Growth: My 2015 One Word and Why I Hesitated Choosing It
This post was supposed to be written last Wednesday, in time for New Year’s Day, then Friday, the day after New Year’s. But I couldn’t write it. Every time I tried, one thing stopped me: I didn’t want to accept the One Word I feel compelled to adopt for 2015.
This will be the fourth year I choose One Word to focus on through the year. In 2012, it was boldness as I was a fledgling inspirational blogger.
In 2013, I chose Persevere as my word. It had become easy to quit, yet I felt God calling me to continue. I needed a reminder to stay the course and trust God’s leading even when discouragement set in.
In 2014, Savor became my focus. What a blessing to concentrate on the goodness in my life and in my God. That word I gladly accepted.
As I pondered what my word for 2015 would be, Delight caught my attention. It would be a pleasure to pursue Delight. Delight in my Lord. Delight in my surroundings. Delight in others. Delight in myself as a child of God. All good and worthwhile things.
Yet as much as I wanted to prepare the Delight 2015 word badge, something stopped me. I just didn’t have a peace about it. And as I prayed, the word Growth kept popping in my mind.
Here is my journal entry dated December 31:
Last day of 2014, so much left undone, so much the same. Yet forward to God is the way. His love reaches out for me–to carry me, to heal me, to grow me, and to change me. This year, I’m expecting one of growth.
I want to choose Delight for my One Word, but I see growth! Growth in my spiritual maturity, in my faith, in my dependence and trust in the Lord, in my interactions and relationships with my family and friends.
Growth is not easy. Thus I hesitate–often pruning must occur for healthy growth–pruning, cultivating, fertilizing. When the ground is disturbed, we grow the most.
Lord, let me delight in You as I grow. [←Tweet this.]
And although fear of what growth might bring threatens to invade my resolve, I am opening my heart to God’s leading. Growth is what my One Word for 2015 will be.
For my trust is in Him.
And as you enter the first full week of 2015, I pray you, too, can trust and delight in the Lord as you grow.
“Because God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.” 1 Corinthians 1:25
Reflections: Did you choose One Word for this year? If so, I’d love to hear what it is. If not, I’d still like to hear what some of your goals are as you begin the walk of 2015?
For the next few weeks Monday’s posts will be dedicated to growth: my concerns, the certainty of God’s provisions, the various facets of growth. If this is an area you could use encouragement, sign up to receive each post in your email inbox. That way you can be sure you won’t miss even one. It’s free and you’ll receive an audio series I recorded on growing the Fruit of the Spirit as my thank you.
And I’m excited to begin another year recording blessings. Since beginning over 3 years ago, I’ve counted more than 3,500 gifts in Ann Voskamp’s Joy Dare! What a blessing! So here we go in 2015: #3492–3512, read my entire list by clicking here.
- Mother-daughter time painting my girl’s fingernails; Little pleasures of home, like popcorn from our old-fashioned popper; Bigger boys home to drive younger boy to his events
- Family antics getting me laughing until I cry; Long-awaited task completed; Making up for lack of snow with a little broom hockey on the lake with the boys
- Blessings of the past year (hidden and apparent); New adventures for 2015, but same promises; Ringing in the New Year with my favorite people, my greatest blessings, my family
- Time with friends sharing food and conversation and playing games; Twilight walk with hubby through our land; Moonlight and starlight brilliance
- Downhill skiing with my niece; All in our skiing carpool group stayed injury free; Peace of a chairlift ride alone
- Awakening to a dusting of snow reminded me of its beauty; Lazy day of togetherness–likely one of our last full days all together for many months; Silliness of dueling cats–and they’re siblings too, how fitting
- Blessing of personal worship time that came out of a messed-up morning; Sundays; Friends willing to help out in a pinch and advise as needed
Joining some One Word linkups. Be encouraged, check out some of the wonderful posts on these sites:
By His Grace,
Julie
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Hello, I'm Julie, an imperfect wife and mother of four. Life in this broken world is not always easy. Yet, joy can be found in each day through the grace and mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I find it's easy for our day's blessings to get lost in its happenings. But God's "mercies never end" (Lamentations 3:22) and His "grace is sufficient" (2 Corinthians 12:9).
May the posts and pages on this site offer you a measure of peace and encouragement.
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Great post Julie, I have seen several other bloggers posting about their one word. I had never done this before. So I have a word floating in my brain. I may have to make it public soon.
I’d love to see what it is, Jon. I do enjoy the added focus it provides.
Hi Julie. Last year, “return” came up a lot. It wasn’t my choice, but obviously what the Lord picked. (Basically, return to absolute trust.) This year, it’s persevere (like your 2013 word). I’m sure God’s specific application of the word will unfold throughout the year. Sounds like an exciting ride for both of us. 🙂
Indeed it does, Marisa. But then walking with God is always exciting, isn’t it.
[…] Yet growth is the word I chose to focus on for 2015. […]
Hi Julie,
Your word growth has so much potential in so many ways — I love it! And I think you just might begin to delight in growth as the year unfolds! 🙂 Visiting from Bonnie’s link-up today.
I think you are right, Valerie. Where God directs there is always delight. I’m glad you stopped by. You’re welcome anytime.
GROWTH is such an “alive” word. love to hear this is the one GOd put on your heart. it’s funny how our One words aren’t the ones we’d chose. but that’s what special about them. they were given to us by the one who calls us Him. ;)#becomethebeloved love being here again, Julie!! 🙂 thnx for linking up in #belovedbrews.
It’s a joy encouraging with you and being encouraged by you, Bonnie.
Hi Julie… I love your word for this year… growth. Isn’t it wonderful how God speaks to a heart with just one tiny word but leaves such a wide path sprinkled with seeds anxious to sprout and grow. May your year be fertile ground for #growth.
Visiting from Faith Barista.
Blessings, Jana
“God speaks to a heart with just one tiny word but leaves such a wide path sprinkled with seeds anxious to sprout and grow.” Love the imagery in this, Jana. Thank you!
[…] I must ask, and I must challenge myself (after all my one word for 2015 is Growth): Do I demonstrate my faith in a good God in all […]
[…] In 2013, I felt God calling me to PERSEVERE. In 2014, I knew I needed to concentrate on ways to SAVOR my life. In 2015, I accepted the scary focus of GROWTH. […]