A few years ago I embarked on a social media project. It was a project about encouragement.
I began thinking about the impending New Year’s and the inevitable resolutions that people make. What is it they say? A high percentage of resolutions are broken within the first few weeks of January.
People have good intentions making resolutions – getting healthy, exercise, quit smoking, read more, cut back on social media. Noble ventures, to be sure. But, so many end up in “failure”.
The reasons vary. Unrealistic expectations. Lack of support.
Failure.
So I set out to do something about it. Something that would help people think beyond resolutions and grasp on to something more realistic.
One word.
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Who says you have to start resolutions the first day of the year? Who’s to say you can’t start something new in say, June? Or November?
Any time is a great time to start a “resolution”.
As long as you start, set realistic expectations and have support, your chances of succeeding are pretty good.
But, I wanted to do something different. I wanted to give people a word for each month of the year as a way to encourage the positive.
All it takes is one word.
One word to change a mindset. One word to be encouraged. One word to find a new path. One word to be lifted up.
That one word was shared on Instagram each month of the year for the past few years. Until….
2019.
***RELATED: What’s Your Word? 2018
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Each year as the new year draws closer, I start praying and asking God what He wants for the year ahead. He has faithfully given me words to pray out for others or He gives me a single word.
For 2019, my word was
My instant reaction was COOL! I’m going to be stronger. That feeling quickly abated as I realized what else it could mean. I was filled with trepidation.
As 2019 played out, my trepidation was accurate. The challenges both internal and external were beyond anything I could imagine. So much darkness surrounded my life and those around me. My prayer life was littered with tears and angry outbursts at God.
Yes, I yell at God on occasion. He loves me through it.
Reaching the end of December has been a relief. I am glad 2019 is (nearly) over. I’m also glad I made it through. God’s strength is what got me through it all. Not my own strength.
God’s strength.
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Because of 2019’s challenges, my monthly posts of What’s Your Word suffered. I would forget. I would get distracted. I would feel defeated and eventually, I gave up.
What’s Your Word for 2019 was a dud.
Now that we’ve reached 2020, I’m feeling a need to start it up again. Will I make it until next December? I have no idea. But, we have to start somewhere.
My word for 2020 is RELEASE.
I don’t know what it means yet. There are some ideas stirring around in my head, but I’ve learned the hard way that it is best to put my faith and trust in God to see me through. I will let Him decide what “release” means and pray He helps me to understand it.
Your turn. What’s Your Word for 2020?
The jokester in me says “Vision” – 2020 vision!!!
Seriously though. Are you praying for a word for the year? What is your vision for the year ahead? Are you praying for breakthrough? Focus? Freedom? Resolve? Intimacy with God? Hope?
What word has been on your heart for the past week, month, months, year? Bring your request to God. Ask Him if that is His word for you. If not, keep asking.
Keep knocking until He opens the door to your word.
It doesn’t have to be on January 1. It might not be until June or next December. He will give you an answer right when you need it. His timing will be perfect.
Maybe that’s your word.
Time.
Make the most of the time you’ve got.
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Sunny Cadwallader 
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