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I wanted my word to be determination, mostly because of this picture. (if it’s your word, feel free to borrow.)
But then I realized my determination isn’t a problem.
I wanted my one word to be trailblazer, because I’ve always lived “out of the box” but I keep trying to jump back in it.
That would have been a good word….but…..
but finally, in the stillness of my one-day solitude retreat, I realized God has been giving me a word for the past few months, and it’s time to recognize it.
So my one word for 2011 is JOY.
but first...
Joy is NOT happiness (although happiness sometimes tags along)
Joy is NOT Pollyanna views or Scarlett O’Hara platitudes
Joy is NOT circumstantial
Joy is NOT naive, blind, or superficial.
I think I’ll spend 2011 trying to figure out how to dance with joy through ministry, mothering and writing, but today is a start. I’m captivated by this word because:
- Jesus promises it (complete! joy) in the midst of what seemed like a time of despair to his disciples (John 14)
- Kings could be “anointed” with it (Psalm 45)
- True manifestations of it draw people to Christ like nothing else.
I believe Joy lives alongside Peace as an irresistible quality that makes those around us know we live with something other-worldly inside of us. I am so excited to press into Joy for 2011.
Your Turn: What’s your one word?
So far, I’ve heard words like:
contentment
peace
patience
attentiveness
commit
action
shine
relate
and more….
Over the next couple of weeks I’ll be putting together a prayer wall on the site for encouragement and prayer over YOUR one word. Perhaps it will be a place where we can leave each other prayers and verses to spur us on in the journey.
So buck up and leave a comment here with your word. If you want that quality in your life, you’ve got to start somewhere. Every month, I’ll be asking a question to help you along your journey. Are you ready for one-word 2011?
Big thanks to Alece, the brainchild of one word (and provider of cool graphics). Go over to her blog if you need some great idea-starters for you!
Here’s to joy, and here’s to a New Year and a God who promises
“to make all things new” (Rev 21:5)
75 Replies
JOY! love it! and i love this post — hearing a bit of your journey to choose joy. i'm looking forward to doing this together with you this year. and watching it all unfold. it's gonna be good. hard — because even joy can be challenging — but ultimately so, so good.
I totally agree. Choosing joy is a challenge sometimes, especially while still acknowledging pain and sadness and being honest in the journey. strangely looking forward to the challenge, though!
I have two words! First: Flair! Flair means I find beauty in everything and see God everywhere. Second: Wisdom. All day, I've been focusing on Proverbs 2 and the need for seeking God's wisdom this year.
My recent post Have You Gone Gourmet
Yay Joy!
My word is "anticipation."
ooh, Mary, interesting….can't wait to hear more about what you are "anticipating" in 2011!!
Struggling between 2 words – SEEK and OBEY
What would each mean to you, Stephanie?Sent from my iPhone
God gave me a 2-word phrase to soak in this year. It's "REST ASSURED." Here's my mini-blog post: http://bit.ly/e7fVmV
My recent post My Phrase for 2011
Love that! Can't wait to read it!Sent from my iPhone
JOY . . . that's my word too Nicole.
ps . . . im going to send you an email while i'm thinking about it. i keep forgetting to respond to ya!
My recent post 2010
My one word … exude – to project or display conspicuously or abundantly – I am hoping my life will exude my love for Christ and my desire to maintain a relationship with Him. Thanks for the challenge!
love that, and I love that you included the definition! It made me think of that passage in Philippians, where Paul tells the believers to "shine like stars in the universe." Looking forward to watching you EXUDE in 2011!
I think I've decided that my word for the year needs to be "fountain." There's been a lot of things in the last couple years that have drained me, so I think it's time to move on and really seek God and pour my time and energy into the things I was made to do and things that are going to make me burst with the abundant life that Jesus promised.
My recent post Your faith has…
Hey Katrina, have you heard that Rita Springer song called I will run..it has a line from the Psalms "all my fountains are in you." I love this one Katrina, and look forward to hearing how it progresses over the coming months!
No, I don't think I have heard that song, but I will definitely check it out. Thanks for the encouragement!
My recent post Your faith has…
My word is " Inspire". Webster says, " to affect, guide, or arouse by divine influence". Divine guidance or influence exerted directly upon the mind and soul of man. I want to influence others with divine inspiration not what the world offers, and I want to look for that daily in my life.
Dad said he wants a portfolio of joy this year…so his word is joy.
Cool! Looking forward to hearing how God inspires you this year.Sent from my iPhone
A friend's word is rejoice. I shared with her that rejoice/joy is a state of the heart. It sounds like you got the right step forward.
