Phrase of the Year: Preparing for 2018

Don’t look now, but the end of 2017 is right around the corner.  I’m talking just hours away by now.   I, for one, am glad to see it go.  I’m already preparing for 2018 with a phrase of the year.

2017 had a list of firsts for me (like starting this blog!).  There were lots of happy moments.  And quite a few of trying times, too.

Maybe I’m too much of an optimistic, but every New Year I get just a little extra hopeful about the possibilities the New Year will bring.

It’s new.  It’s exciting.  And it’s the perfect opportunity to make plans and dream a little.  Amiright?

Word of the Year

This year, I’ve heard quite a bit of talk about a concept called the “word of the year” (Kelly explains it a lot better than I do, y’all).

Has anyone else heard of this?

I hadn’t.  Not until I was chatting with some of my blogging buddies and reading their posts.

Basically,  a word of the year comes about in one of two ways:

1. Praying and asking God what the focus of the year should be.
2. Choosing a word to describe the goals you want to accomplish in the New Year.

A word of the year is meant to define how the year will look for the individual.  For Shannon over at Faith, Flour, and Sawdust, her word of the year is hope.  Hope for a brighter day.  Hope for improving health.  For Crystal Storms (who does an excellent job outlining how God gives her a word for the year, by the way), her word is brave.  Bravery to go forth with the call from God.  And being brave enough to be still and wait for answers.

Phrase of the Year

Like I said earlier, the idea of having a word define my year (other than yucky or awesome, those don’t count, y’all) is new to me.  

Confession:  I wasn’t planning on sitting down and praying for a defining word, either.  I was just gong to walk straight on into the New Year with my plans and goals in hand and just hope for the best.

But, the other day as I was absolutely struggling to wrap a simple Christmas present and complaining about it as I fought with the paper, I half jokingly said to my sister (and to myself), “Oh, well.  Just try your best and let God do the rest.”

That phrase, dear friend, has been ringing in my mind ever since then.  And it’s the perfect phrase to describe 2018 for me.

Try Your Best and Let God Do the Rest

Kind of a simple thought, though, isn’t it?

But, think about it.  How many times have we determined in our heart to do something and either didn’t try our best or commit those plans to the Lord?  And how many times have we been disappointed by the outcome?

I’ve been there a time or two.

As I think about that phrase in relation to everything that is going on in my life (and every goal I’m setting for 2018), I keep coming back to Proverbs 16:3.

Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.  Proverbs 16:3

Basically, friend, what it comes down to is this: commit your plans to the Lord (especially those things He is pushing you do to), show up, do the work, and watch Him use you.

Just try your best in whatever it is that you do.

Blogging about your faith?  Pray about your posts, learn all you can about blogging, do the work, and watch God use you.

Witnessing to a friend or family member?  Pray about it, try your best, and watch God use the words that you spoke (or didn’t speak) to change a heart.

Preaching a message to a congregation?  Pray about it, preach your heart out, and let God touch hearts with your message.

Teaching a Sunday school class?  Pray about, prepare your lesson, teach it, and watch God water seeds that you’ve planted.

Remember the phrase of the year: just try your best and let God do the rest.

P.S.  Don’t forget to subscribe and download your free January scripture reading plan right here!