How do we go about preparing our hearts and minds for the new year?
When I was young, I viewed the year as an open planner with 365 blank squares. Sure, I knew I’d have a vacation here and there. Some spaces would be filled with coffee dates with friends. Many of those squares had “teaching,” my day job, written in invisible ink.
Maybe it’s got something to do with growing older and knowing the number of days behind me is greater than those before. I want to make the days I have left on this earth count for the Lord.
My history with One Word
When a friend introduced me to the concept of focusing on one word for the year, the idea resonated in my heart. I love, love the thought of asking God for a word to walk out with Him through those 365 squares.
People have lots of ways to discover their word. I have shared my process. However you find your word, I know God shows our hearts where we need to focus. Setting our focus on one word is a great for preparing our hearts for the new year.
My experience with Cling
My word for 2022 was Cling. Last month, a friend asked me, “How well have you lived that out this year?”
I hung my head when I answered, “Not very well.”
Backing up a bit, 2021 was a difficult year. I came to December with my insides twisted up in anxiety. God showed me I needed to CLING to Him. I set out to do just that. Gung ho to overcome anxiety once and for all.
Only, as some of you know, that’s not how anxiety works. Rather, it’s often fueled by fear. So, I set out to trust God. I was going to trust God No. Matter. What.
But when our family went through a hard season, I found fear gripping the upper hand in my thoughts and my heart.
Fear is only overcome by surrender. To Jesus. Trusting Him. Last autumn found me grappling with God as I learned how to trust Him on a deeper level. Did I live out CLING well? No.
But God’s grace poured over and into me as I faced my own weaknesses.
Preparing my heart and mind
As I prayed for my word for this year, God showed me what it needs to be.
Pray
A verb.
To pray is active. Intentional. It’s choosing to bring my authentic self to the Father—weak, scared, joyful, seeking, trusting—whoever I am in each moment.
I’ve walked with Jesus for a long time. But prayer is an area where I need to grow. This year holds its own challenges, and I only know a few of them.
Preparing Our Hearts for 2023—I’ve walked with Jesus for a long time. But prayer is an area where I need to grow. #tellhisstory #oneword #learntopray Click To TweetTo pray requires me to lay my agendas, my fears, my hopes, my all into His hands.
My verse for the year
The verse I sense God wanting me to study and live out this year is:
Though this verse doesn’t have the word “pray” in it, this is my prayer. I want to know God’s ways, hear His wisdom in every situation I face this year. To walk in His truth, not my own . . . especially in the hard seasons. I yearn to have a heart united with Him, revering Him, not divided with fear or lesser things.
Set my mind for the year
I believe God gave me this word because I’m going to need to learn how to live a life of prayer. To pray is to bring myself to the Lord with no veneers. When we pray we are asking—we’re trusting—God to work in our situations, in loved ones’ lives, in those wounded places of our lives.
To pray is to surrender my will to His. The only way I can be an effective pray-er is to learn how to pray trusting God with each of these things . . . especially when His answers look different than I hoped. Even when He doesn’t answer in my timing.
Preparing Our Hearts for 2023—The only way I can be an effective pray-er is to learn how to pray trusting God with each of these things #tellhisstory #oneword #effectiveprayer Click To Tweet
Conclusion
Can I be honest and say I’m a little nervous about this word? But, even more, I have hungered for a closer relationship with the Lord. Learning how to pray will be an invitation to deeper intimacy with my Father.
This is how I’m preparing my heart and mind as we walk into 2023.
What about you? What’s your recommendation for preparing our hearts and minds for a new year? If you are a one word advocate, will you share your word in the comments?
*****
Update
In December, I mentioned some changes were coming to the Tell His Story link up. So . . . long story short, Lisa has some urgent, ongoing family concerns right now. She prayed and felt like God was encouraging her to step back from being my fellow hostess. So . . . I prayed, and God brought Donna Bucher from Serenity in Suffering to mind as a possible partner. After she prayed (don’t you find it a little funny God had all this praying going on and PRAY is my word for the year? 🙂 ), she accepted my invitation to join in hosting the THS link up.
I’m so excited!
We will have a similar set up as before. I will host the first and third (and fifth) Tuesdays of the month. On the second and fourth Tuesdays, we’ll head over to Donna’s place and link up there.
Please welcome Donna!!!
Here’s a little bit about her:
Donna is a women’s ministry leader, teacher, speaker, retired missionary, CASA volunteer, experienced counselor and hospice and palliative care support personnel. Founder of Serenity in Suffering blog, where she shares articles, resources and counseling designed to help you grow personally and find spiritual intimacy with Christ; ultimately finding purpose in the trials you face.
Her writings have appeared in various online sites as well as digital and print magazines, and devotional journals.
Donna’s website can be found at Serenity in Suffering. You may want to bookmark this so it’s handy for linking up. 😊
Come share your story at the Tell His Story linkup. Connect and be encouraged by like-minded friends! #tellhisstory #linkup Click To TweetMost weeks, I link up with Grace and Truth, Anita Ojeda, Instaencouragements, and sometimes Let’s Have Coffee. Come join and read more encouraging posts!
