By the time this blog is posted, we’ll be well into 2023. Many have made New Year’s Resolutions they’ve already given up on. The last few years I’ve been vaguely aware of the concept of setting a Word of the Year but this year it seemed to be coming up everywhere, and not just in spiritual circles. It’s touted as being much more effective than making resolutions. I don’t know how true that is, but I decided to give it a try and ended up choosing CONFIDENCE.
“Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and CONFIDENCE is your strength.” Isa 30:15
This verse always reminds me that when I rest in God, I have the confidence I need to accomplish what He desires. Otherwise, I am relying on my own strength, and that only leads to stress, mistakes and losing my way.
Confidence also encompasses trust and hope, knowing that God is in control and directing my path. This being our first full year with IMM in Spain, I’m strongly feeling the need for God’s guidance in how to most effectively make use of the time He has given me to be here. I still feel like I’m finding my way in a new place, with so much to do and never enough time to do it all.
Further in that same chapter, Isaiah says, “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.’” Isa 30:21 My goal for 2023 is to have the confidence to listen for His voice and trust in His wisdom and guidance, not relying on my own strength.
The other two verses to go with my Word of the Year are:
“Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose CONFIDENCE is in him.” Jer 7:17
“God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ So we say with CONFIDENCE, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” Heb 13:5-6
In my last blog of this year, I’ll let you know how I did!