Last year, I joined in with the growing Movement of picking one little word. No actually, the idea is to let one word pick you. I had no idea how this all would impact my life and you can read about its impact here.
The OneWord365 website explains it this way …
“Forget New Yearās Resolutions.ĆĀ Scrap that long list of goals you wonāt remember three weeks from now anyway.
Choose just one word.
One word that sums up who you want to be or how you want to live. One wordĆĀ that you can focus on every day, all year long.
It will take intentionality and commitment, but if you let it, your one word will shape not only your year, but also you. It will become the compass that directs your decisions and guides your steps.
Discover the big impact one word can make.
One word. 365 days. A changed life.”
The beginning of December, I began to wonder what my one word would be for 2015. I began praying for God to show me what my focus should be. And the word began crossing my path each day. To be honest, I wanted a new word, a different word, an easier word. The more I thought about it, the more I came to realize – there is no “easy” word. To truly focus on a word all year would mean hard lessons, no matter the word. This is how it should be if we are truly desiring change in our lives.
And so, my one word for 2015 is … 
Believe, as defined by dictionary.com is … “to have confidence in the truth, the existence, or the reliability of something, although without absolute proof ; to have a conviction.”
In the New Testament Lexical Aids, believe is defined as … “faith (my one word for 2014); to trust in, to be persuaded in the truthfulness of, to have confidence in.”
My desire is to believe. Not just to believe in Him, for I surely do know that He is. I want to believe Him. I want to come to the point where I read His Word and my reaction, instantaneously is, “God said it. I believe it. Amen!” No wavering. No wondering. My desire is for my belief in Him to be fresh, new as this day, and bold.
As I came to realize that “Believe” was to be my One Word for 2015, this verse continually crossed my path during the month of December ….
“Don’t be afraid, just believe ….” (Luke 8:50, NIV)
ĆĀ The light was being shed on how often and how much fear has been present in my life. I literally jump at my own shadow and sounds even in my home. Yet it was not until the last few days was I to see that “Faith” (my One Word 2014) and “Believe” (my One Word 2015) fit together like a pair of gloves.
On the back empty pages of my Bible where I jot down quotes, I found ….
“Faith is believing what we do not see and the reward for this kind of faith is to see what we believe.” (Saint Augustine)
I felt like God was reaching down and offering that second glove to me. A matched set, if you would. I want that 2015 be the year I simply “just believe”.
God said it.
I believe it.
Amen!
**I received my FREE One Word image from Traci Michele. ĆĀ If you have a One Word and need a beautiful image, contact Traci today.
Today I am joining with …. Coffee for Your Heart and Hearts for Home and One Word 2015 Link-Up and Circles of Faith and Pure Sacrifice #One Word Link-up .
I love your word, Joanne! It seems like believing should be easy but some days it’s not. Praying that all come to believe in Him this year, and then maybe Jesus will come back to take us all home! Happy New Year!
Holly, it is amazing how easily doubt and/or fear can creep in. May you have a blessed New Year as well. May it be filled with all the goodness of our Lord!
Just wrote you a reply on your comment from my blog. I think a wonderful word has chosen you! So powerful and strong. and thank you for sharing where you got your button for your word. I created my own this year with picmonkey but yours is much more colorful. Love the Augustine quote too. Blessings on your new year!
Jean, I love how you put it as our words should surely pick us š So grateful for your shared wisdom. May the new year be filled with all the goodness of our Lord!
I love how your words have a bit of a cross over as it shows that you have grown but are still growing and needing that gentle reminder, like all of us. You write beautifully, I can’t wait to see what 2015 brings each of us. Praying that you find encouragement in your word so that you can trust in His Word even more!
Marissa, you are so right – the words do crossover & I do still need growth. Amazing how our God keeps us focused right where we need. Thank you so much for your kind & encouraging words. May you also be blessed throughout 2015 with all that God has for you!
I love the word God has chosen for you and I love how He makes sure we know it is from Him. We don’t always get what we want but God always knows what we need. I can’t wait to hear more about your word this year.
Mary, I am grateful our God gives us what we need & not what we want. Just think of what spoiled brats we would be š May we learn & grow much in Him in 2015!
What a special way for God to reveal His One Word for you. Being the late person I am, I will be praying about mine this week. And tomorrow, I will post how God graciously worked His word for 2014 in my heart. Never believed it could happen.
Blessings, Janis
Janis, somehow I think your post will be right on time for all who read it! Cannot wait to see what our God laid on your heart! Blessings!
Believe was the first word I choose . . . it’s amazing to think that was now five words ago. But it was chosen the year I first gave my life to Christ so it holds so much meaning to me. I love how the word God gives us each year continue to impact us in the years to follow. I find they all end up blending together in a way that I’m not sure how to explain. I can’t wait to see how God uses this word for you in 2015. And btw, I loved how you did your next post on sharing your Friday Five Faves. Blessings to you, friend. xoxo
Beth, it is amazing how each word does impact for long after. And I agree that our words do begin to blend together. But then I think it is the beautiful & amazing way God leads us to grow in Him, “from glory to glory”. It will be exciting to see how He works in each of our lives as we focus on Him. Blessings! X0
God will transform your heart this year, because you are opening it up to Him. He will help you change your fear into faith. Happy New Year!
Sarah, I am so looking with expectancy to see just how He is going to work in my life & in the lives of us all! Happy New Year to you as well!
Such a beautiful and powerful Word Joanne! In all things and in all circumstances we must believe and have genuine faith that God is leading us in the right direction. He said it!! I believe it!! Love and hugs this New Year; excited to hear more of your One Word this year! Ć¢ā¢Ā„
Thanks Denise. I am coming to realize that no matter the word, it will surely present its challenges in order for growth to occur š
I don’t know if my last comment showed up…I’ll just start over!
Love your one word and so many of your thoughts resonate, like how hard it is to focus on one word all year. And so agree that it means there will be some hard lessons, but that’s okay because we do want to grow. My one word is push and I know part of the message from God is from Ephesians 4:22-24. I think in the kindest way, God is calling me to grow up!
Elyse, I am so glad you did start over as your last comment did not show up. So sorry about that. It isn’t that I find it hard to focus on the one word as much as focusing on the one word means hard experiences. I so agree, through the word God would have us to focus, He brings growth which makes it all worth it. Grateful to have linked up with you & grateful you stopped by here too. Looking forward to all the Lord has for us both this year!
Joanne you are right, there is no easy word. I can see how this one can be a challenge. It can be a challenge to consistently believe and not doubt, even when we think that we are doing that. Doubt and fear creep in and we must be on guard to walk in faith. I am so glad that you are joining with us for this journey. I look forward to getting to know you.
Deanna, this has been quite the journey already this year & it is only the 23rd of January. You had a wonderful idea for a linkup & I hope you let us all linkup again to share our progress š Blessings!
Joanne, for the rest of 2015, I will plan the link-up for the 20th of the month. I can’t wait to read about everyone’s journeys. Feel free to invite your friends to link-up also. š
Wonderful, Deanna. Thank you for letting me know!
What a great word!!! Praying for you as it unfolds all around you this year!
Karrileea, it has been an adventure already & it is only January 23rd. It is amazing how our God works in our lives through one word. Blessings!