I'm sharing my One Word tomorrow.
My recent post Their Jubilee
Cool! I will check it out!Sent from my iPhone
ok, my word is 'inspire' To be inspired by God, His Word and to inspire others.
Dad told me today that this year he would like a 'joy' portfolio….so that's his word too…joy!
I just wrote a friend an email asking her resolutions….she reads your blog in MD. I commented that I wanted to be more joy-filled. then I read this….Great word, great choice. Glad to know others around me are seeking the same goal!
OK, so now we are going to have to do everything we can to make workdays as JOY filled as possible. I like practical jokes….
Hey! That's ME
LOL! I don't often respond to the blog posts, but YES YES this was a good one and I JUST posted a response and afterwards happened to see this on my way back up the page. 
It is wonderful to be in a band of spiritual goal seekers–we are strengthened by it, free to be honest and transparent with ourselves and others, and held to it so we don't seek empty promises to ourselves. This blog is refreshing!
Thanks! So glad to have you!Sent from my iPhone
Intentional
whoa, that's a good one. A loaded word….lots of thoughts!!
Many of these words are in my new book, "Deeper into the Word." I'll be giving away copies of it on my blog later this week. Love this, nicole!
My recent post Limiting “screen time”
Keri, can I have you as a guest this month? I would love to give away a copy too!
I had the word JOY, as my word for the year two years ago, and then last year God lead me to have it again. I have a new word for this year, but JOY was a great place to camp for two years. Blessings on you as you pursue JOY.
Fondly,
Glenda
ooh, leaving us hanging! What is that new word?
My word is TRANSFORMED. It's something I've thought about for several weeks, maybe a couple of months. It includes things both in the physical and spiritual areas of my life. Then just now in the car the word "promise" came to me. So I'm clinging to God's promise that he is the one through whom transformation is possible. Cool, huh? And for you, Nicole, I'll pray that joy overflows in your life.
Carla, I love that. The promise of transformation keeps it in perspective…God is the one who promises transformation, we are the ones who keep in step with what the Spirit is doing!
Love JOY for you!! i was all chuckles over your first draft of determination! you are one of the most determined person i know. seriously! my first response was that you have determination down! dang!
I am excited to see what Joy brings you this year. Praying for you as joy ans sorrow are so closely harnessed together. Joy is a hard words. It takes determination! i know you are gonna rock some joy!h
joy IS a hard word…because of what you said, about sorrow coming with joy. But that's actually what I like about true joy, that there's deep feeling within it and not just superficial happiness.
I read in my quiet time, "The joy of the Lord is your strength." Dang. Good word, Lady. So proud of you and can't wait to post my three words. I've been doing this since 2007 and started with SIX words. Yeah..that's me. An over-achiever. I settled on three and I can't wait to share more about my three new words: fruitful, inheritance, and glory
Love it Renee. Can't wait to go over and read your post!
Joy is a wonderful one word and I'd have to agree with that one in my life. True spirit-filled, real, unmoving joy. In public, no one would think I was joy depleted, but that is not the same persona I exude at home, which leaves me wondering if I have truly captured all the facets of a joyfilled, redeemed life. My one word this year is: Discipline. Not just in the simple things where I need to be disciplined (like putting away my laundry after it's clean), but in many spiritual ways as well– like disciplining my mind, a seemingly unruly thing, and training it towards God thinking, not my thinking, and being more positive. I liked your saying of what Joy is NOT.
I love your honesty; about how you can put on the "face" for the public but at home you feel differently. And I think discipline is a great word choice for that…particularly, as you say, discipling your mind. Thanks for joining the resolution revolution!
Great great idea. My word is: love. I will try to live it as much as possible this year.
Great one: simple and challenging all at once!Sent from my iPhone
My word is "hardcore". No wimpy half-way year for me. Two specific areas I especially want to apply this to: my spiritual life and my workouts. I will strive to be a hardcore Christ-follower. And, I think I will go register for that sprint triathlon I keep talking about…because I'm hardcore, baby!
<DIV dir=ltr align=left>yes. As we discussed on the phone, I think hardcore might be the modern-day word for holy. Here's to a year of following hard after God and committing to a healthy lifestyle! You go girl!</DIV> <DIV dir=ltr lang=en-us>
My word was joy last year. It was interesting looking back over the year and seeing how God brought about joy. It was not what I expected. Not at all. But, the result has been joy coupled with peace. Looking forward to following along your joy journey this year!
