Have you heard of the One Word Challenge? I read this little book by Jon Gordon at Barnes & Noble one night and the basic premise was instead of making New Year’s Resolutions, that at least for me are bound to not make it through January, that you choose One Word to guide your year instead.

According to thefamilyheart.com “Simply put, a One Word Challenge involves choosing one specific word that will guide you throughout the year as you make decisions, pursue your goals, interact with others, and create a life you love.”

I love the idea of One Word, I am a big procrastinator so I normally don’t think of My One Word until my Birthday on January 14th. (please make a note of this special day), but over the years I have struggled with not only the process of discovering my One Word, but living it out.

DISCOVERY

As we all know God’s timing and our timing are not always in sync. I have yet to confine My One Word to a year. I like to think of it as seasons word. In this season of my life is there a word that will be my guide or focus? Is there a word that will help me live the One Word Promise (reordered and amended below by me, for me)

I promise to live out my One Word with commitment and intentionality.

I will keep my One Word front and center by posting it in prominent places.

I will use my One Word as a filter to provide laser-like focus and to help me live with power, purpose, and passion.

I expect to be impacted in all areas of life – Purpose (spirituality/ministry), Personal (self care), People (relationships) Provisions (financial) Professional (education/career) Philanthropy (giving back) & Passions (hobbies & fun).

When experiencing challenges, I will use my One Word as an opportunity to learn and grow.

I believe that my One Word may change my circumstances, but it will change my character.

When I live out my One Word, I will become a positive force in the world and make a greater impact.

I believe that my One Word will not only impact me, but more importantly it will impact those around me.

I will ask God each day, “What do You want to do in me and through me in this season?”

Throughout this season, I will celebrate all that I have experienced, learned, and discovered.

I will invite my tribe of friends and family to challenge and encourage me on my One Word journey.

I believe my One Word will shape and mold me to become the person I am meant to be and to leave the legacy I am meant to leave.

By living my One Word, I will discover God’s best for my life.

This is a big promise for one word to fill.

Discovering what that word is can be as simple as choosing a word that you want to model in this season of your life. Gratitude, Peace, Discipline, Fearless, Trust, Abundant, Enough etc…

Or, if you are like me, and can be a little obtuse at times, you will discover your word everywhere. The songs you currently have on repeat, the scriptures you are reading, during sunday morning sermons, at your job, on billboards, God has a neon sign just for you and it will settle in your spirit you won’t be able to get away from it.

I actually haven’t done this challenge in a few years and as we are still months away from the new year and my birthday, I wasn’t looking for a word to define the current season of my life, I wasn’t actually looking for any words, but here we are.

MY ONE WORD

ALL

Currently on Repeat: Kirk Franklin All Things

As I sat in Sunday Service the Praise Team did a medley of “name”songs. There is a name , There’s something about the name Jesus, Then the Worship leader sang: That Name Heals All, That Name Delivers All, It Works, It Works. Then because God probably thought I was going to miss it, she stops and says that ALL means ALL.

In February I wrote about how God was in relentless pursuit of my imperfect faith to change it to an Audacious Faith as I learn to trust him in ALL things.

I am scared (ok, downright terrified) of what ALL will require of me. But His Word tells me of the blessing that comes with my obedience.

I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)

Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In ALL your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV)

And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in ALL things at ALL times, having ALL that you need, you will abound in every good work.

2 Corinthians 9:8 (KJV)

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above ALL that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us

Ephesians 3:20 (KJV)

I had been calling this my Ephesians 3:20 season, as I learn to boldly declare God’s promises and blessings over my life. But as noble as that pursuit is, He, unlike me, doesn’t need to be reminded to do what He said He would do. Instead of boldly declaring, God is asking me to simply stand on HIS “one” word. ALL

~ebony