My word for 2008 was embolden. I chose embolden as something to reach for. To be emboldened sounded like confidence coming from within instead of steeling myself through external pressures. Once emboldened, I then wanted to be instrumental in emboldening others. Considering a year’s growth, I really cannot say that I am now emboldened. However, in areas I once thought I needed emboldening–like speaking up for myself, or sharing my faith with people searching for hope, or offering my life coaching skills to others–I can oddly admit that these areas are no longer mountains for me.
What changed then? I think it was my perspective. That’s what I like about this word for the year challenge. For me, the word is more of a desire…but not necessarily a goal that I have to achieve. I like to think of holding my desire–my word–in my open palm. Without a tight grip on my desire, I am choosing to give God full access to this desire and to my life. I trust that He knows me better than I know myself, and that He wants what is best for me. Somehow, being heard has become less important than just being who He created me to be. God knows that I am not the type who functions best by forcing myself to do something just for the sake of accomplishment. There is so much more joy and peace in simply being me…yielded to God’s promptings and emboldened by His Spirit. This positive shift in perspective is nothing I can boast of on my own.
My authentic voice likes to ask questions. If I am true to my design, I will keep asking questions while God uses my simple voice in the lives of others. My husband and our pastor–oftentimes joining forces to tease me about my incessant questions– actually asked the word for the year question at their men’s group. The bigger miracle is that they told me about it. Who would have guessed that these two tough guys would be vulnerable in the presence of other men…not to mention the other 6 guys who also revealed their vulnerabilility. Their words are: dependence, commitment, patience, perseverance, faith, obedience, acceptance, priorities. Now that has to be a God thing.
Last year, many people shared their word for the year with me . I felt so privileged to hear of their special words and why they were selected. My friend, Jeanette, reminds me that God does not bless us for us to keep it to ourselves. Please read the comments to my message of January 9, 2009. My desire is that you will be as blessed as I have been by reading how a word for the year can make a difference…when we make the effort to notice.
