My One Word for 2018

​For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control- 2 Timothy 1:7.
 
 
I have spent most of my life living in the shadow of fear and insecurity. Afraid to try. Afraid to fail. Afraid to hurt someone’s feelings.  Afraid to look foolish in the eyes of others. Afraid to speak up or step out of the shadows. Afraid of disappointing someone. Afraid of not being liked. Not to mention my fear of heights, snakes, and the unknown.
 
Fear has both protected and hindered me. Fear protected me from partaking in risky behavior and addictive substances. Fear guarded me against dangerous places. But as safe as fear kept me, it also hindered me. Fear kept me from challenging myself from trying new things. Fear robbed me of confidence. Fear silenced my opinion and tied my tongue in knots when I should have spoken up. Fear bound me in ways God never intended for me to be tied up. Paul writes in Galatians 5:1 (ESV), For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
 
My journey with one word for 365 days began in 2015. My first word was to be intentional. The next year brought me to relinquish. Last year I was called to follow. This year God is challenging me to be bold. You see bold is more than brave. Bold is a counter move to being afraid. Bold takes brave and puts it in action. Bold requires confidence. Bold says I believe in something therefore I am going to do something about it. Bold blasts through the walls of fear and allows us to stand firmly on the truth of what God says about us inspite of the shifting sands of insecure feelings.
 
Personally, I have become tired of living in the shadow of fear.  I want to step boldly into the fullness of who God has called me to be. I want to embrace the gifts and abilities God has given me and boldly use them in the ways He leads, without fear and timidity, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control- 2 Timothy 1:7.
 
My friends, I challenge you to find one word to guide your next 365 days. Allow God to speak a word to your heart. Listen to His quiet whisper and follow His leading. Commit to letting a word guide your thoughts, words and actions this year. Then watch to see what God is doing in you and through you in 2018.
 
Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:19 (ESV)
 
Things to Ponder:
What will your word be for 2018?
What is God calling you to do this year? 
What area of your life needs a "makeover"?
 
Words to Ponder:
 
Since we have such a hope, we are very bold. 2 Corinthians 3:12 (ESV)
 
And also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. Ephesians 6:19-20 (ESV) 
 
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Romans 8:37 (ESV)
 

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