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Every year, I ask God to show me what He has for me in the upcoming year, and what my focus should be. Usually, I fill page upon page in my journal of the many words, phrases He speaks, things He shows me, or Scriptures He highlights.
However, last year was the first year that I had ever heard about taking what I felt God had for me and boiling it all down to just ONE word!
How can someone choose just 1 word?
Please tell me you understand my dilemma ?
On most days, I have many, many words inside just waiting to get out….
Can I get an amen?!
As 2017 crept closer and closer, I kept thinking that I wasn’t done with my word for 2016, which was … Advance.
I wasn’t sure I was ready to move on. Had I studied it enough, let it be a part of my year enough, or even fully understood the scope of all God had for me to embrace about it.
In fact, I am a firm believer that God operates in seasons and isn’t tied to a calendar year, so I was fully prepared to continue on in 2017 with Advance. In fact, there are many things that started ‘advancing’ in my life and ministry in 2016 that are carrying over to 2017 and beyond.
After waking up sick on Christmas morning with no warning and being down and out well into the New Year, I began to wonder if God wasn’t telling me my word for 2017 was to be ‘Rest’.
As I voiced my thoughts to God in prayer, and daily conversations, I had many words swirling around me for days and weeks.
Tweet ThisOne thing I knew for certain, was that He was definitely calling me into a deeper more intimate relationship with Him.
Not that, my relationship with Him wasn’t deep, or intimate, but that He was calling me deeper still. He was asking me to give Him my time and attention. I was to be purposeful and intentional about spending time with Him, first. He was calling me to be with Him in the secret place.
Last week, I shared how God had prompted me to go to my book shelf, locate and dust off the book The Secrets of The Secret Place by Bob Sorge and use during my devotional time. Needless to say, I was less than thrilled, not because it wasn’t a good book.
It is! It’s Excellent!
In fact, it is such a good book, I am personally giving away a copy! (Please make sure to enter the drawing below by using the RaffleCopter and enter yourself to win your very own copy!)
The reason why I wasn’t happy, had more to do with my experiences the time I first read it.
Our memories and emotions are funny things. They can come rushing back in an instant. If you haven’t had the opportunity to read last week’s post and all my angst, around this simple request from the Lord, you can find it here:
It seemed liked God was calling me into the Secret Place to “Sit at His Feet.” Yet, these thoughts were more than #oneword !!!! So, “intimacy” seemed the best word to describe what I felt God was calling me to focus on for 2017.
Two Sundays ago, in church, I still had the word ‘intimacy’ on my mind. When out of the blue as the Pastor (aka my husband) was preaching I had 3 more words drop in my heart: Stillness, Abide, and Quiet.
I continued to ask one question of the Lord, “What’s my Word?” Throughout the next few days, I waited, and I waited and then He dropped a word, THE word in my heart.
The ONE Word …
Dwell
- to live or stay as a permanent resident; reside.
- to live or continue in a given condition or state:
- to dwell in happiness.
- to linger over, emphasize, or ponder in thought, speech, or writing (often followed by on or upon):
Looking back, it seemed to make complete sense. I had been sensing that Psalm 27 and Psalm 91 were to be inheritance word Scriptures for me in 2017. (If you don’t know what and Inheritance word Scripture is, read about it here):
Dwell is definitely an interesting choice for sure, while it’s close to ‘abide’, its different, and yet encompasses it. It encompasses the other words and thoughts too.
I have no idea where this journey will lead as my #oneword – DWELL is lighting the way in 2017.
This however, I do know: God will show me, He will lead me, and as I am in still also in a season of advancing with Him, He above all is asking me to be with Him, to dwell with Him.
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1
One thing I ask from the Lord,
this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
and to seek him in his temple. Psalm 27:4
Do you participate in choosing #OneWord for the year? If so, I would love to hear what it is and how you came to choose it.
I look forward to seeing you back on Tuesday on my Video Blog (VLog) . This Past Tuesday, on the vlog, I shared a little excerpt from Bob Sorge’s Book, “The Secrets of the Secret Place”. Be sure to check it out to learn more about this powerful book.
Plus…..
Don’t forget to enter the FREE giveaway below by using Rafflecopter below and enter for your chance to win a copy.
