and the storm easier to walk through. As someone who has known you for over 30 years, I know what a strong person you are and always have been. You DESERVE freedom and to be able to hand your burdens over to the One who can handle them all. You are so loved!

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