In Others’ Words: My One Word for 2019

 

Let’s talk about choosing One Word for the coming year. 

2019 is just over a month away, but if you’ve been reading this blog for awhile, then you know that I gave up New Year’s resolutions thirteen years ago. All my good intentions — the “I wills” and the “I won’ts” — faded so quickly, and I always misplaced my list of resolutions before January was over.

Instead, I choose One Word and focus on it for 365 days. Doing so changes my perspective. My heart. My actions.

Before I tell you the One Word I selected for 2019, here’s a quick recap of my One Words for the past 13 years.


2006: gratitude – I kept a gratitude journal and found my “glass-half-empty” attitude revolutionized.
2007: simplify – A severe illness turned this word into survival. I embraced simpler things in ways I never imagined.
2008: content – as in “be content with such things as you have” (Hebrews 13:5) I bought a lot less that year!
2009 & 2010: forgiveness – I had a lot to learn and unlearn about forgiveness.
2011: hope – I clung to this word when life hurt or when my heart ached for others who were hurting.
2012: trust – During a year of change, I faced doubting versus trusting — and chose to trust.
2013: confidence – I set my heart and mind on “not throwing away my confidence.” (Hebrews 10:35-36)
2014: think – I anchored my thinking to truth more and more, rather than letting my thoughts go wandering around in doubts and lies.
2015: collaborate – “to work jointly on an activity, especially to produce or create something.” I focused on collaborating with God in my writing life.
2016: prosper – to act wisely, as in “And David was acting wisely (prospering) in all his ways for the LORD was with him.” (1 Samuel 18:14) This word stayed with me as I confronted a lot of major (and minor) decisions.
2017: inheritance – Psalm 16:5-6 talks about having a “delightful inheritance.” To be honest, I wasn’t as intentional about my One Word as I’ve been in the past. Life was just one challenge after another. But God continued to show me the word again and again in small ways … and I was encouraged that there’s more to this life than the here and now.
2018: kind – Ephesians 4:32a encourages us to “Be kind to one another.” This past year, I started each week with a quote on kindness, sharing it on Instagram and Facebook, and looking for opportunities to be compassionate and kind.

 

My One Word for 2019 is anchor. “Anchor” harkens back to my 2014 word “think,” where I anchored my thoughts to the truth. This year, I struggled to settle on my One Word. Originally, I thought of “mind-full” — concentrating on what I filled my mind with. And then I remembered how I focused on my anchor verses earlier this year, and the word “anchor” rose to the surface. ((No pun intended.)

And when I saw the illustration I posted with this blog by my oh-so-creative friend, Amy Kirk, I knew I’d found my visual for the coming year. To see more of Amy’s creations, follow her on Instagram, and visit her Etsy shop, AhniArt.

  In Your Words: I’d love to know if you’ve selected One Word for 2019 — and what it is. Or if you prefer to do resolutions, tell me why!

In Others' Words: My One Word for 2019 http://bit.ly/2KE0FEo #OneWord #2019
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'I am secured by your grace as I sail across this stormy sea.' Quote from a prayer in The Valley of Vision http://bit.ly/2KE0FEo #anchor #security
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