Reprinted with permission from FLinG -Finding Life in God

I don’t do resolutions – they don’t last and most of them are just “surface worldly” items that really don’t mean much. Ones that won’t really make a difference in the long run. Ones that don’t make me grow.

I did consider “one word” for this year. Had never heard of it before a few days ago. Even looked at one and did a bit of research on the word. The notes from others said once you chose a word you will “see” it everywhere – it will be “all over” – you will “hear” it “speaking” to you. This did not happen for me. As a matter of fact I forgot all about it for 2 whole days, telling me this was not what I should be doing. I thought of even changing it up a bit since one word for a whole year seemed not right somehow – too long maybe? I was thinking what happens when the word moves into another attribute of God He wants me to have – do I need to wait until next year to do that word? And what if there are 2 words?

Oh the confusion and the mixed messages I am creating in my head!!

I used to tell everyone that I only have one resolution – to not make any resolutions! I think this is a good one for all those “surface worldly” resolutions we tend to make. However, I think there may be a more important resolution to make. One we can make every single day, not just at the beginning of January every year.

Resolve to spend more time with God – on a daily basis. If you only make this resolution at the beginning of January, you will never keep it – and ultimately feel like a failure. This resolution needs to be made everyday. Every morning when you wake up. Every time you pray over your food. When you are just “sitting there” starring into space. Instead of watching that re-run of your “absolute favorite tv show.” Just before you fall asleep at night.

I play with this thought in the back of my mind. It comes and goes and my response to it differs. I think the Spirit uses it as a little prick for me to pay attention, or a brick when I need to respond.

“”Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; He will surely do it. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 ESV)”"

“Ceasing” means without stopping. This doesn’t mean you have to be on your knees every minute of every day praying. What it means is that everything you do needs to be a prayer and testimony to God. You still need to be on your knees or on your face praying, but you also need to make everything else you do a prayer to God. The book(s) you read, the links you click on the internet, the tv shows you watch, to food you eat, the job you do, the things you spend your money on.

This is my resolution. “Spend more time with God practicing 1 Thessalonians 5:17 – Knowing with Certainty that 1 Thessalonians 5:24 is right behind it.”

I will be taping it on my monitor. On my fridge. In my car. On my mirror in the bathroom. So many places because I don’t want to ever forget. And because God is everywhere we are. He even beats us there – to wherever we are going or whatever we are doing.

My prayer is that you listen to the prick, or the brick, of the Spirit in 2012.

~Lisa

About the Author

Please join us at the Womens Bible Cafe and we embark on the One Word journey. We’re joining One Word 365 and My One Word by selecting just One Word for the year as a focus word. Instead of making new year resolutions, the concept of One Word is to select a single word for the year. You’ll choose just one word and focus on this word all year long.

Selecting One Word for the year is personal and unique to you. Don’t let a friend or family member choose it for you, find the word yourself. Once you make the decision to choose One Word for 2012, then your heart and eyes will be open for it. You’ll seek the word and it will find you.

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Matt 7:7-8 NIV

Pray about your One Word. See if you start noticing a theme or repeating word, something that jumps out at you or sticks to your side like glue. Be observant of your surroundings and look for your one word for 2012. You might find it in a day or two, or you might find it in a few weeks. Start looking and see what you find.

My One Word- Heiress

I found my One Word for 2012 through a series of events at the end of 2011 and I started noticing a theme.

• I was watching Beth Moore The Inheritance with my two daughters. I started to focus on her words and paid attention to the word Heiress. In the bible study she reminded me  “you have a very wealthy Father.” It’s the first time I’ve heard that, and though I’ve known I’m a Daughter of the King, I never realized I was an actual heiress too.

• A few days later on Christmas Day, my family gave me a bottle of Princess perfume by Vera Wang. I’ve wanted this perfume for about three years and never purchased it because of the cost. When I opened the bottle and sprayed some “Princess” on me…I connected the bible study with something I could see and smell!

• Just after this, my niece announced she is in a beauty pageant for Miss California Teen and has been talking about wining a “crown.”

• On Facebook I found a perfect cover image for my profile, with a crown.

• A few days alter I was watching “Selling Spelling Manor” about an heiress who bought the luxury home.

All these events confirmed my One Word. Initially I thought my word would be Princess, then I changed it to Heiress to take the focus off me and place it on God my Father. So for this year I’ll be reflecting on the word Heiress and what it means to be an heir with Christ.

 Selecting One Word

After selecting your One Word, you might want to look up the dictionary meaning of your word and also a thesaurus. You might look up the Hebrew and Greek meaning in Strong’s Concordence, and of course you’ll want to examine scripture for your One Word. Be sure to use different translations of the bible. Start looking for this word in your reading, conversations, social media, emails…anywhere your eyes fall each day. Be observant of the One Word and see how it is applied to your life in 2012.

Melanie from Only a Breath has offered to create a free word button for your blog (see mine above with the word heiress). To get a free button customized for you, click here.

If you had to choose One Word for 2012, what would you choose and why?