The year is quickly coming to a close. Conversation begins to turn to New Year Resolutions, goals, and One Word. My thoughts began to turn to my one word for 2018, which was “Focus”. In selecting the word, I shared about the selection process HERE.
My desire in 2018 was to stay focused on what God would have me to do with each day. I wanted that He be the center of my activity, the driving force in my life.
As I began to seek God for my one word for the new year, 2019, it became so obvious to me that He had been helping me to focus on Him not only throughout the year, but in particular, during the Advent season.
He had brought me to the place of preparing my heart to be prepared, and in so doing, focusing on Jesus. Advent had been front and center in my thoughts since some time in October.
In sharing with a few friends at a prayer meeting this month, I realized God had deposited my One Word for 2019 in the most unassuming way. He began gently nudging my heart towards the word, fully developing the word for me and bringing the Scriptures for 2019.
May I introduce you to my word – FRUIT.
“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” (John 15:8, NIV)
“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” (Galatians 5:22-23, NLT)
Our lives are to be pleasing to God and this is not achieved by even our best human efforts. Only by His Spirit will this fruit be produced in our lives.
“The fruit of the Spirit is not push, drive, climb, grasp and trample. Life is more than a climb to the top of the heap.” (Richard Foster)
“Fruit is always the miraculous, the created; it is never the result of willing, but always a growth. The fruit of the Spirit is a gift of God, and only He can produce it. They who bear it know as little about it as the tree knows of its fruit. They know only the power of Him on whom their life depends.” (Dietrich Bonhoeffer)
My One Word 2019 –
FRUIT.
Happy New Year!
Today I am joining … Inspire Me Monday and Grace Full Tuesday and #RaRaLInkup .
I love this idea of a word for the year, Joanne! I’ve settled on the word hope for this year – because Christ is my living Hope, regardless of what is happening around me. Like so many, I’m prone to put my hope in pleasant circumstances, climbing out of dark times, and mountaintop moments. Christ is our hope even in the valleys! Thanks for the inspiration!
Stacey, hope is a good word to stay focused on. You are right – it is easy to have hope during the easy days. But even on those hard days, Christ is our hope as we lift our eyes to see the help He offers. Blessings on this new year!
I love this word! I’m excited to hear about what God does with it in your life.
I am kind of curious myself as to what this word and year will bring 🙂
This is a great word and I love the quotes you’ve found. Praying that you have a happy and fruitful 2019!
Thank you, Lesley. Seeing as God unfolded the word so gently, opening my eyes to see it around me in my reading, I am curious to see what it will hold for me. Blessings!
Nice choice for a word!
I have a phrase for 2018:
“Whatever doesn’t kill me…had better start running.”
2018, 2019…whatever.
Andrew, I think there is much that runs from you. You are quite the fighter and I am so grateful you are!
Fruit is such a wonderful choice, Joanne. There will be so many physical reminders as well! I’ll look forward to hearing how God uses it in your life in 2019.
Lisa, the reminders are constantly around me. These one words are always interesting and effective in my life. Blessings!
Joanne – Happy New Year!
My word for 2019 is FOCUS – to keep my focus on Jesus at all times and as I share the gospel at every opportunity that He gives me.
Blessings!
I’m starting with grace. I don’t think one word is enough for the year and I have been through a few, rest, joy, peace, they all say with us. I do like the Dietrich Bonhoeffer quote. Happy New Year Joanne.
Rebecca, I like that you said you are starting with grace. May God move you to the words He knows will be beneficial in your life. Happy New Year!
I pick a “focus word” for the year and have been doing this for some time. I pray about it prior to the new year and sometimes, it comes quickly and sometimes not. This year, JOY came to me very quickly. I have had a couple of rough years physically and emotionally and I have felt like a captive to my health and my emotions. I said “no more” and that is when I realized that my focus should be just the opposite -thus JOY is my focus this year. I am looking forward to a JOYFUL year no matter my physical problems. I refuse to let them affect me emotionally. God is in control as I move forward into 2019.
Marilyn, may God keep you focused on Him and filled with joy, no matter what each holds for you. Picking “Joy” and setting your goal is the first step and He will guide you each step of the way. Blessings!
My word for this year is Grace. I believe God’s Grace to see me through in every area of my life especially in my Academics.