I am not new to choosing “My One Word.” I started this practice in 2010 when I thought…well, I thought way too much and scared myself silly. My one word was TRUST. Thinking I had a pretty good handle on trust headed into 2011, I chose JOY. (I wish I had saved some of my old posts from my old blog about my one word.) 2012 was the year of ABIDE. 2013–MODESTY, and 2014–DELIGHT, were kind of duds for some reason–my one word just never seemed to click these past two years. And now 2015 has me choosing My One Word: MORE.
Kind of a funny word for someone who constantly thought last year, “I cannot take one MORE thing Lord.” A really funny word for someone who constantly mutters, “We don’t need any MORE (fill in the blank).” And it seems the older I get, the more I realize the burdens so many people struggle under on a daily basis; life is hard. And to be honest, I’m not really known to be excessive–well, maybe in books, but even now I’m realizing I don’t need anymore books at this point. So MORE? Really?
Yes, MORE…
See? MORE!
Let’s do what I do with words sometimes, I play with them. Some synonyms of MORE–also, extra, further, higher, new, other, major, spare, added, and, another, besides, bounteous, deeper, else, enhanced, exceeding, expanded, extended, farther, fresh, heavier, increased, innumerable, larger, likewise, massed, more than that, numerous, over and above, too many, wider. And of course greater, stronger and mightier and the many scriptures that come to mind.
And then there’s music: Immeasurably More, More than Conquerors, and More of You.
And the scriptures I have found as companions for My One Word: MORE, are amazing. The scripture that started it all comes from one of my favorite books of the Bible, Philippians.
And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow MORE and MORE with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what is best, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.
†Philippians 1:9-11
You see, I thought my one word was love. But each time I came across love in the scriptures my heart kept running into the word MORE as well…and, well…MORE.
MORE of His love…More of His knowledge…More of His insight…More for His glory…More praise to Him…
If you have chosen a word for the year, or a theme, I would love to hear about it in the comments.
My word for the year: (well…2) Quiet Certitude
Thanks for sharing your word for the year. How exactly are you practicing or living quiet certitude this year?
It has taken many years and trials to be able to choose quiet certitude as my word. I have meditated on, and tried to practice, the following three points from Abandonment to Divine Providence, by Jean-Pierre de Caussade for the past several years. (Put them on my bathroom mirror and prayed them while I got ready for the day.) The first is: “Fulfill the duties of your station in life.” Second: “Accept the circumstances of each moment with love and trust.” And last: “Be sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and act on them without hesitation.” These have translated (for me) into: Accept what is as a gift from God, feeling whatever I feel deeply and honestly, and then doing what needs to be done in that moment – not all the many moments yet to come – trusting God to show me what that is. I think that we can embrace the circumstances – convinced they are sent by God for my good – with such fierce love and confidence that God gives graces way beyond the ordinary – not because we deserve it, but because we’ve let go of ourselves in the circumstance and let Him carry the load. And that witnesses to the people around us in ways we could never have imagined
, because his strength is shown to the world in our weakness. When we have witnessed God’s Hand in our lives, we can rest in his arms and know that He will work everything out for his eternal purpose. So I can take myself totally out of the picture and rest in my Savior’s loving care.
So, I guess the short answer means giving myself totally to God, to be used as He wills for his purposes, and to have complete trust in his plan without needing to understand it.
My word for 2015 is JOY! I love it because the word keeps popping up all over the place for me! My daughter’s youth choir sings, “Joy, joy, joy…my heart is filled with joy.” I lead the Girls of Grace (after the Little Flowers and Little Women Hospitality) and we memorized Phillipians 4:8. Christmas with my extended family was a train wreck, so my close friend printed out Phillipians 4:8 in a pretty frame. My hubby bought me the 4:8 Principle book and its companion, 40 Days to a Joy-Filled Life! I got some big glitter “Joy” signs after Christmas at Hobby Lobby which I’m going to keep up all year as a constant reminder. I choose JOY!
What do you think of the 4:8 Principle?! One of my favorite books of all time!!! I actually have a couple– I pick them up at the Goodwill when I see them so I can hand them out to someone I know would benefit from it. That book was a total game changer for me. I could go on and on but i really want to hear what you think of it.
