Guide – my One Word for 2023. As I go through my days, I look for where the word may appear – a quote, a verse, or a song. It often shows up in the most unexpected of ways.
When it does, it makes me think a little more deeply, focusing and straining to hear what God is speaking.
There it was, appearing in the middle of the word, and not quite as one would expect –
Misguided.
Misguided is defined as being misled or mistaken. These days we are living in are misguided and constantly shifting. Nothing is quite the same as it was before.
There are new challenges constantly barraging us. In typing those words, the promise comes to mind and I find myself turning to read:
“And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” (Romans 5:3-5, NASB)
We must allow God, His Word, and His Spirit to guide us or we, too, will join the ranks of the misguided.
But as we let Him guide us, something more takes place in us – we grow. The challenges, difficulties, and circumstances we thought would overwhelm us actually produce a growth in us we would not have experienced otherwise.
“Our will must die. Our desire to rush through hard seasons must die. Our belief that we’re in charge here must die. Our demands. Our misguided plans. Our selfish ambitions. All of it must die.”
(from Growing Slow by Jennifer Dukes Lee, page 43)
The daily challenges we face are permitted by our God,
who loves us too deeply to leave us on our misguided path.
The daily challenges guide us back to rely on Him alone.
Image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay
Today I am joining … One Word 2023 .
This is a cautionary word, Joanne. And there’s no shortage of distractions to pull us off course. I’m pondering this version of your word…
So good to be reading your thoughts.
I love where you went with this.
God can take any situation (negative or positive) and turn it into a profound teaching moment.
I love that we serve a God who GUIDES!
Blessings to you, my friend.
One Word #6
I love this post, Joanne. I love that God doesn’t leave us on the wrong path, but He guides us to the right. How willing we need to be to receive correction, since we’re so “prone to wander.”
Loving the way you connected with your word this month, Joanne. Truly a timely lesson for the times in which we live!!
Truth. Thank you, Joanne.
wow! Misguided – that is a profound reversal of your word yet full of wisdom and lessons. Isn’t this practice so life giving?
Ah, I love how you found your word in the middle of another word! I want to stay off those misguided paths too.
Amen Ms. Joanne. I can’t think of a single Christian who enjoys going through life’s trials, but those who allow God to lead them through it find themselves reaching the end much easier and better for the journey.
There is a lot of ‘food for thought’ in what you say here. Thank you for sharing your discoveries with us.
I love this, Joanne! Having one word to *guide* our life for the year leads to such fascinating discoveries, including seeing our word couched in another. I have seen that, but didn’t think much about that till I read this. Thank you. Because I was attuned to this possibility, thanks to you, I noticed the word FINISH (my 2023 word) surrounded by letters spelling FIRE EXTINGUISHER, when I was at PT today. I’m going to explore that. There is a lesson for me in there somewhere.
Tx for an excellent post, depicting the misguided confusion we call modernity, and the ever-secure one, true path on which the Lord guides us if we will but follow His steps!
xo
Lynn
Tx for Lisa for encouraging our reflection.