25 Words to Change Your World—One Day at a Time

He cuts me off like a zooming maniac. As his silver streak of a car rockets down the left lane past the long line of waiting cars, he whips in front of me. Hey! We are all trying to be patient here while we inch toward the lot attendant, slower than a herd of snails. I resist the urge to honk and scowl, though my hand hovers near the beep zone for a second or two. And I might have muttered under my breath, “Of all the nerve.”

But here comes the irony, he did not think through his audacious stunt very well. When you pull into a monitored parking lot at a sporting event, you are told where to park and in an orderly fashion they direct you into a space. And where do you end up? Right beside the person who was in line in front of you and behind you. 

So yours truly pulled in smack next to him. As he opened his door to exit, so did I. And I was oh so tempted to make a snide remark. “Must have been an emergency since you couldn’t wait in line like the rest of us slugs.” Our eyes made contact and I know he was bracing for ugly words because he had guilt tattooed all over his countenance. 

But, instead of spilling sharp words, I half-grinned (sorry, I could’t get a full-on smile out). I lived my word from last year, grace. Not because I’m some super pious person. I am not. Not because I have it all figured out. I don’t. But because (speaking of snails…) maybe I’ve learned something about God’s grace in the last 365 days. I’ve spent mucho time on the study of this word, but study is not enough. And because I’m writing a book on grace, I’d better practice what I preach. Right?

The world swirls noisy and full of temptation to act in less than christian ways. It makes our brains buzz like a bee in a jar at times. So what does that have to do with selecting a word for the year? All the whirring noise of words in our heads like—joyful, helpful, thankful, connect—are good things to achieve. But too many goals and they become overwhelming.  The words multiply, making our attempts to become more disciplined, turn into a parking lot full of frustration and failure. 

By choosing one word, it calms the din and gives us focus. So pick a word.

Here are 25 great words. If you don’t have your word yet, feel free to select one below and let it inspire and guide your actions for 2019.

Love—- Overcome—- Kind —-Peace—- Learn

Grace—- Discover—- Simplify—- Bold—- Joy

Mercy—- Connect—- Build—- Family—-Listen

Hope—- Thankful—- Encourage—- Forgive—- Calm

Surrender —-Devotion —-Give—–Trust —- Build

1. Get a journal and over the coming months, write out every scripture pertaining to the word or person who embodies your word. Courage-Daniel Faith-Paul, etc…
2. Determine to learn every lesson scripture teaches about the word. 

  3. Meditate on your word and jot down ways you can apply it to your life. 

4.  Write down when you live your word this coming year.

And like a song on the radio that sticks in your brain, let your word stick in your head to reframe and reshape your life for the year to come. So select your word carefully. It will become a part of your day. It will help change you for the better. And we all want to be better don’t we? 

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:8-9

PS. Please share your word with us all! 🙂

25 Words to Change Your World—One Day at a Time