Have you chosen your “OneWord” for 2017?
Focus. I selected my initial “OneWord” after reading an inspiring post on Lindsey Nobles’s blog in 2011. I decided on the word “focus” after wrestling with distractions.
Fearless. I decided on the word “fearless” the next year. I needed to defeat the spirit of fear and pursue my projects, plans, and dreams.
Essential. After skipping three years, the word “essential” surfaced in 2015. Struggling with my priorities, I needed to rethink what mattered most. Plus, I faced a book deadline. At the same time, my husband, Dan, retired.
Release. I didn’t select “OneWord” in 2016. Why? I concentrated on my first book, Words That Change Everything. So, I suppose my “OneWord” became “release,” since I focused on marketing my book.
Hope. Recently, I sensed “hope” should be my 2017 “OneWord.” I had lost my confidence as I faced my lack of experience in marketing my book. Plus, my husband acts like “every day is Saturday” since he retired.
When the Lord placed “hope” on my heart, I sense new direction and a renewed purpose for the future.
Choose hope. Do you feel hopeless about the future? Perhaps our recent presidential election left you disheartened.
God’s Word offers us this promise of hope after a difficult journey.
(We can) rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. (Rom. 5:3-5 ESV)
Can you identify the reason for your hopelessness? If you need direction and clarity of purpose to overcome your discouragement and doubt, I challenge you to accept His gift of hope today.
Happy New Year!
WordServe Water Cooler 
Hi Karen, great post! Thank you for the encouraging words. My OneWord for this year is also Hope – hope in new dreams and knowing God more deeply as our ultimate Hope.😃
Tami
Tami, thanks for sharing your OneWord. I love your thought about “hope in new dreams and knowing God more deeply as our ultimate Hope.”
“… the Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love” (Ps. 147:11 NIV).
Hope is such a beautiful word!! We have Heroes of Hope in my cancer circles to those who are huge encouragers to others. You can be a Hero of Hope!!!!
Lynne, I agree – “hope is a beautiful word.” And I’m looking forward to reading your new book, Under a Desert Sky: Redefining Hope, Beauty, and Faith in the Hardest Places.” I know it will offer hope to many who are battling cancer.