Good Monday morning friends. I'm not going to do a weekend recap because ours was spent mostly de-Christmas-ing the house which is such a chore and not that interesting to read about. Hubs remarked that we put out fewer decorations this year but it seemed like it took us longer to get everything taken down. I tried to be more intentional in how I stored things for next year, which contributed to the process moving at a snail's pace.
Anyway it's done, or at least it's mostly done. Always a few stray bits and bobs that turn up once we've lugged everything to the attic.
Let's talk words.
Do you have a word of the year (WOTY)? Is this something you always do, sometimes do, have never done? I've had words from time time, but only when I truly felt there was a word I couldn't escape. That's how God speaks to me. He has to flash something in great BIG BOLD letters everywhere I look, and then I pay attention.
I know some people just pick a word they like and call it their own, but that's not how my words have happened. My experience with a word of the year has gone something like this-I go into it in January thinking my word is going to make the coming year look one way and then my year ends up looking a whole 'nother way.
I haven't had a WOTY since 2019 when I chose the word 'delight'. Sounds pretty doesn't it? Sounds like you're in for a year full of awe and wonder, right?
If you've been around here for a while you might remember 2019 was the year one daughter had a cancelled wedding, and then right about that same time my other daughter and her husband told us they were expecting baby boy2 and would be transferred to South Korea three months before his birth, so yeah.
It's a little scary choosing a word.
You know what though? 2019 actually did turn out to be a year of awe and wonder, just not in any of the ways I'd envisioned. Sometimes hindsight is a gift, and I can look back at that year and see how I learned to delight in Him, even as life presented some most un-delightful moments.
So I've landed on a word for 2025 and it's this-anchored.
Anchored means, "to make something or someone stay in one position by fastening him, her, or it firmly." In the Bible the word anchor is an emblem of hope, and a definition I read in a Bible dictionary added this, which I love, 'held by an anchor, moored, fixed in safety'. That feels like a good way to go in to a brand new year.
I always like to have a verse to memorize and mull over that relates to my word, and while there are several that apply I picked this one-
I expect come December I will once again look back, and stand amazed at all the many ways God does exceedingly more than I can ask or imagine.
If you have a word, I'd love to hear it.
And I always feel like the new year should officially begin around the 6th, so happy new year everyone!
I have never done or thought of a word of the year. I like your word for this year! I hear you on the decorations and putting them away. I had a lot up this year and I knew it would take a while to take down. I worked about five hours straight one day last week and that wasn't quite enough time...Happy Monday!
ReplyDeleteI always pray about a word or a Bible verse for the year and I do find that God always does a work in me related to the word. I can relate with it not always looking like I thought though! The Lord has used the same Bible verse for three years now but each year has had a different word. The verse is Romans 15:13. For 2023 my word was hope. For 2024 it was joy and peace. For 2025 my words are trust and obey. The Complete Jewish Bible translation of Romans 15:13 is, "May God, the source of hope, fill you completely with joy and shalom as you continue trusting, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may overflow with hope." My prayer is, "Lord, help me to trust and obey You!"
ReplyDeleteI didn't have a word last year but MINDFULNESS found me this year. I will be mindful of the many ways Jesus works in my life. Yours is a good word!! Bring it on, 2025!!
ReplyDeleteI don't usually pick a WOTY but I have this year. Plodding is my word, I just want a nice year, plodding along happily with no excitement or drama.
ReplyDeleteAnchored is a great word!
I don't always choose a word --- I have to be very sure it's a word God is giving me -- but I often do. This year my word will be trust. I haven't had time to sit down and gather my thoughts about it or choose a related verse (always a good idea, as you noted) but I know unmistakably that this is my word.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE the word "anchored" that you have chosen, and that verse from Hebrews is a top favorite of mine. Thanks for sharing about your word! It's such an encouragement.
It drives me nuts that no matter how hard I try I always find one or two decorations I forgot to pack away with all the others. I don't pick a WOTY but I am anxious to hear how yours plays out for you.
ReplyDeleteGood for you getting Christmas packed up. I put a lot less out this year. I've picked a word a few times. Haven't picked one for this year yet. I do like the word you picked. Hope you have a great week.
ReplyDeleteHi Joyce, I like your word for 2025.
ReplyDeleteAnd I enjoyed reading about your word for 2019, and how it ended up a delight when you looked back on the year.
My word for 2025 will be Continue, I will be doing a post on it this week.
Carla
I've had a WOTY in the past and thought about one for this year but maybe not. The reasons you shared regarding how it turned out with your words, yeah. We don't want to 'set ourselves up for ???'.
ReplyDeleteI just want to continue to be mindful of my responses to whatever comes my way. Thinking along the lines of feelings -- they are not good or bad. It's what we do with them that makes things good or bad.
I picked a WOTY for many years, but haven't recently. I did not know the story about your 2019 word. Anchored seems like a really good choice for the world we live in today.
ReplyDeleteIt has been several years since I chose a WOTY but, like you, decided I would try it again this year. Two words were prominent every time I asked the Lord about it...so I think (for now) I have two words for the year. Grace and Glory. I am a bit curioius, even to myself, to see how that "come together" in the coming months.
ReplyDeleteI like your word and the verse you chose to mull over. So thankful for the anchor we have!
ReplyDeleteMy WOTY is INTENTIONAL. Thank you for suggesting a Bible verse to go with it - I will!
ReplyDeleteI minimally decorate for Christmas because putting it all away is something I dread - even when I very much enjoy my house all Christmas-y during the holiday. I moved our small tree (which was the “main” tree) to the dining room and still need to undecorate it. Maybe I make that process too difficult and that’s why I hate it??
Anyhoo….thank you for your encouragement on my blog about writing…I do want to share more! Hodgepodge is a great place to start being intentional about this part of my life :)
I love thinking of hope as an anchor, Joyce. Thank you for that visual. It will be interesting to see how your word plays out for you this year. I too have a WOTY, and it is intrepid. My mantra for this year led me to my WOTY: I am open and receptive to all possibilities. Here's to a remarkable 2025!
ReplyDelete