Word of the Year

Is it too late to talk about my word of the year? It’s the first of February, after all, but I think this the perfect time because I have had a month to marinate with this word. To be honest “word of the year” has never really been something I have practiced, or new years resolutions for that matter. Of course, I’ve always had things I hoped to accomplish the new year, but nine times out of ten, they were never things I was resolved to do. That’s where I think-or I hope-this year will be different. In years past I always went into them with a passive disposition, with hope that the things I wanted to do, or be, or have, would just happen, but but the Lord has taught me a lot about active surrender in the past few months, that being proactive and in control of small things doesn’t mean you aren’t surrendered God’s design and will as a whole.

I’ve written extensively about waiting and expectations. Particularly, in one of December’s blogs, He’s Just Unloading, I describe how biblically, waiting should be full and busy, not just a numb empty wait. There is preparation to be done while we wait for a moment’s or guest’s arrival. You see theres a difference between diligence and striving. On the surface we could think of them as synonyms, both words meaning effort to achieve something, but it is in their roots and method of effort that we see these words couldn’t be more different.

Diligence broken down means “careful attention, deliberate care, love expressed through watchfulness”. The root of the effort in diligence is love. (Proverbs 13:4)

Striving, however, broken down means “to strain for something, exert force under tension”. Strivings effort is born from pressure. (Ecclesiastes 2:22)

Okay, I am going to have to take you through a bit a of trek before I reveal to you what I’ve landed on for my word of the year. In the very first instant I asked the Lord to place on my heart a word, “Prosper” came to mind (this isn’t my word, but stay with me). I was a little thrown off because this wasn’t really a word I typically ponder, but I was excited about this word because I thought to myself, I would love to prosper this year.

I took it to prayer and did some research on this word using my bible. The more I did so, the more I felt this wasn’t my word, rather a way to get to it.

In the bible, “prosper” is used many times, ranging in meaning from various translations of Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. Some instances it’s used to mean “completeness, welfare, peace” (Hebrew, Jeremiah 29:11), others “to be led well” (Greek, 3 John 1:2), and also “stability, fruitfulness, endurance” (Hebrew, Psalm 1:1-3). The latin root, however, struck me the most. Broken down “prosper” means to “move forward with hope”. This version is used in Joshua 1:8.

Around the new year, a new fire was lit beneath me. This is pretty typical for the time, it’s why the gym is so full in January, then slowly thins out as the months go by. But this was a fire of the Holy Spirit. I finally had an “enough is enough” moment. I realized I was approaching the small things I could control during a season of waiting with a posture of striving rather than diligence. I was doing the things I was “supposed” to do out of a false hope that I would be rewarded in return. With this came burnout, depression, desperation, and hopelessness because I wasn’t doing the small things like eat well, exercise, pray intentionally out of due diligence to God, rather out of striving for myself to become “that girl”. I was doing these things without hope, making prospering impossible.

But the Lord flipped a switch. He renewed my hope in Him and has reminded me of all the ways He has shown up for me and has encouraged me to show up for Him in return. Out of love, not out of the false hope of a reward or striving.

This is how the Lord revealed my true word of the year, and that is “remember”. It was in my research of the word “prosper” that I was struck with so many different truths about Gods faithfulness. How in order to prosper we must move forward with hope, but to maintain hope we must remember the all the beautiful things that the Lord has done for us that reflect His resurrection, rather than dwell in the state of passion we may currently be in.

What’s a practical way to do this though?

A priest once told me that the enemy of hopelessness or discontentment is gratitude. So practically? Write down a few things you are grateful for in your life each day. Call to mind again aka remember His goodness in the small things of daily life.

Another practical way to foster hope is to literally just ask your friends to remind you of the goodness of Jesus! If you’re struggling with the tough questions in life, phone a friend to answer for you! Ask them to share with you how Jesus has worked in their lives that week so that you may be reminded and inspired with new hope for your walk with Christ.

I think we can often forget the purpose of Christian community and the value of our shared faith. When we are surrounded by or sent out to encounter a group of people that do not share our faith, we are extra aware and diligent in expressing our life of virtue. Whether it’s by sharing the Gospel outright or by being the hands and feet of Christ though simple acts of charity. Sometimes, when we are surrounded by our friends or community, we relax because subconsciously we think that “these people all share my faith and believe in the same God” therefore “it’s not necessary to share the Goodness of the Lord and His works in my life because they already know His goodness.” I. hate. this.

I would argue that Christians who have been running the race (that share your same faith) (Hebrews 12:1-2), need encouragement the most because we’re 13 miles into our marathon. In other words, we are tired. Remaining at a steady pace is hard and tiring, but you know what’s even more tiring? Not having the people running directly next to you say “good job!”, “Keep it up!” or “My legs are cramping right there with you, girl. We got this.” You get the point. How many times when someone asks you at a community event “Hey! How are you?” do you respond with the generic “I’m well!” and then move on? Part of the reason my word of the year is Remember is to challenge myself in breaking out of the superficial habit of engaging relationship in this way. Now, this is not me telling you to throw prudence out the window and overshare with every person who asks how you are (Proverbs 4:23), but this is me telling you to be the type of community member that reminds others of why they love their faith. Be the person who encourages another when running the race. Be the person who is vulnerable enough to ask for encouragement. Next time someone asks you “How are you?” trying sharing a simple way that the Lord has loved you that week.

Although I was hoping for some really cool, theological, deep word. Over this month I have come to have peace and love for my word of the year, “remember”. I am so excited to see how the Lord will bless me with a spirit of remembrance and how He will reshape my memory to see His goodness rather than my hardship. I would love to hear from y’all if this week’s blog spoke to you at all, and I would be thrilled if you shared with me what your word of the year is!

With Heart, Ellie