One Little Word :: 2017 #prayer

Do you make New Years resolutions? Not me. I always have good intentions to get in shape. Then, by February I am sitting on the couch eating guacamole and chips, watching The Biggest Loser.

Instead of a resolution I choose One Word. One word helps keep me focused for 365 days.

There is only one rule for my word: My word must mean something deeply to me, or I will just forget about it, and end up doing nothing at all…or eat a huge heaping bowl of guacamole and chips.

Every year I wait.

I wait for my One Word to speak to me. Some years it’s been a load roar, and other years it’s been a soft whisper.

2016 was the year of gratitude for me; then this summer my word changed unexpectedly.

Just when the crap was hitting the fan around our house….my gratitude journal turned into a prayer journal…and that, PRAYER, has been my word ever since. And it kind of saved my sanity, talking to God.

I feel Prayer isn’t done with me yet. So, 2017’s word will continue to be Prayer.

Because this world can use more prayers. And me too.

Scripture instructs us to pray. Jesus did it. (Luke 5:16 is just one example.) Prayer is one way we foster a relationship with God.

Here are three things I am doing to strengthen my prayer life in 2017:

• Reading and focusing on scripture, then praying about what I read. It’s easy to pray about what I want Him to do to fix the messes in my life. But it’s not really about the messes being fixed, it’s how I handle those messes, and trusting that He is right there with me…in the middle of the mess. Pray helps me realize that.
• Keeping a prayer and gratitude journal. Because of my natural desire to write (I have kept a journal for years), this one just fits for me. It sits on my nightstand along with my Bible and a mug full of different colored pens to, you know, keep it colorful and creative. Even though everything is handy, I still battle to write a prayer when I am exhausted and just want to sleep. It’s an appointment I will need to work to keep.
• I will pray for others. There are so many in my life who are struggling. Whether it’s health, professional, marriage, whatever. I will pray for them as well.

So, what’s your word for 2017?

I am linking up with the Faith Barista. Looking for uplifting encouragement for the new year? Go check out the wonderful ladies also sharing their #OneWordCoffee. And she is giving away $100 of Word Matter Letterpress Blocks from Dayspring!

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Some of my One Words that I have chosen in the past:

2009: Be, as in “just be in the moment.”

2010: Faith

2011: Nourish.

2012: Explore

2013: Joy

2014: Leap

2015: Create

2016 (first half): Gratitude; (second half) Prayer