‭‭Psalms‬ ‭119‬:‭10‬-‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Praise be to you, Lord; teach me your decrees.

How can we seek God with our whole hearts? How can we stay true to His commandments? How can we continually praise Him and learn from His word? One way that Deborah, Ray, and I find helpful is by selecting a word of the year that we can reflect on and be intentional with. 

I started this practice in 2018, my word being “rejoice” so that I would carry the Christmas joy with me all year through. In 2019 my word was “influence.” When I picked that word, I had no idea how God would use it but I was sure he would show off and He did. In 2020 my word was “gifts.” When I selected that word, I believed it would take on different meanings with different scriptures throughout the year. In 2021 my word was “refine.” I knew through my trials that I wanted God to refine me in the process. In 2022 my word was “serenity.” I knew I had a challenging year ahead and wanted the joy and peace of God to rule my heart and mind. In 2023 my word was “love” because of the unconditional love of God that I continually strive to overflow into others. In 2024 my word has been “seek” as I desire to seek God first and be a kingdom seeker for His glory. Do you have a word of the year? If yes, we would love for you to share it with us. If you don’t, it is never too late to start.

Let’s pray. Dear God, I desire to seek you with my whole heart. Through my word of the year practice, I strive to draw closer to You. I give You all the glory, honor, and praise as I share Your goodness with others. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.