My Words for 2021
Hey lovely people! Happy new year! Yes, I know it’s February, but we haven’t seen each other yet this year. You know how it goes.
I’ve started and erased this post quite a few times. I’ll speak to the reasons why in a future post, but for now, we’ll talk about our ~words for the year~. I wasn’t always a “word(s) of the year” person, but I realized that having one/some can be so helpful. It’s a great way to focus on something and it feels, to me, like it’s less pressure than having a list of resolutions. I feel like there’s more room when you have words vs having resolutions because not only does it give God space to do what He does (even though He’s gonna do it regardless), but it also makes space to give yourself more grace. Again, that’s just what I think, but let me know what you think!
My four words for the year are discipline, intimacy, submit, and tarry. When I first got these words, I couldn’t find what connects them, but as I thought about them more, I realized there is intentionality and an attitude of letting go (did someone say sacrifice?) between all of them.
Discipline: Okay, last year I said I don’t get it but remember with God all things are possible. Over the last year, I’ve realized a few things about discipline. One is that it takes patience with myself. I’ve come to know that I’m more patient with others than with myself. While there is a lot of reasons for that, I see now that if I expect myself to set a goal and hit it perfectly, I’m setting myself to fail. I’ve had to find a balance of being strict and being gracious, while also just trying to survive during this pandemic. Due to the Pantomime, I had to stop going to the gym, but towards the end of last year, I began walking. Now I do it almost every day (unless the weather is not on my side or I’m not feeling well)! Another thing I’ve realized is sometimes it can be hard for me to focus on habit-building in more than one area at one time, so I will be working on things one at a time.
Scripture references: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Colossians 3:23-24, Proverbs 10:17
Intimacy: Since last year, I’ve definitely learned a lot in my walk with God as a result of spending more time with Him. It’s been great to sit and think about the progress I’ve made! The reason I kept it for this year, is because I want to develop this intimacy in a way that is solely for myself. In the past, I was doing certain things in my walk for someone or something else at times. I know that out of the abundance of what I do in spending time with God things will come for me to share with others, but what I don’t want is me spending time with Him just so I can share with others. You get? I know that God loves our time together, and so do I. This year, I hope to know Him more so that my thoughts, my actions, and judgment are more aligned with Him. Very “draw near to God and he will draw near to you” vibes (James 4:8).
Scripture references: Psalm 63:1-8, James 4:8, John 15:4
Submit: Typically this is a word we see in the context of marriage, but I believe this is definitely a practice that should be done individually with God before anyone else. To submit means to yield to a superior force or authority of the will of another person. I know that God has great plans for me, He even tells me in his Word (Jeremiah 29:11), but what does that actually look like? I was at a conference and Brelyn Bowman said one day she really had to deal with herself about really making God the “Lord of her Life”. Sometimes we can say that we trust God and we’re ready for whatever He has in store for us, but when God says “bet.” and does something that may not look like what we expected, suddenly we don’t remember what He said. LOL, it happens. This year, I’m committing to being open and willing.
Scripture references: James 4:7-10, Deuteronomy 13:4, Proverbs 3:5-6
Tarry: Now, you might see this word and think what is that or think I’m old or only read in KJV but please stay with me. Aha, did you get it? Stay…anyways, tarry means to wait or stay in expectation or abide. It’s giving “don’t rush, slow touch”. This word came to me as I was thinking more about intimacy with God. I really love the hymn called “In the Garden”. The chorus says”
And He walks with me
And He talks with me
And He tells me I am His own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known
I believe there’s an excellent reward for waiting in expectation and also not rushing your time spent with God. When I eagerly wait on Him, when I put my hope in Him, I will not be put to shame. And time spent with God is never time wasted. Sometimes I rush my time with Him, or I give up too early. If I just stayed a minute longer, if I just kept knocking, I probably would’ve received more.
Scripture references: Psalm 5:3, Psalm 39:7, Ephesians 3:20
So these are my words for 2021! As the year continues, I hope to refer back to these words and update you if as things happen! I’d love to know what your words are as well if you have any! We love accountability in these parts! On Instagram, I saw quite a few people are also focused on discipline this year. Love that for us!
Whatever your focus is for 2021, I pray that it is aligned with His will for your life and God helps you and blesses you in your pursuit of Him and that area of your life! Praying this year is so much better than your last! Remember to always leave room for God to do what He does best! His ways are not our ways and His plans for us are much greater than anything we could make ourselves (:
Much love always,
Kumam 🧡