Question for the new year? I like to ask God for a word for the year. A friend had a group do this at a retreat one year and I found myself repeating the exercise annually after that. So my New Year’s question is, what is my word for the year? Previous years I have been given everything from forgiveness to mangled. Another friend told me her word this year is Immanuel- I love that for her! This year my word is sweater, it has a double meaning. God wants me to sweat more ( health issues have stunted my aerobic exercising and I have realized this has taken a toll on my overall health, I need to raise my heartbeat, exercise harder- sweat. The second meaning has to do with being a comforter, like a big cozy sweater. Last weekend at church I was talking to a young man suffering from depression and I asked if I could pray for him, afterwords he gave me a big hug, I think God’s Spirit was like a big comfy sweater to him. I think this is the work God wants me to focus on this year, to comfort others with God’s Spirit.
Oh I love that your word was "sweater"! Those are great images. I've realized it is much easier for me to see the word for the year/theme of the year looking back than to have a sense of it in advance. Last year was about "everyone lifted up," and the year before it was "the way of blessing." That said, a friend of mine suggested the year for 2025 was build, so I'm holding onto that for the moment...
Thank you! So many great suggestions!
Question for the new year? I like to ask God for a word for the year. A friend had a group do this at a retreat one year and I found myself repeating the exercise annually after that. So my New Year’s question is, what is my word for the year? Previous years I have been given everything from forgiveness to mangled. Another friend told me her word this year is Immanuel- I love that for her! This year my word is sweater, it has a double meaning. God wants me to sweat more ( health issues have stunted my aerobic exercising and I have realized this has taken a toll on my overall health, I need to raise my heartbeat, exercise harder- sweat. The second meaning has to do with being a comforter, like a big cozy sweater. Last weekend at church I was talking to a young man suffering from depression and I asked if I could pray for him, afterwords he gave me a big hug, I think God’s Spirit was like a big comfy sweater to him. I think this is the work God wants me to focus on this year, to comfort others with God’s Spirit.
What word does God have for you?
Oh I love that your word was "sweater"! Those are great images. I've realized it is much easier for me to see the word for the year/theme of the year looking back than to have a sense of it in advance. Last year was about "everyone lifted up," and the year before it was "the way of blessing." That said, a friend of mine suggested the year for 2025 was build, so I'm holding onto that for the moment...