My recent post Bold Humility- My Prayer For 2011
Chrystie, I read your post about joy and it made me a little nervous.
But i think I'm ready for whatever God has for me. 2010 was also a year of waiting and sifting, and I'm actually really thrilled to move forward in freedom & JOY for this particular journey that God has me on! So glad to find you.
Haha! I can understand why it might make you a little nervous…but, I can assure you that on this side of the journey, it looks FABULOUS! Every single moment was worth it. But, that is always the case when God is at the helm!
My recent post Bold Humility- My Prayer For 2011
<DIV dir=ltr align=left>approve</DIV> <DIV dir=ltr lang=en-us>
Expectation. Expecting God to do some big things this year. Looking, praying, and expecting Him to show up. Not just hoping (cross my fingers kind of hope, are you in this God?), but trusting, waiting, watching, and expecting Him.
<DIV dir=ltr align=left>I love that. “looking, praying, expecting” is the formula for really seeing Him, I think. We know he is always with us, I guess we just forget (or I do) to look for Him. Great word, looking forward to hearing how it goes for you in 2011!</DIV> <DIV dir=ltr align=left></DIV> <DIV dir=ltr lang=en-us>
Word for a2011 – Compassion – gets us into others, helping, sharing, letting go of ourselves – then comes true joy..
I love that! My word is surrender – and I'm a little nervous about it!
I've had surrender seasons, and talk about it alot in the divine pursuit study. They are hard but so good!!Sent from my iPhone
My word is "jubilee" – it's already been more of a doozy than I anticipated. But…I'm so ready.
I watched your video and loved it! Would love you to guest post sometime about the journey!Sent from my iPhone
that would be incredible…i'd be honored. just let me know.
My recent post aslan’s claws
I can't keep up with everyones! Mine is Wonder
love it!
My word is FEARLESS! I’ve always loved this word. I think there’s something magical behind it, and who doesn’t need a little more magic in their life? It’s not that I’m fearful, but sometimes it seems like I don’t take risks or I let situations get the best of me and I don’t grab life by the horns and just live it. I want this word to be more than something I think about everyday… I want to live it out everyday.
Love it!Sent from my iPhone
Sorry I'm late to the party. I'm so behind on blog reading! My 2011 word is "Dive." Like the Steven Curtis Chapman song. I want to look at my life and be willing to take the "leaps of faith" God sets in front of me. Scary, but that's the person I WANT to become.
My recent post Word Wednesday&8211Psalms Part 4
<DIV dir=ltr align=left>Jodie, wow I love that! What a great word with such rich meaning for different areas of life. Can't wait to journey with you in it!</DIV> <DIV dir=ltr align=left></DIV> <DIV dir=ltr lang=en-us>
I finally figured out mine…it's "Progress." Maybe I'm not where I thought I'd be, or hoped to be, but with the Lord's help, I will progress this year and keep taking steps–in my career, in making good habits, in taking better care of myself, in being a better steward of finances…
Lynette, I appreciate your concrete steps attached to your word. I will add you to the prayer page ( in progress!!)Sent from my iPhone
Trust has been something that lacks in my relationship with God. I recognize that I didn’t trust God to provide all of my needs. I struggle with the vulnerability that comes with trust. My prayer to whatever comes my way is “I trust You Jesus!” I want to learn to trust Him and only Him with my whole life!
<DIV dir=ltr align=left>Trust is a great word. I think it encompasses so much of the human experience, and what it truly means to follow God. Blessings to you!</DIV> <DIV dir=ltr lang=en-us>
My word is REST. Physical rest. And resting in Jesus. My verse is Jeremiah 6:16: 16 This is what the LORD says:
“Stand at the crossroads and look;
ask for the ancient paths,
ask where the good way is, and walk in it,
and you will find rest for your souls.
My recent post A Journey of Significance
Judy, one of my favorite verses! Happy to add you to the one word community!
JOY was my word last year…and I can't begin to tell you in this comment box just how blessed I was. It is going to be a great year for you!
My word this year is Courage.
I love your idea for a prayer wall…I'm thinking that I will need that this year.
My recent post One Word- Courage
Love it tracie. Will add you to the list!Sent from my iPhone
SAVOR is my word!
My recent post Single in the Suburbs
<DIV dir=ltr align=left>approve</DIV> <DIV dir=ltr lang=en-us>
I love this idea, Nicole. Already know my word, too, because it's been with me now for weeks: Grace. "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." -2 Cor. 9:8
Christy, love it–and that you have your verse. I'll add you to the prayer page along with a link!