What’s the Word?

In 2010, I was at the end of my rope. Ever been at the end of your rope? It could with your spouse, kids, job, finances, school or 1000 other things. Maybe you’re at the end of your rope right now? Personally, I was at the end of my rope with my job…which happened to be a family business…my family business.

It was a sick at the pit of my stomach period of time.

At the end of 2010, my wife, Kia, came home one day from a coffee date with a friend. She announced that together they were starting a personal project for 2011. This is typically when I tune out. For some reason I didn’t that day. She told me they were had each chosen one word to focus on for the entire year.

It was called the Word of the Year project.

Again, I normally don’t go in for this type of thing, but I was at the end of my rope. I needed something…something new and different. So on a whim and not much thought, I jumped in.

I chose the word FREEDOM.

I don’t use this phrase lightly; it changed my life. All year long, God showed me truths about FREEDOM. He spoke in ways I hadn’t heard in years. Something changed, and if I had to wrap it up in one word, it would be “intentional”.

In 2011, I became intentional about changing my life, hearing from God and applying those two things together.

An intentional resolution

I’m sure you’ve set goals, made resolutions or dreamed new year’s dreams in years past. I did. Not much changed in years past. Now, I do those same things, but paired with my Word of the Year stuff happens.

Seriously.

Last year, I printed and sold 250+ t-shirts, wrote a book and spoke around the country. Those goals were birthed through my 2016 Word of the Year – BOLD.

The past 6 years, I’ve set an intentional, one-word resolution. This year, I created my 7th.

2011 – FREEDOM
2012 – RISK
2013 – TRANSFORM
2014 – VISION
2015 – ATTACK
2016 – BOLD
2017 – RESTORE

What’s Your Word?

The great thing about this project…you don’t have to know what it means when you choose your word. I chose RESTORE in late November. I even wrote about it last month. I didn’t know what it really meant for me in 2017. I am beginning to get a picture just now.

Next week, I’ll share with you how to do it. How did I put BOLD into action in 2016. How am I putting RESTORE into motion in 2017. How do you turn your word into a resolution. This week, I encourage you to start by choosing a Word for 2017.

Here are two things to keep in mind when you choose a word:

1. Be prayerful – again, think intentional. Ask God what He wants to do in your life and family in 2017. What do you need to learn? What are you missing? What do you need more of?
2. Don’t over think it – In the end, God simply wants your heart. This is simply a means to that end. Choose a Word and prepare to work (it doesn’t come on it’s own!)

Here are some words to get you thinking. Some I’ve used over the past 6 years, and others I’ve heard and seen other people use. It is by no means an extensive list. Use these as a springboard.

JOY, FREEDOM, RISK, DEVELOP, GRACE, REST, HOPE, TRUST, TRANSFORM, OVERFLOW, DREAM, GROW, LISTEN, ATTACK, BOLD, RESTORE, MORE, HELP

I would love to hear what Word you’ve chosen for 2017! Shoot me a response with your 2017 Word of the Year.