ONE WORD 2018

I have never, ever stuck to New Year's Resolutions. I don't even make it past the first full week of January before I just give up. It's ridiculous really. In 2011 I heard of the One Word movement. This is where instead of making a long list of resolutions, you pick just one word and focus on that. I thought it seemed like a great idea so I chose a word. I don't even remember what the word was. In 2012, I decided to get serious and really do this One Word challenge. To help me, my word that year was intentional. Since then, I've had some really great words to focus on.

Back in early November, I was praying over one of my children. Our child had a talk with us one night and revealed that they were really struggling. I began to pray joy over my child. That God would restore joy into their life, heart, mind, attitude, words, every single part. I intentionally prayed this on a daily basis. One day, as I was praying joy over my child, I felt God nudge me and say that my child wasn't the only one who needed more joy. I needed more joy.

My first reaction was to disagree. The reason I disagreed is because joy and happiness are two very different thing. Joy is from God. It's in knowing that He is in control, that He holds us in the palm of His hands, and that we have a hope and a future with Him. Happiness is circumstantial. I wanted to tell God that I needed to be happier, yes, but that I had joy because I know Him. Then He reminded me of a verse.

Restore the joy of Your salvation to me,

and sustain me by giving me a willing spirit.

Psalm 51:12

Yes, I know the Father and have joy of the promises He gives. But I wasn't walking in that joy. When we are first saved, we are full of the joy of our newfound salvation. We are excited and on fire. After time, sadly, that fire and excitement diminish some. We need to regularly do a heart check. Go back to that time of salvation and grab a hold of that fire again. We need to stir up that excitement. We need to walk in the joy of the Lord.

That brings me to my One Word for 2018. Joy.

This year, I want to focus on restoring the joy of His salvation.

My action plan:

1. Memorize Scriptures about joy.
2. Pause and focus on the joy of the Lord in all times; good, bad, tired, frustrated, stressed, every possible emotion that comes.
3. Regularly think back to the time of my salvation and the joy I felt. Grab a hold of that joy.
4. Get into the Word more. When we are in the Word and praying, how can we not feel His joy!?
5. Walk in His joy. Let the joy be seen on my face, in my attitude, and in my words.

I am really excited about my word for this year.

So friends, what is your word for the year? What are you going to focus on? Please share in the comments!

*Thank you to Michelle at Displaying Grace for my beautiful One Word graphic!