“My dear children, let’s not just talk about love; let’s practice real love. This is the only way we’ll know we’re living truly, living in God’s reality. It’s also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves”. 1 John 3:18-20

I love this time of year, to reflect and make changes. Today I share my word and mantra with you for 2023. My word is “love” and my mantra is, “your grace is my armor.”

A song that God laid on my heart and inspired my word, verse, and mantra is by singer Tom Mottershead; Greater Than Our Hearts. Within the title of the song is the scripture referenced, 1 John 3:20. It was the message version in verses 18-20 that spoke to me. Words like, “real love”, “self-criticism”, and “greater” leaped from the text. That real love is practiced through God’s love and grace for us. In the lyrics he sings, “your grace is my armor.” God’s grace covers us from head to toe, including the self-criticism that sometimes pierces through. It is so encouraging to know that God’s love is greater than ourselves.

I have been praying over the word love for several weeks. I was worried that it wouldn’t challenge me. I decided to add goals that I could journal and evaluate throughout the year. They are similar to the goals I strive for with Run for God which encourages us to grow spiritually, physically, and mentally closer to God.

Spiritually: Love God first! “Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’” Matthew 22‬:‭37‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Physically: Love my body because it is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Honor it with self-care and preventative medicine. “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” 1 Corinthians‬ ‭6‬:‭19‬-‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Mentally: His grace is my armor. Shut down debilitating self-criticism. “If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.” 1 John‬ ‭3‬:‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Have you chosen a word and mantra for 2023? I encourage you to share with Water Walkers.

““Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah‬ ‭43‬:‭18‬-‭19‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Happy New Year!! Let’s celebrate the three Rs.

Recall: In the last week of the year I sat and made a list of answered prayers. It has been a challenging year full of both expected and unexpected changes. Have you looked back through 2022 and recalled all of God’s answered prayers? Remember “not yet” or “no” are answers. Have you thanked God? If not, take a moment; “I thank you for answering my prayer and giving me victory!” Psalms‬ ‭118‬:‭21‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Reset: In our key verse from Isaiah I would like to point out that we should forget the former things. This includes how God answered our prayers. We tend to get stuck on the “how” but God doesn’t always answer our prayers in the same way. As we read in verse 19, God is doing a new thing. What are you praying for in 2023? Maybe you need a reset from 2022 to start fresh. Perhaps you had some wrong turns, a lot of “not yet” or “no” answers. Maybe you held on to some regret. It is ok because God doesn’t hold onto our yesterdays so neither should we; “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations‬ ‭3‬:‭22‬-‭23‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Restart: Where should we start on this first day of the new year? It is a time to set goals and make resolutions. Those often fade away as the months go on. At Water Walkers we like to select a word and mantra for the year. Let’s remember today and the remaining 364 days to “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭16‬-‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.” 2 Timothy‬ ‭2‬:‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

On this Think About It Thursday I encourage you to reflect, just as Paul encouraged Timothy. Paul wrote letters to Timothy to shape and encourage Timothy’s ministry. So today I share a letter with you.

Dear Readers, As 2022 draws to an end, I encourage you to reflect on the year and also look forward to 2023. As you think about the new year, ask God to lay upon your heart a word to guide you and your Christian ministry. Yes, you are a minister!

You and I are both called to spread the Good News and live a life worthy of our calling. I urge you to pray and meditate on a word for 2023. Some of the words of the year I have chosen in the past include intention, transform, impact, and simple.

Tomorrow I will share my word for 2023 and I hope you will also share your word with us. Perhaps God will inspire you to choose a word that has been your word of the year before just as I have used today’s picture previously. However, God may shed new light and insight on the word and lead you in a different direction. I simply encourage you to be open to God’s leading.

As I leave you today, I pray your heart will be open to the leading of God’s Holy Spirit. May you feel His presence and allow God to shape you as you walk into 2023 within God’s plan for you.

“Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.” 2 Timothy‬ ‭2‬:‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

On this Think About It Thursday I encourage you to reflect, just as Paul encouraged Timothy. Paul wrote letters to Timothy to shape and encourage Timothy’s ministry. So today I share a letter with you.

Dear Readers, As 2022 draws to an end, I encourage you to reflect on the year and also look forward to 2023. As you think about the new year, ask God to lay upon your heart a word to guide you and your Christian ministry. Yes, you are a minister!

You and I are both called to spread the Good News and live a life worthy of our calling. I urge you to pray and meditate on a word for 2023. Some of the words of the year I have chosen in the past include intention, transform, impact, and simple.

Tomorrow I will share my word for 2023 and I hope you will also share your word with us. Perhaps God will inspire you to choose a word that has been your word of the year before just as I have used today’s picture previously. However, God may shed new light and insight on the word and lead you in a different direction. I simply encourage you to be open to God’s leading.

As I leave you today, I pray your heart will be open to the leading of God’s Holy Spirit. May you feel His presence and allow God to shape you as you walk into 2023 within God’s plan for you.

“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” Psalms‬ ‭119‬:‭105‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Word. According to Mirriam Webster dictionary, the definitions of “word” is: order, command. Another definition is signal. The dog in today’s featured photo appears to be waiting for his owner to give him a command. The command probably consists of a word or group of words that are a signal for him to respond in a specific manner such as “sit”, “stay, or “fetch”.

If you have been a Water Walkers follower you know that at the end of each calendar year Julie and I are in the habit of choosing a word of the year for the following year. For me, the word of the year is like a signal. After much prayer and meditation, I choose a word that I feel God has laid on my heart and that word will be a signal for me to refocus.

On this Water Walking Wednesday, I encourage you to spend some time praying and meditating about a word for 2023. What area has God asked you to focus on? Is there a word God has placed on your heart? Today, step out of your boat of comfort and allow the word of God to direct your path toward an intentional focus for 2023. What will be your word of the year?