My Word Of The Year For 2021

Last year was the first time I've ever done a "word of the year" and it was an interesting experience. I knew other people who have done it before, but at the end of 2019, I started to feel like God was giving me one. What was especially interesting was that the way the word (it was really a phrase) worked out in my life was nothing like I was expecting! All through 2020, particularly the last half of the year, I had some words floating about in my head that started forming into a theme. This became my word for 2021.

Picking my word was a bit of a process and I don't believe I truly picked it. I believe that God leads me to a word that represents what He wants to work in me and teach me.

"Manna" was a word that had great meaning to me in 2020. If you know the account of Israel wandering in the wilderness, you know that they complained about the lack of food and God provided. He didn't do it in the way they expected or maybe wanted, but He did provided and His provision was just what they needed for that day. They had to continually trust and depend on Him. This idea is reflected in the New Testament in the Lord's Prayer where it says "give us this day our daily bread." We ask God to please give us what we need for that day.

These truths brought me reassurance and comfort in the uncertainties of 2020. I saw them at work in various ways. You might think they sound spartan and practical but I also saw blessings and abundance in my life.

Manna
Daily Bread
Blessings
Abundance

None of these fit or seemed to encompass enough. In all of these things, I saw God at work. He shows Himself in these ways (along with dozens of other ways). The word that I came back to was "provision". Provision encompasses all of these other words and more.

In 2021, I want to see God. I want to look for His hand in and on my life, giving me what I need and probably more than I need. Not necessarily what I want or expect, but always what I need. In seeing His provision of my daily bread, I know I will see blessings and abundance too.

You might wonder why I chose the photo I did for this post. It's doesn't look like the New Year or winter or anything. I love sun rays. I love seeing them stream down from the clouds and whenever I see them, I think of God. I call them "God rays". They are a reminder to me that He is always there and so they remind me of His hand and provision. That's why I chose that photo. It was very intentional.

Do you pick a word of the year? How does that process look for you? What is your word for 2021?