One Word 2016

Once again it is a new year.  It is time for some to make New Year’s resolutions.

For others, like me, we pick “One Word” to be our direction and focus for the New Year.

I usually pick my word near the end of December through prayer, and as I celebrate Christmas and remember the reason for the season, Jesus’ birth.  Then I will get several confirmations that this is the correct word for me, as it will come up over and over again.  It will show up in my prayers multiple times, and other people will bring it up in conversations with me, and in my reading and studying the word will come up again and again.  When you pick your “One Word”, look for these types of confirmations to assure you that you have chosen the right word.

In the past, here are words I chose for other New Years:

–In 2012 I chose “Joy”.  In 2013, I chose “Trust”.  (You can read that post here.)

–In 2014, my One Word was “Come”, as in “Come near to God, and He will come near to you.” (from James 4:8) (To read that post, go here.)

–Last year, I chose “Encouragement”.  (Go here to read that post.)

This year, my One Word for 2016 is “Re-Focus”.

Focus means to come together at one point.  Re-focus means my point is out of focus and needs fine-tuning to make the image sharp and clear.  This involves renewal and revival, both mean to make new, to bring back to a former condition.  We all were made in God’s image, and our former condition would have been like Adam and Eve before sin.

In Isaiah 57:15, God speaks of reviving the spirit and reviving the heart.  And in Isaiah 40:31, God says, “but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.”

So, this year, I will be re-focusing on God, prayer, reading and studying the Bible, worship, and mission projects.   Focusing on these things will help me to revive both my spirit and my heart, and to renew my strength.

I will also continue what I started in past years by encouraging others, coming near to God, trusting God, and finding joy each day.  Each year the “One Word” becomes rooted in me.  It becomes a part of me, so it stays on through future years, and you can build on it.

Have you picked your One Word this year?  You can share it with us in the comments below.  It is interesting to see what word other people pick.

If you haven’t picked your word yet, you can use my past posts (with links above) to help you pick one.

So Happy New Year!  And may you all experience renewal and revival this year of our Lord, 2016!

 

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