At some point towards the end of November, I felt pretty certain I would not have a new word for 2023. Truth be told, I did not want one. I had begun to participate in One Word in 2014 and thought it might just be time to skip a year.
- In 2014 ”“ it was Faith.
- In 2015 ”“ it was Believe.
- In 2016 ”“ it was See.
- In 2017 ”“ it was Audacious.
- In 2018 ”“ it was Focus.
- In 2019 ”“ it was Fruit.
- In 2020 ”“ it was Savor.
- In 2021 ”“ it was Prevail,
- And in 2022, it was Wait.
Mid November hit hard with one granddaughter having a respiratory infection which lingered for weeks. It hung on like gum on the bottom of our shoes.
And then came the Sunday, a week before Christmas. As the day unfolded, listening to my husband’s cough, I felt the nudge inside of me, “He needs to swab.” By the third nudge, I said aloud, “You should swab.” My suggestion was not greeted with enthusiasm, and when he finally swabbed, it was a quick positive.
Another granddaughter tested positive for Flu A and after a chest x-ray, pneumonia.
We jumped into isolation mode, cancelled our family festivities, and have had a very quiet season.
It wasn’t the Christmas break any of us thought we would have. I’m just grateful our bodies, vaccines, and antibiotics did what they were designed to do. Combined with prayer, everyone has recovered and is on the road to health.
What does any of this have to do with One Word? I am so glad you asked, for it has everything to do with it 🙂
God was guiding us every step of the way, even before we knew.
As I prayed each day for my loved ones, it became clear that God was also guiding me to my One Word 2023. The word began to appear everywhere as I read.
“Each morning David meditated on the Word of God, and God guided him.”
(Psalm 143:8, NASB)
“Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” (Psalm 25:5, NIV)
“For this God is our God for ever and ever; He will be our guide even to the end.”
(Psalm 48:14, NIV)
“But when He, the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.” (John 16:33, NASB)
My desire this year is:
- For God to guide as His Word is read each day.
- For God alone to guide me in His truth and teach me all along the way this coming year.
- For God to provide discernment and understanding; to know right from wrong and good from evil.
“Always stay open to the guidance and instruction of God’s Word. God will speak to you through Scripture as He leads you through your trial. Keep trusting Him and He will accomplish what is best for you and what glorifies Him.”
(from Prayer, Praise & Promises by Warren W. Wiersbe, page 363)
Guide –
my One Word 2023.
“The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life, I will advise you and watch over you.” (Psalm 32:8, NLT)
Come, sit a spell. Bring your coffee, your posts, and your thoughts. If you link up, kindly visit those who have drawn up a seat around you.
Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash
Today I may be joining …
I’m so glad you’re all healing Joanne!
It will be interesting to see where
& how God guides you in this coming year. 😊
Blessings, Jennifer
We thought we might have a similar Christmas when my grandson tested positive for Covid. Thankfully he recovered in time for Christmas, and somehow no one else got it even though we were exposed to him right before. I’m sorry everyone was sick over the holidays, but glad you are all doing better now.
It’s interesting that guide is your word, because yesterday’s (1/3) reading in Daily Light on the Daily Path was all about God’s guidance. I want His guidance, too, from His Word every day and in my life and circumstances.
Joanne, I’m sorry your holiday was disrupted by sickness but thankful you all made it through OK. So interesting to see how God guided you even in the choice of a word that you didn’t even think you wanted! I’m looking forward to seeing where “guide” takes you this year.
Ugh! But what a great oneword! Hoping everyone is on the mend. xo
Love your word. Who doesn’t need the assurance God is guiding them. Hope you are all better.
Oh, Joanne. I’m sorry there was so much sickness at Christmas time this year with your family because it was the same way in our family (and I imagine many families). Several of us (including me) came down with covid for the first time either right before Christmas or right after. We’re all recovered now thankfully, but I know not every family gets that happy ending. We hope to celebrate Christmas this Saturday with my in-laws.
I understand both your wanting to take a year off of having a One Word, and also giving in to the nudge from God about a new word anyway. 🙂 I love that Guide will be your word because I know you are so gracious to share here what you learn along the way!
Joanne, I am happy to hear your family is doing better. I love how God brought you to your word. I had two last year – wait and explore and I haven’t received one yet for this year. But what keeps coming up is although I may have all kinds of plans, God establishes my steps. This reassures me. Happy New Year â¤
Joanne, I am so sorry you encountered illness this Christmas, certainly as you say, not the Christmas you all hoped for, yet God was in it! I love your 2023 One Word of “guide”, how amazingly it fits with last year’s word, “wait”. If we can’t learn to wait on the Lord, we will never be able to have Him guide us!
Glad you are all healing! Sounds like Guide is the perfect word for your year.
Joanne, I’m so sorry to hear your family was I’ll over Christmas. And so glad to hear everyone is on the mend. Sorry for being late to link up I’ve been in the hospital this week and ended up having to have a heart catherization today. I apologize to any friends I don’t get to visit this week. I’m fine all is well now.
Visiting today from #18
Oh Paula, I am so sorry to hear you needed a procedure. Will be praying for you tonight!
I’m sad to hear of your Christmas interruption, but thankful for the grace to rest, and that you are doing better. You have some amazing One Words! I look forward to hearing about your journey as the Lord guides you through 2023.
Love your word, Joanne. We all need God to guide our steps. Praying your family is feeling better and recovering. I’ve always celebrated this verse: “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.'” Isaiah 30:21 NIV
I’m sorry your Christmas plans were disrupted but I’m glad you’re all ok. I always enjoy reading about how God guides people to different words. I look forward to reading your reflections.
I don’t have a word, but my theme would be “Fear not”.
Glad you and yours are recovering.
I love it when He makes Himself so known to us. Thank you for sharing your new one word journey.
Thanks for sharing. There were respiratory illnesses in my family in December. I agree with you they seemed to last for some time for some family members. But God is good.
I too am sorry your family dealt with illness (or taking care of the ill) during the Christmas season, Joanne. I pray a quiet celebration offered its own form of delight. GUIDE will surely be a worthwhile focus-word for 2023–especially since God brought it to your attention repeatedly!
Thank you bunches for sharing this message with Sweet Tea & Friend’s this month sweet friend.