Many One-Word Choices – God’s Direction for 2024
I began the New Year with a series called “New.” I want us to focus on what Jesus meant when he said to Nicodemus “no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again” from John 3:3. Born again means a person has experienced new birth, new life and is now a new creation. As you just read, the emphasized word is “new.”
“New” is also my one word for the year. I started doing this a few years ago. I prayed to God. Please give me a word or phrase which will help me focus on the direction you have for my life this year. “New” is my one word for 2024. I’m excited about what “new” things God is going to do. New implies change. Change can be exciting. Change can be terrifying. Either way, God has my attention.
Two Sundays ago, I encouraged you, my church family, to seek God so you could determine your one word for the year. Wow, did you ever respond. Some individuals have lengthy explanations, some have a few lines, and a few are simply one word. Enjoy! I know I did.
Laura Tuttle - STRENGTH I will seek spiritual strength, physical strength and emotional strength from God.
Karen McCoy – WORTHY I chose worthy because I have felt unworthy my whole life. I have felt inadequate, that I haven’t accomplished anything in my life. I feel like such a failure. I know in God’s eyes I am worthy. I was raised with a Christian mother. Accepted God as my Savior when I was 10. I rededicated my life to God in my early 40’s and was rebaptized. I know in God’s eyes that I am worthy and I am enough. I know that I worked 30 years for a local school district as a paraprofessional. I raised two boys. One is a man of God, the other is in Satan’s clutches. I feel like a failure with him. I continue to pray my son through the Bible. As I am pushing 60, I feel like I have failed. God, my child, I didn’t go to college. I feel like I’ve disappointed my parents even though they have never once said that. I know I am being so hard on myself. I perceive myself differently than other people perceive me. I keep myself tightly guarded. So my goal is to work on my self-worth this year. To know that I AM WORTHY. To let go of the guilt that I have carried my entire adult life. It’s easy to say this, it’s another to actually believe it. With God’s help, I feel like I can shed this depression, guilt and the feeling of being unworthy. I want to find my place in this world, to see what God has in store for me. I want to see where he wants me to serve him. Your message on repentance was just for me. It really hit home at the end where I need to fully repent from negative thoughts. I gave that to God this morning.
Mary Lou Sima – INTENTIONAL My word for 2024 is intentional. I want to be more intentional in my relationships...with God, family, friends, and those in need. I want to be able to see the need in others and then intentionally set about finding ways to help them without caring about the why of how they got there.
Jon Couser – REFLECTION It’s important to create space for pondering. To read Jon’s thoughts on “reflection” click here.
William Hill III – REDEMPTION l am choosing Redemption as my word for 2024 because of the power in it. I desire to work on my own personal brokenness this year, and am so thankful I have a Savior willing to give me redemption in my brokenness.
Tom Collins – Be still and Know That I am God
Juls Rathje - SILENCE My word for this year is Silence. I want to listen more and be present in the moment. I want to hear God's voice and message for my heart. That is my focus for this year.
Darin Maxwell – LIVE My word for 2024 is "live". Jesus died for me so I want to live for him!
Angie Pinkerton – RENEW My word for the year is “renew.” I am in my new apartment now with goals and plans for my future-which God promises in Jeremiah 29:11, my favorite verse. I am excited about renewing my life in all aspects. With God’s help and grace this year I will renew and be closer to him than ever before.
Shirley Sanders – LOVE
Judy Hinten – SHARE
Todd Schlaegel – INVEST I am going to invest in the lives of people.
Bill Brooks - TRUST Several times over the past couple of months I have faced challenging situations in which I have been forced to choose trust or fear. Joan has faced health scares, we have had family challenges and each time I feel like the Lord is asking me, “do you really trust me?” It has put to test my life verse of Proverbs 3:5.
Joan Brooks - INTENTIONAL Being intentional with every aspect of my life. My Bible reading, exercise, relationships, prayer life and free time. I feel the Lord leading me down this path and I’m excited to see where He takes me!
Christina Cherry - BRAVE
Don Hooper – BEST
Lincoln Frazer – INTENTIONAL Intentionality requires perseverance in doing good. Even when faced with challenges or discouragement, we must press on, knowing that God will bring forth a harvest of blessings as we faithfully continue to live with purpose and intention. Galatians 6:9: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
Rebakah Bussa – WARRIOR I’ve never chosen a word of the year before. This is not something that I’ve connected with in the past but this year I definitely have a word that I cannot get away from. So, my word for 2024 is “Warrior.” The term warrior can mean a person who possesses qualities such as courage, determination, and a willingness to fight for what they believe in. I’ve been asked to pray for so many important people in my life, and have never felt so strongly to intercede on behalf of those around me, and to follow up and love others through prayer. I’ve been shown confirmation that prayer works, so this year I am focused on building my dialogue with God and going to spiritual battle on behalf of those around me. I am also in a physical battle, fighting for my health and mobility. In 2023, I got a diagnosis that is not life-threatening, but is potentially mobility-threatening in the years to come. There is no cure, so my best treatment is making myself as strong and physically healthy as I can for my future. I know I want to continue to serve God and others, so this year I will focus on being a warrior and fighting the battle for my body.
Andy Basham – DISCIPLE My word for 2024 is "Disciple". I believe God woke me up in the middle of the night tonight to tell me this. He has given me a heart to disciple others, and this is what I will do.
Kathy Randall Van Alstine – LIGHT
Wanda Jo Hostetler – FAITH
Lisa Prouse - INTENTIONAL I'm using the same word I used last year: intentional. I want to be more intentional with my family, friends, finances, decluttering/housework, my side business, weight/health, spiritual life/prayer/time with God. I've already prayed with a stranger in Target just the other day- something that really took me out of my comfort zone and was a total God thing. At the end of last year I started doing prayer walks literally around the outside of my house and circling the house with prayer. I meant to do it New Year’s Day to start the year off and I didn't. Hopefully this week I'll bring myself to get out in the cold to do it.
Miranda Shofner – PEACE
Dianne Krumnow – BALANCE
Lora Bradley – SURRENDER “Surrender,” yes, my one word is surrender. I did not choose it, it chose me-or rather, God chose it. It came to mind several times and I was resistant. Who chooses the word “surrender?” It’s a scary word! What do I need to surrender? I do not know. What is going to happen this year that I will need to surrender to Jesus - loss, heartache, illness, death of a loved one, physical pain, family distress??? I do not know, but I know that the word is surrender. Where that takes me is yet to be seen, but I know it is from God. So, I will go ahead and with some sense of fear listen to the word “surrender.”
Carol Weimer Morris – CONNECT
Debbie Russ – PERSPECTIVE My 2024 word of perspective refers to how I want to look at the world differently. I want to see situations through the eyes of others instead of how I see it. I want to view others as God sees them.
Jen Cvelbar – GO DEEP My phrase for the year is 'Go Deep' which developed from a desire to know Scripture, and therefore the heart of God, better. Greg, I also need to thank you for mentioning the book Core 52 by Dr. Mark Moore during one of your lessons. I started it on January 1 and I can already see how invaluable it will be to my 2024 phrase.
Terri Hess – INTENTIONAL
Teresa Cady – HOPE
Tracy McKenzie – MINDFUL In today’s world, technology and busyness has pulled me away from being mindful. I want to be present. I want to know the goodness of every moment.