Each week we gather here as storytellers, word weavers, and encouragers to make His name known. Our story is God’s story and this small corner of the blogging world, where we come together each Tuesday, needs you. This is a place where poetry, snapshots, prayers, and stories find a safe spot to nod in agreement that what we have to say matters. I am glad you are here and would love to have you join the #TellHisStory community. Add your own encouraging post through the link below. Spread some love by visiting your neighbor and leaving your own encouragement. Click here to read more about the #TellHisStory community and find a button to add to your site.
Each week we gather here as storytellers, word weavers, and encouragers to make His name known. Our story is God’s story and this small corner of the blogging world, where we come together each Tuesday, needs you. This is a place where poetry, snapshots, prayers, and stories find a safe spot to nod in agreement that what we have to say matters. I am glad you are here and would love to have you join the #TellHisStory community. Add your own encouraging post through the link below. Spread some love by visiting your neighbor and leaving your own encouragement. Click here to read more about the #TellHisStory community and find a button to add to your site.
Jeanne, thanks for your honesty and vunerablility in sharing about your “cling” experience last year. It is hard to trust and cling to our sure hope in Christ, especially in the darkness and when life is hard. And love your action word this year too, pray. Looking forward to Donna being your co-host. God bless.
Karen, thanks for your encouragement. It is hard to trust and cling to our sure hope when fear tries to take root in my heart. I’m so thankful for God’s faithfulness and constant presence. Thanks so much for stopping by!
Wow. You and Donna are going to be a great team. Your hearts, your words compliment each other. Grateful to be fed and nurtured by you both.
Linda, thank you for your kind words. I’m so blessed to be partnering with Donna. She has such a calming, grounded perspective about the Lord and walking with Him. Thanks for being an encourager in this space!
Aw, Jeanne … I understand why you feel you didn’t do so well with “cling” last year. I wonder, though, if perhaps you did better than you would have if “cling” had not been your word? 🙂 I also understand your trepidation in choosing “pray” for 2023 but love the action-oriented focus of it. Looking forward to seeing how God uses your word in your life this year. And welcome to Donna as your linkup co-host!
Lois, I’m sure I did better with Cling than I would have done clinging to the Lord without the reminder to focus on this. I’ll be sharing as God shows me things about Pray. It’s hard, though, because I keep thinking, “Everyone already knows these things!” 🙂
Hello, friend. I never feel as though I reach where I want to be in my prayer life. Maybe that is the way God wants it so I always long for more of Him. My word this year is ‘revive[d]. Isn’t that beautiful?
I hope to see you soon!
Blessings,
Tammy
Ahhh, Tammy. I feel better reading your words. I know we never truly “arrive” in our prayer lives, but I am sometimes too hard on myself about where I am and where I think I should be. I love your perspective about how maybe Bod wants us to always be wanting more of Him. I love your word! May you live more and more into it throughout the coming year! I’d love to see you soon! 🙂
To be in a posture of prayer….I think that is what God wants us in (ceaselessly pursuing…)! It is a very God honouring intention. And the Psalms provide prayers that bring us in a full-hearted posture toward God. I know I could be better at that. I like to think rather than pray. 🙂 I’m glad Donna was led to host the link-up, as her place, too, brings the Word alive in a very real, vulnerable way allowing readers to feel connected. Thanks to both of you for what you do!
I like the way you talk about prayer as being a continual choice—ceaselessly pursuing. The psalms are full of aspects of prayer, prayers, and attitudes of prayer. I am certain I’ll be digging in there this year. Thanks for your kind words about Donna. I’m so blessed to be partnering with her!
Jeanne, Pray is a wonderful word to focus on. My word for 2022 was Intentional. It became habit for me to be intentional but I ended up not intentionally seeking to learn more or grow. Sometimes I found myself fizzling out. I appreciate your honesty here. I believe we can learn so much from one another when we can be raw, transparent and honest. I love your words here so much dear friend.
I love the word Intentional. But, as you allude to, it’s not always an easy word to live out. I so appreciate your honesty too, my friend. I am always encouraged by your visits. Thank you so much for stopping by each post!
Pray is such a great word, and I’m sure you’ll learn a lot as you focus on it and share with us! Prayer has always been important to me, but I don’t always to remember to pray first in every area. I have chosen 2 words this year – abide and savor. I want to learn more to abide in Christ and to savor the moments of every day. I’m sure prayer will be a big part of that. Blessings to you, Jeanne! xoxo
Gayl, please forgive my delayed response to your comment. I am absolutely certain I will learn a lot with this word. 🙂 I don’t always remember to pray first in areas of my life either. I love your focus words for the year! Those sound like enriching words. Thank you so much for stopping by!
I appreciate your honesty with CLING, Jeanne. I felt the same with RELEASE. It was a hard year anyway (which is why I knew I needed Release), but whew. We made it through anyway, right? 🙂 I love that you’ve chosen a verb again. That’s what I usually prefer myself. But this year I have a noun, Human. We’ll see where God takes me with it.
And welcome to Donna for joining as your co-hostess!
