In Others’ Words: Direction

Beth VogtIn Others' Words, Life, Quotes 36 Comments

Where are you headed?

There are 28 days left in December and then it’s time for a new calendar and a new year.

Where are you headed in 2013?

If you’ve known me for any length of time, you know I abandoned New Year’s Resolutions years ago — way back in 2006, to be exact. Instead, I focus on one word. That’s it: just one word.  The beauty of focusing on one word? I never lose track of one word, unlike a list of resolutions, which I usually lose within the first month of a new year. The best thing about focusing on one word? By the end of the year, I’ve experienced real life change.

In 2012, my word was trust.  It’s been a year of change for me, both in my personal life and my professional life. And looking back, I can see why God directed me to the word “trust.” I had to put my hope and confidence in him over and over again during the past twelve months. I faced doubting versus trusting — and ultimately chose trusting God. One thing I enjoyed doing this past year was posting daily trust quotes on my Facebook page. Doing so broadened my understanding of trust.

Before I share my word for 2013, I’ll rewind and tell you what my words have been in years past:

  • 2006: gratitude (I kept a gratitude journal and found my “glass-half-empty” attitude revolutionized.)
  • 2007: simplify (A severe illness turned this word into survival. I embraced simpler things in ways I never imagined.)
  • 2008: content – as in “be content with such things as you have” (Hebrews 13:5) (I bought a lot less that year!)
  • 2009 & 2010: forgiveness (I had a lot to learn and unlearn about forgiveness.)
  • 2011: hope (A word I clung to when life hurt or when my heart ached for others who were hurting. There were times I could have asked “Why?” Instead, I asked myself, “Are you going to abandon hope?” My answer: No.)

My word for 2013 is confidence. The Scripture I’ve anchored the word to is “… do not throw away your confidence …”  (Hebrews 10:35 NIV) and I intend to apply this exhortation to both my personal and writing life. And that’s my visual to remind me of my focus for 2013.

 

In Your Words: Where are you headed in 2013? Are you making a list of New Year’s Resolutions and checking it twice? Or, like me, do you choose one word and focus on that for 365 days?

 

 

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  2. I love this One-word focus. Last year my word was listen. (Or in other words, keep your mouth shut so you can hear others and God) This year God has impressed upon me the word gratitude even though I see the world through the 3/4 full glass. Maybe He wants me to see it completely full!

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  6. Love the picture at the beginning of your blog, as well as your visual for your 2013 word. And you say you’re not creative. 🙂 I think I’ve narrowed it down to two words. Will let you know when God clarifies which one it is to be. 🙂

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  7. I loved all of your trust quotes and the way you really focused in on that. I love the idea of picking one word and might just do that this year. God directed me to my life verse this year, and I love how I keep seeing the echoes of it in so many ways… “There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.” (Phil. 1:6). Ah, such peace at reading that, knowing it’s sooooo not all up to me.

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  8. Confidence. I love that, Beth. I picked out a word for 2012: Love. And I thought when I picked it out that it was about me loving others–which is good and sure, I’ve had opportunity to do that. But now that I’m approaching the end of the year, I’m realizing it’s really been about God loving me…and showing that love in huge ways. He *always* loves me (us!), yes…but sometimes it feels more…tangible. And this year, as he took me from physical/emotional stress to renewed hope to total excitement and just here in the past couple weeks to “Look, Melissa, I’m here to help!”, it’s definitely felt tangible. 🙂

    And now you’ve got me thinking and praying about a word for 2013.

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  9. In years past I was a resolution girl (my first successful resolution was giving up sucking my thumb when I was six – but I think that was the one and only resolution that stuck). I switched to a verse for the year, but that also slips by the wayside in the busyness of life. I love the idea of just one word, one to ponder and to emulate. I’ll have to think about it some more.

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      Wow — your first resolution was when you were six? I am impressed. Of course, it’s not the first time you’ve impressed me.
      Keep me updated on your word for the coming year, please.

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  12. Ah Beth,
    Loved your visual reminder for 2013. When I started on this journey God gave me two words that have been revelational to me. I don’t feel like I’ve mastered it, so unless He tells me something else, they will remain the same. Discipline & Diligence. Why? because it will take those two things to see my dreams come true. Not just in writing, but at the end of my journey, to hear “Well done good and faithful servant.”

    Blessings My Friend!

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      Oh those two words are quite a pair: discipline and diligence.
      Stick to them until God says differently. I held onto forgiveness as my word for two years for the very same reason.

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  13. I’ve been enjoying your posts, Beth. You pack a lot into a few choice words. I am praying about my word for next year. I love the idea of one word. Thanks for sharing yours.

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  14. Pingback: But You Were Not Willing | BRAVEHEART

  15. Pingback: But You Were Not Willing | BRAVEHEART

  16. Beth – I’m a “This year’s word is…” girl, too! Last year’s was Willing. You’ll see by my post (http://beckydoughty.com/2012/12/03/but-you-were-not-willing/) that I didn’t do so well – that word, WILLING, can be interpreted in soooooo many ways.

    2013? I don’t know yet. I’m taking the month of December to redefine ‘willing’ according to HIS WORD (Isaiah 30). I’m listening for the whisper of my TEACHER, “This is the way. Walk in it.”

    Blessings my friend,
    Becky

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  17. For some reason, the word “precipice” is humming around in my mind. I feel like I’m standing on the very edge of something big. Something He’s been preparing me for. Something bigger than I thought possible, too big for me to handle well on my own and something so important to Him…but He’s asking me to do it?
    I feel like I need to batten down the hatches, tighten the sheets and hang on, the King is at the helm and away we go!

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  18. Place your confidence in the word of God. “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.Proverbs 30:5 & It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. Psalm 118:8. Merry Christmas!

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  19. Love your word for 2013. My word for 2013 is “Grace”. I was listening to Kenneth Copeland’s word from God for 2013 about ‘Great Grace’. The word Grace leaped out at me.
    Grace: God’s riches at Christ’s expense.

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  20. It’s already that time again? I’m not sure I’ve mastered incremental. I might need another year with it … time to ponder and decide.

    Really like your word and the quote in the frame.

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  21. Pingback: In Others’ Words: Confidence (& book giveaway) » Beth Vogt: Christian Author, Speaker, Editor

  22. Pingback: New Years’ Resolutions – Angela D. Meyer

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