That is a wonderful word. Mine is CALM. I need peace and calmness in my life, inside and out.
Headed over sometime to today to read all about your word for the year Sarah.
I am not doing the One Word thing, mostly because until I’ve read all these links into Inspire Me Mondays I’d never heard of it. But y’all are inspiring me. More of Him and less of me is just perfect. Prayers for your new word and your new year!
Thank you so much Carol. I enjoy that’s it not so much a resolution but a theme for the year. I also enjoy that I can find companion scriptures to go along with my word or theme.
My word is ‘deeper’. God is calling me to look deeper into his word and into the people he sends my way. I love your word–more of him and less of me–a word we can all remember and ponder on a daily basis!
Beautiful word you’ve picked for 2015. We always need more of Him and less of us. I’m visiting from the ‘Inspire me Monday’ link-up.
Happy New Year! : )
Hi Cathy. You know when you’re heart is happy because you know you’ve heard the right word? Mine was with MORE.
Jenny, I love this. Your thought process is beautiful. I’ve never had a word but I’m giving it a go this year. I’m thinking Health. Spiritual, emotional, physical, and financial health. It encompasses every area that my heart desires to improve on. Husband and I want to get a budget together for the first time and my physical health last year was so very rough. And emotional and spiritual are always thirsting for more. Prayers for you and happy new year!
I like HEALTH. And yes, it encompasses our whole being. I highly recommend Dave Ramsey for budgeting. We never took his class but read his book and listened to the audio version of Total Money Makeover. HUGE shift in financial perspective. Also, have you checked out any posts over at The Budget Momma? Jessi has some great, practical budgeting tips and printables.
Love your word choice for the new year! I am also focusing on more…more of the things that bring life and goodness, and less of the things that bind us down. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Yes, more of the good, less of the bad!
Love your word, Jenny. 🙂
Hi Erica. Me too! I’m really excited for this word. I will be sharing some scripture to go along with it soon.
I haven’t chosen a word for 2015 and can’t remember if I had one for 2014 (smile) but I do like your word MORE. I remember a chorus we used to sing about More More More ! You are a neighbor at Sunday Stillness
Hi Hazel. I appreciate that took the time to visit and leave a comment.
Amen. More of Him, less of us. I like your choice–and your thoughts as you chose MORE. My word is gracious–and the truth is that I can grow in graciousness by having more of Jesus.
Oh I love gracious. I’ll have to look that word up for an official definition and synonyms. Sometimes I can’t really grasp a word unless I know its synonyms.
I like that. This is a great point. More of Jesus and less of me.
Hi Betty. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. Many blessings to you in the New Year.
My One Word turned out to be tranquil. I kept listing things like calm, peaceful, space, and tranquil kept popping up as a synonym. So I took the hint.!
Awesome! I love those “popcorn” words that just popping up. I’ll have to look up the difference between cal, peaceful and tranquil.
My word for 2015 is EMBRACE. I have given a lot to my family and friends and now in 2015 I am embracing who God made me and trying to figure out what makes me happy and joyful. I am reading Simple Abundance and my daily journal is written off of where God leads me through that book, day by day. I made a list of things I want to feel in 2015 and things that make my heart happy like candlelight and walks etc. Learning who I am this year and what makes me tick. Happy New Year!!
Good for you Janet. And really good that you are finding your worth in Christ instead of seeking a temporary happiness in the world. Many blessings as you journey through 2015 seeking yourself in Him.
I love your word choice for 2015. It is one of my constant prayers – more of Him, less of me.
Last year I chose the word “celebrate.” I intended to share unusual holidays throughout the year. By the time I hit the third chocolate day I was over unusual holidays and just chose to celebrate His grace. Whew – so much better.
This year I’m sharing positive stories of faith, hope, and love–people helping and encouraging each other. The news is so depressing I need a boost of goodness. Looking forward to enjoying 2015 with you! Blessings!
I had to give up watching to or listening to the news a while ago; it is too depressing. Thank you for battling the negative by posting the positive and uplifting.