Lisa, when my friend asked me that question, it humbled me. I’m used to being “successful” and effective, but there are times when our words reveal our deep need for Jesus. Cling is one of those words for me. I’m sorry you also had a hard year. But, yes, thank goodness God brought us through!
I look forward to reading about your word through this year!
That verse is such a good one to pray each day, Jeanne. And I’m so with you in praying “God to work in our situations, in loved ones’ lives, in those wounded places of our lives.” Thank you for this encouraging post! And welcome to Donna. 🙂 Love and blessings!
Trudy, thank you for being such an encourager. I sense this verse will be one I come to know intimately through this year. 🙂 Love and blessings back to you, friend!
Cling and prayer are such intimate, sit at the feet of Jesus words, Jeanne. May the Lord give Lisa and her family wisdom. Tell His Story will be richly blessed with Donna as a co-host. Thank you for hosting, Jeanne, we appreciate you!
Lisa, thank you. Yes, Cling and Prayer are intimate words, invitations into Jesus’ presence. Thanks for your prayer for Lisa. I’m looking forward to hosting with Donna. She has so much wisdom! We appreciate everyone who takes time to link up and to comment! 🙂 Thank you for being such a faithful “show-er-upper”, Lisa!
An exciting time of growth in prayer for you this year Jeanne!
That was my theme for 2021 & it was such a fruitful time.
I shared my theme for this year in my post above ‘2023 a new Season’.
Blessings, Jennifer
Jennifer, yes, definitely an exciting time of growth coming. I look forward to reading your 2023 theme!
I liked reading about how God led you to Pray as your word for the year. It’s always so interesting to see how the words impact people over the year. I’ve had a word for the last seven years I think, and some years I’ve found the word really helpful while others it’s been forgotten more quickly. I’m taking a break from having a word this year.
Lesley, God leads each of us in unique ways, doesn’t He? Like you, I’ve had years where my word doesn’t seem to make a huge impact on my life. And then there are years where the word is timely, challenging, and life-changing. Taking a break from a normal routine can be a wonderful thing. I’m sure God will meet you and draw you closer to Himself. Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend.
Jeanne, my word is “Guide” – which will require that I pray 🙂 This year long journey will surely take a surrendering and a trust, and I am sure it will hold many lessons for us both!
Welcome, Donna!! I am certain Donna will continue to be a blessing to many here as a hostess as her writing is beautiful!
Joanne, what a great word! I think you and I may end up on a similar path of surrender and trusting God as we walk through the events with our words in. mind.
Donna will most certainly be a blessing here! Her writing is beautiful.
I’m thrilled that Donna will be your co-host for Tell His Story. God always knows the right people to come alongside us, doesn’t He?
My word for 2023 is Freedom. My word last year was Light and I felt I didn’t give it the attention it deserved. I’m excited about learning all that freedom is and what it can look like in my life.
Mary, I’m thrilled Donna is joining me too! She is such an encourager. And yes, God does know the right people to come alongside us. What a great word focus you have this year!I hope you’ll write about the things God shows you as you meditate on this word!
Jeanne, I sort of chose a word of the year for many years, but quickly lost interest. Then joining the One Word group led by Lisa Burgess in 2021, I truly found many wonderful ways of communing with God over a special word each year!
Donna, Lisa’s One Word group is so encouraging, isn’t it? I’m thankful for the suggestions offered there, along with the encouragement. I’m glad you, too, have found wonderful ways to commune with God about your word.
I don’t choose a word for the year. I try to be alert and follow His plan for me. 🙂 Have a blessed week! Welcome to Donna! Praying for Lisa.
Melissa, being alert and attuned to the Lord’s promptings is a great way to engage in each day of a year. Thanks for sharing this! And, I’ll pass on your prayers to Lisa.
Donna, who hasn’t felt the anxiety flooding our world the last few years. Phil. tells us to pray instead of worry. I think that is a great word for the year.
Deb, anxiety has definitely tried to take the upper hand in my life. I’m so thankful for the truths found in Philippians. Thanks for pointing me there. 😉
I don’t choose a word for the year. But at some point near the beginning of the year–usually after everyone else goes back to work after the holiday time off–I sometimes have a session where I take stock and make plans for the new year. Even if I don’t do that, I like to pray for God’s guidance and equipping for the days ahead.
Barbara, I always love reading of the different ways people prepare their heats for a new year. Regardless of how we prepare, praying for God’s guidance each day is key, isn’t it? Thanks for sharing!
I need One Word for the next year,
which for sure won’t be a yawner,
so I think I will choose BEER,
and I’ll be Drunk Before Dishonour,
a play, of course, on moto vibe
that seeks to glorify one’s death
before a cheering clapping tribe,
but I think that’s a waste of breath;
this passage will most truly hurt,
and I can’t walk across the span
of this home, this hut, this yurt
without knowing I’m just a man
who’s facing days that are a killer,
and so I’ll lean on God and Miller.
Andrew, you had me smiling. 😉 Again. But in all seriousness, I continue to pray for you and Barb. I can’t imagine how hard your days are. I’m glad you’re leaning on God . . . and maybe Miller will help . . . a little. 😉