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My Post “Climb Every Mountain” was featured in the August monthly link-up at : Life on Intention Link-up Party
My Post: “The Journey through Change” was featured here:
I have been know to link to the following Inspirational Parties:
Sunday’s
Monday’s
What Joy is Mine/Monday Musings
Tuesday’s
Wednesday’s
Thursday’s
Friday’s:
Saturday’s:
I love the word “dwell” for a word of the year! While there’s definitely a place and a time for words of action, “dwell” seems to be a word of waiting, intention, and rest. May God show you many great things in 2017 as you spend time dwelling on Him and resting in Him!
Tracey, thank you. You are so right, thre is a time and place for action words as well as a time for words like dwell… it does seemed to be a word of waiting and intention…. thank you for your encouragement.
As always, such a great word! Thank you for sharing it with us. Something that stuck out was that dwell also means to linger over, emphasize, or ponder in thought, speech, or writing (often followed by on or upon): I want to live in a continuous state of lingering on God and all He has to tell me
Jodi – ooooh, you make such a good point and I love what you said, I too want to live in a continuous state of lingering on God and all He has for me! thanks for sharing your thoughts.
great word!! and me, too – I wasn’t done w/ my last one – can’t we keep both?! Thanks for all you do to spread the grace and joy of Jesus, Debbie! (I’m sharing mine on Monday.)
thanks Sue …. yes, I am keeping both, so you can too 🙂 not that you need my permission to do so, but I thought I would give you my thumbs up endorsement. I look forward to reading all about your word next week. Have a fabulous weekend!
Secrets is one of my most favorite books!
it’s such a great book, isn’t it!
I would submit that you can dwell and advance at the same time if the Lord advances as you dwell in Him! 🙂
I couldn’t decide which synonym I should choose this year, so I chose both, abide and dwell. It sounds like God is leading us in the same direction on that! The Lord has been working this into my heart for some time, so mentions of it have sneaked into more than one post, I think, but the one that I wrote at the climax of deciding is found at:
https://plantedbylivingwater.wordpress.com/2016/12/28/push-buttons-power-sources-and-prayer/
Ruth, I do believe you are correct and that I can have both at the same time, I think that is the beautiful things about seasons. Thank you for confirming what was in my heart. I love that you are choosing both abide and dwell and I look forward to heading over to your place to read what He has been stiring in your heart. I love when God begins to move on many hearts the same things. I think it gives confirmation to us all that we are hearing Him, and secondly, that He is on the move and being intentional about what we need to follow/go along with him. Have an awesome weekend and thanks for sharing your thoughts here today.
Yes, He definitely is on the move! Praise His name!
Let’s pray for each other to be successful in our dwelling and abiding, shall we? Like all year long?
Lord, I pray for Debbie that she will hear your voice first thing every morning and all throughout the waking hours of the day or night, that she will hear and heed your call to her to dwell in Your sweet Presence in all You call her to do, whether it be waiting or advancing, resting or working. I pray that she will sense Your Presence with her and be filled with Your joy and peace and love even in trying times.
I ask these things in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Debbie, I love your word for the year! Psalm 27 is one of my favorite Psalms. I pray that dwelling in the presence of the Lord is what we all seek above all else! Blessings to you as you continue to advance and dwell with Him!
Thank you Christin! Psalm 27:4 has long been a cry of my heart. thank you so much for your blessings, I am looking forward to both advancing and dwelling!
Sounds like an excellent book, plus I think you picked a peaceful word. Dwell. That just sounds refreshing. I chose persistent this year b/c I can be kind of –eh–apathetic. This year I don’t want to give up easily. I want to persist. Here’s to a great 2017!
April, I think it is an excellent book. I guess, I hadn’t really thought about Dwell as being a peaceful or refreshing word, but you are right, it is! Just what I need. Persistent is a great word too! being tenacious, a go getter, Not quitting, there will be no stopping you in 2017 as you persist in all areas of your life. Blessings to you!
Great word, thanks for sharing at Literacy Musing Mondays. Reminds me of the word, abide. 🙂 My word of the year is also a “d” word: die. I wrote about it this past week. Blessings!
Debbie, I cannot wait to see how this word plays out for you this year. There are so many things that this can encompass. I love a word of the year to focus on and to use in many ways. In my personal and business life. Looking forward to spending time with you in 2017.
Nikki – thanks so much, I am intrigued by my word and anticipating some amazing things this year! I am looking forward to spending time with you as well in 2017. I always learn so much from you and your blog. 🙂