Three years ago I heard someone say that at the beginning of each year they prayerfully chose a word as a theme for those twelve months.
I liked the idea of having a spiritual focus like that, something to take to God in faith, lean on when hard lessons come, and generally cling to on those days that nothing seems to make sense.
So I prayed in 2011 and felt that the word should be “Empty”.
It was a year of emptying. Emptying my heart of selfishness and our bank account of excess. Our marriage emptied out, too. There were some lonely, painful days that year. But God beckoned me closer to Himself through it all, and as 2012 approached, He spoke a new word to me, “Light”.
I wrote about Empty and Light here, and 2012 has certainly been our year of Light.
God flooded all the places we had emptied ourselves with His glorious light. Our marriage, our family, our church, have all had good, growing, beautiful years.
In general, life has felt lighter this year, too. Either we have gotten stronger, or God has mercifully poured out more of His grace to us, because there have been fewer days that the weight of our responsibility has felt overwhelming. For that I am extremely grateful.
With 2013 approaching, the word that keeps coming to me is “Greatness”.
I keep reading and re-reading Psalm 145, filling my heart with the beautiful truth that:
Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
his greatness no one can fathom.
4 One generation will commend your works to another;
they will tell of your mighty acts.
5 They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and I will meditate on your wonderful works.
6 They will tell of the power of your awesome works,
and I will proclaim your great deeds.
7 They will celebrate your abundant goodness
and joyfully sing of your righteousness.
As I look back at the past three years, I see these words as stepping stones across this river of life God has brought me to and asked me to cross. The year of emptying made space for God to fill us with His light, and now I am expectantly looking to heaven for His greatness to shine forth like the sun.
I am excited to tell of His mighty acts and celebrate His abundant goodness this year. 2013 will be a year to remember, a great year full of God’s glory.
What are your dreams and hopes for the coming year? Do you choose word themes for your year? I would love to hear all about it!
