New Word

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. (John 1:14)

Happy New Year! It’s a new year, a new decade and time for the new word for the year. I remember reading about a word for the year nearly a decade ago and I’ve been giving it a whirl ever since. Some years the word has been an encouragement, some years an inspiration, and some years, quite honestly, an annoyance. God has used these “words” in some powerful ways over the years because each one is the result of about a month of prayerful consideration. This year I was afraid this post wasn’t going to happen because for weeks I haven’t been able to figure out what my word was supposed to be.

Like every other year, I’ve started out thinking sweet, easy words like peace, joy, or laughter but per our agreement, when a word pops in my head, I pray on it and if it sticks it’s mine. If I forget it in a day or two, it wasn’t the word for me. I feel the need to insert a scoop of honesty here: I’m at that stage in life where forgetting is something that I get better at each year! I wasn’t sure if I was going to skip the word of the year because God wasn’t giving me the word or because I just couldn't remember it! The word didn't actually come until my birthday so I think he wanted me to trust his timing … or it was just Him being fancy. The word came at the beginning of a Holy Hour and it popped up more than a dozen times during that hour so, being faithful to our deal … I didn’t forget it!

The word for 2020 is COME. Over the past few days pondering this word I’ve been overwhelmed with places I need this word in the upcoming year. My first thoughts were all about invitations. I began thinking about how much I need Him to come into my teaching, my marriage, my work and my … well … my everything. I thought about how He must be waiting for me to invite Him to come on in and take over. At first I thought this meant I’d be giving up a lot, but then I realized it’s actually the opposite. If I ask Him to COME into my thoughts, my words, my writing and my … well … my everything, it actually takes the pressure off of me because it allows me to let Him take the lead.

I’ve discovered this new word is about action and attitude, and it’s bringing me peace. I want Him to come into my heart and my reactions so I can act with mercy instead of judgment. I want Him to come into my words so I can bring His compassion and peace. I want Him to come into my decisions so my life more closely follows His will for me instead of a runaway train jumping the tracks! I want Him to come into my prayer so that time becomes more of a relationship than an obligation. I want Him to come into my driving, my waiting, my giving, my service and my frustrations so I can mirror Him instead of a cranky grump, a pouting toddler or a sharp-tongued sassy mouth. I want Him to come so I can be as understanding and forgiving with the people who annoy me as I am of a stranger in need or someone I want to impress. I want Him to come so I can be who He made me to be, serving right where He put me instead of trying to be fancy or important or impressive. I want Him to come so big I become teeny and fade in His shadow so all others see is HIM and not me. (Boy … that’s gonna take a LOT of work!!)

Mostly I want Him to COME to me so I can COME to Him and be better … holier … kinder … more honest … more compassionate and more … well, more Christ-like. Whew … when He put these four letters together and gave me this word, I think He had a big year in mind. I can just imagine Him standing there with His hand out saying, COME on … let’s get to work!

A Seed To Plant: Do you have a word? Share it with us if you do so we can all pray that God uses these words powerfully in our life.

Blessings on your day!