One Word 2013

A few years ago I was spending New Year's Eve at a student conference and a friend of mine shared with me that every year she prays and asks God for a word for that year. Something that He wants to teach, a point of focus, a way to grow. I liked this concept and began doing the same. In years past my words have included trust, joy, change and this year I knew clearly what my word needed to be.

(Thanks Melanie @ OnlyABreath for the button! I'm looking forward to connecting every month.)

I discovered oneword365 through my best friend's blog which is described as this:

Choose one word.

One word sums up who you want to be or how you want to live. 

One word that you can focus on every day, all year long. 

It will take intentionality and commitment, but if you let it, your word will shape you and your year.  it will guide your decisions and help you grow. 

Discover the big impact one word can make. 

One word. 

365 days.

A changed life. 

Although I have made goals for 2013 they all center around transformation. As my blog is titled 'Into His Likeness' I desire to be transformed - into the image of Christ, into the woman God wants me to be and into a committed disciple of His. As I mentioned in my previous post I have committed to Romans 12 as my Scripture and prayer for this year. I want to memorize it and live it. 

Romans 12

"Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. ² And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

³ For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. ⁴ For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, ⁵ so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. ⁶ Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; ⁷ if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; ⁸ or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with^[h]liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

⁹ Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. ¹⁰ Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; ¹¹ not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; ¹² rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, ¹³ contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.

¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. ¹⁶ Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. ¹⁷ Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. ¹⁸ If possible, so far as it depends on you,be at peace with all men. ¹⁹ Never take your own revenge, beloved, but ^[p]leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. ²⁰ “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” ²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

As I've been praying over the last few days I submitted to God that I want to move deeper in my relationship with Him, step out more than I ever have, be bold and that he would rid the sin that is in my life no matter how painful the process. I am praying that I would be transformed into a disciple that is completely sold out for her Master. That my life would not be my own, but His. His path, His ways, His Word.

I encourage you to choose a word for your year. Ask God how He wants to grow you, what he wants to teach you. Commit 2013 to Him.