Do You Have Your "One Word" {...word of the year, 2021...}
a dated kind of “commonplace book”, where I write a few words about the day. Over many years, I have learned to write only of the best parts of each day. The good things. Save the struggles for Morning Pages or prayer.
I learned the practice I am about to tell you from my father, who was a man of great faith. He was a prophetic “seer”, who practiced the presence of God and saw many signs and wonders. I grew up watching him believe God, and so I saw them, too.
My dad would sit on the side of his bed at night, and whenever something important needed to be decided or some insight was urgently needed, he would trust God to give it to him in his sleep. He would pray, and then in childlike faith decide he would dream the answer.
I am my father’s daughter. Last night, I decided I needed to hear from the Lord as to my “word” for 2021. I knew I did not want to choose it myself. I wanted the insight that only Spirit (who knows me best and loves me most) can give.
In years where I went with a clear word from the Lord, that word invariably came to pass in my life…with exponential results both in my life and in the lives of others. Because I learned long ago that the spoils of battle are meant to be shared, and important things can be given by impartation. Like the way I “caught” the gift of insight from my father.
So I sat on the side of my bed and prayed and decided to trust God to give me a word in my sleep. I wrote down in my commonplace book that I was expecting it. The Preacher was beside me watching me write it all down, with no small level of interest. He is familiar with dreams and visions from the Lord.
I woke up with my word! I believe it is the best one yet. It is a four syllable word - I saw it written in a dream, plain as day and unmistakeable. The word?
My word for 2021 is:
COMFORTANDJOY
Yes, one word! In my dream I was singing my favorite Christmas carol, and I looked down, and “comfortandjoy” was a word. One word.
I love the Lord so much! I love His playful, compassionate heart. I love that He still speaks prophetically - He still gives “now” words to His children. I love that He did not want to limit me to one word or one concept. So He doubled my portion.
I love the way He brings things to pass in me and through me that I could never do by myself because I am not that gifted or that confident. I am one who has known real limitation. (versus perceived limitation…or self imposed limitation…or a victim mentality)
I need the favor of God, or I am a nobody, doing nothing, nowhere. I promise you that.
Interestingly, I never could get a clear word for 2020. I half heartedly was drawn to the word “leverage”. Come to find out, the thing I leveraged most was my own grief. I learned in fresh ways what it meant, through pandemic and great loss, to be “pressed but not crushed”. I leveraged some beauty from those ashes, and created three collections of art. The first two were sell-outs, the latest collection has just three left!
Lord willing, I look forward to coming back to you here, at the end of 2021, full of stories of all the ways “comfortandjoy” became mine, and can be yours.
To Encourage Your Advent Celebration
My talk begins just a few minutes in. I shared it in my home church, Harvest Church in Knoxville, TN (the awesome #scruffychurchforthescruffycity) this past Sunday. I hope it helps you love Jesus more than ever. The above image isn’t from this talk…but it’s fitting, because I’m speaking by a cozy fire. If you need some deep encouragement this Christmas season, get cozy, lean in (tap “play audio”) and listen…