Did you know that January 12th is National Quit Day?
Apparently, it only takes 12 days for people to give up on their New Year’s Resolutions. Less than two weeks. Why do we give up on what we really want so quickly?
It’s not because we’re lazy or we don’t really want to lose weight, read our Bibles, or finally pay off our debt.
The suprising news is that even though we have a plan or hire a life coach, we’re still missing the most important ingredient for success: VISION.
Vision is seeing the big picture beyond what you’re trying to achieve. It’s more than your goal. Vision is seeing your resolution or goal as part of your purpose.
Here’s ancient wisdom:
“Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” -Proverbs 29:18 KJV
Without vision, people waffle and wander. Lacking vision means that you’ll make the same resolutions each year. But if your goals aren’t anchored to something bigger than you, it will be hard to persevere.
Willpower is never enough for our goals, but vision wins over willpower everytime.
When you have vision, you may tire, stumble or even fail, but you’ll keep going. And if you fall off track, having vision motivates you to get back up again!
Are you unclear about your life vision? Here it is:
God’s vision for you is to know Him, and make a lasting, positive, eternal impact in the world. You’ve been created to be a difference maker in the world around you.
This is why Word-of-the-Year is a great first step to living with vision:
Word-of-the-Year is a simple, intentional tool that can remind you to focus on God’s vision for your life.
There’s nothing supernatural or magical about your WOTY, but it can be a positive trigger when you’re feeling lost, confused or help you get back on track.
Here’s my step-by-step instructions for choosing a WOTY:
1. Check out the potential Word-of-the-Year options. Pick four or five words that resonate with you. Write them down.
Here’s a list of options:
Feeling overwhelmed? DaySpring offers a digital tool to help you choose your WOTY. You can click this link and answer a few questions. You’ll receive a suggestion for your WOTY. You can keep that word or choose a different word.
2. Look at the possibilities you’ve chose, consider the following questions:
a. Which word(s) inspire or motivate you?
b. Is there a dream, goal, or desire that seems to match on or more of those possibilities?
3. Narrow your list down to one or two. Then, pray over the words or ask a few trusted friends for their input.
YOUR WORD OF THE YEAR: _________
Optional bonus! I like to choose a verse that goes with my WOTY.
How to Use Your Word-of-the-Year Effectively
- Write your WOTY (and verse) on a postcard and tape it to your bathroom mirror. This is a low-tech, daily way to remind yourself. The more often you remind yourself, the more you’ll prioritize living into this word.
- Share your WOTY with friends and tell them why. Trust me, telling others about your word solidifies it in YOUR mind and makes it more likely that it will surface in your mind again.
- Set up a monthly reminder in your phone for the first day of the month with your WOTY and your verse of the year.
- Use Canva to create a beautiful cellphone screensaver. I’ve made up some templates that you can customize with your word. Just click here.
DO YOU HAVE A WORD-OF-THE-YEAR? If so, hit “reply” and tell me. Also, if you’ve chosen a verse of the year, I’d love to hear that, too.
PEACE
Ahhh, always a good word. Thank you for sharing this with us, Joanna!
Good morning Barb!
I have been thinking on and off about my word of the year. Trust always came up in my mind. After reading this devotional I took the test. My word of the year is trust! That is my goal for 2024!! To trust God in ALL situations. Thank you for this devotion!
Terri
Hi Barb. Tha k you for providing the quiz to help us with our WOTY. I took the Quiz and my word is Trust.
I think it is a perfect fit for me in 2024.
Awesome!I’m glad that you took the quiz and the word grooves with you!
Terri, that’s SO cool that the words matched. Looks like God confirmed that for you.
I did the quiz from DaySpring. My word is IMAGINE. Yes, that word resounds with me and is one I need to embrace for this year. IMAGINE being truly filled with hope and joy.
IMAGINE………so many things.
That’s a good one! Thank you for sharing this. I like it!
WOTY: Continue. Galatians 6:10. “As we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” 2023 has been a hard year for me. God called my husband of 48,almost 49, years, home. Test after test this year, finally GB surgery. All of this mixed in with grief, hard but God is so good and faithful.
Faye, thank you for sharing this with us. Our hearts ache for you. We’re so sorry for your loss. I admire your WOTY and celebrate that you’re proclaiming God’s faithfulness in all seasons of your life.
My word of the year is FIT. God has been encouraging me to get FIT both physically and spirituality. I’m more effective when I’m FIT. I can do all things through Christ Jesus my Lord!
That’s so good, Loretta! Yes, you can in Christ!
Hello! I wanted to remind myself that I need God daily to help me reach my goals. My word of the year that He brought to mind is “COMMIT” from Prov. 16:3. ”Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.“
Proverbs 16:3 ESV
Wonderful! That’s fabulous!
Love this.. can’t wait to see how my word will impact my life in 2024z thank you!
Woot! Keep us posted!
The Lord gave me the word “HOPE” this year and the verse is Romans 15:13 “ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit”.
Beautiful! Thank you for sharing your WOTY year and verse. Powerful!
I love your word Barb! I wrestled with my word out of three words (create, surrender or trust) and trust kept coming up in scripture and in devotions. I felt like gulping when I had that thought what’s going to happen that I need to trust God more?! But I know that he’s been building my trust in him all along and I am acknowledging that I need to trust him more with all of the craziness going on in the world.
So good Sherri! I love that your WOTY creates a beautiful tension that challenges you to keep trusting God as you’ve been growing in.
I took the quiz and my word is simplify. It’s perfect for me. Thank you for sharing the quiz.
My word of the year from the quiz is celebrate which is a little bit of a surprise to me. I think that it’s apt, though and will help me when challenges come.
My word is simplify. This is exactly what i need. I try to do all things for everyone and end up not doing well at anything! Simplify and focus on each person or thing.