My One Word: 2016 and 2017

Most who know me know I am a very goal-oriented person (in fact, I already shared my goal wrap-up for 2016 and my new ones for 2017 on this very blog). I work best with specific guidelines and benchmarks. I am good at details.

The problem, however, is I don't always see the big picture - how those little things connect into a single whole. And they do :) That, at least for me, is where One Word comes in.

For the past few years, I have chosen a single word to focus on for the year. It has helped me to take all those little pieces and discover how they connect - and how to keep my focus in all the little things on one big thing.

This past year, my word was Truth. I spent 2016 studying all the different references to this word in God's Word (217 of them to be exact!), and attempting to check each thing I saw, did, thought, and felt against what I learned. It was a good word for me - it kept me on the right path for the most part, and was a wonderful way to get myself BACK where I needed to be when I did stray.

So, when 2017 started approaching, I began to think about, and pray for, my 2017 word. And one thing that kept coming back to me was my struggle with entitlement and my desire for things to be my way. I don't like it - and I know my Heavenly Father dislikes it even more. And so, after prayer and contemplation, God gave me my word for this year.

And not just any servant. I want to be a giving, selfless, obedient, grateful servant (and to continue to teach my children the same). No more complaining about what I have to do. No more whining about my load. Make me a servant, Lord!

Each morning, I plan to read and meditate on three "servant verses" I have chosen (John 12:25-26, 1 Corinthians 9:19-20 and Luke 22:26-27), and have part of my quiet time with one of several servant-focused reading plans at YouVersion.

Because, you see, I have a way of kinda forgetting my focus if I don't put it in front of me every day. I get caught up in the day to day, and forget about the big picture. So hopefully, servanthood will permeate all of 2017.

Do you pick a word for the year? Make goals or resolutions? I'd love to hear about it!

 
My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer. Psalm 45:1