We have been talking about our word of the year and mantras on Transformation Tips Tuesday. I plan to share mine for 2022 later this week. Today, on this Spiritual Sunday I wanted to reflect on 2021. Yesterday I was blessed to sit on the South Pawleys Creek with my mom and daughter. The wind was chilly but the sun made up for it with its warmth. I enjoyed the salty smell, cold sand in my toes, and the watching the sun’s reflection glistening on the water. I thought about this past year and how much we change and grow in a year.

In 2021 my Word of the Year was Refine, meaning to remove impurities and improve. The scripture I referenced came from 1 Peter 1:7 NIV; “These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”

My 2021 mantra was “To be a fruit bearer”. The scripture I referenced came from Galatians 5:22-23 NIV; “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

Spiritual Sunday can end our week or start our week. I encourage us all to look back on 2021 and reflect on love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. What strengths and weaknesses do you see as you embodied the fruits of the spirit? Today can be a new day and new year to surrender and make changes. As we go to our places of worship we can ask God to refine us. We can surrender our impurities. We can seek God to guide us through 2022. Making small changes can start today. Small changes overtime can make a big impact!

Will you choose to surrender 2021? Will you choose to seek God to guide you through 2022?