One Word 2020
If you are one to have a one word for the year – do you select one or do you allow the word/principle to select you?
And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Mattias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles. Acts 1.26
And they chose Stephen…whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them. Acts 6.5-6
What was the difference between Acts 1.26 and Acts 6.5-6?
B.H.S. [Before Holy Spirit] they made choices by “chance” – throw the dice and let the chips fall!
A.H.S. [After Holy Spirit] they prayed and allowed Holy Spirit to prompt them and lead them in their decision-making.
Personally Speaking
Each year beginning about November I begin asking the Lord to show me “the” word. He has never failed me nor disappointed me. Holy Spirit usually shows up and says, “Here it is.”
2018, the word REAP, was given to me.
2019, I thought my word was, “GRACE,” and then, bam, the Lord said, “No your word is FAVOR.” And, He always gives me a passage of scripture to confirm.
If you are interested, here is a look at my past one words.
2020
This year was different – the new year came and I “thought” my word was blessing, as in be one. And then my sister told me to read Isaiah 55 because she felt like it was a word for the New Year.
I immediately opened my Bible and read it and this right here:
Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance. Isaiah 55.2b
Holy Spirit instantly said, “Abundance is your word for 2020.”
Abundance
Just in case there are any skeptics reading this…abundance can mean many things…as in having much. Money. Worldly goods. Things. More stuff. But, Holy Spirit impressed upon my heart, spiritual abundance. To eat freely of all the good things Father has to offer. And, to flourish in HIM. Love. Joy. Hope. Peace. Kindness. Patience. Health. Wealth.
My good, good Father is the Giver of all good gifts and He loves to lavish them on His kids. He is especially fond of His children! And, He desires we live in, walk in, His abundance.
Isaiah 55
Is most definitely a word in due season. You can read the entire chapter here in the NKJV. But, here are the Biblical truths I am claiming for 2020, from Isaiah 55:
- An invitation to Abundant Life (chapter header)
- Listen carefully to The Father (verse 2)
- A thriving soul (verse 3)
- His everlasting covenant (verse 3b)
- Seeking and finding the Lord (verse 6)
- A call to bring the Prodigals home (verse 7)
- The Word will accomplish and bring fruit (verse 11)
- Joy & Peace (verse 12)
- Being fruitful (verse 13)
And, I have always wanted to see trees clap their hands (verse 12c)!!!
If you’d like a printable of Isaiah 55, click here.
In Summation
Abundance is a word, a principle, that found me and I cannot wait to see how it plays out in this first year of a new decade. And, Isaiah 55? What part of that is not to love?
Do you have a word? A scripture? Did you find it or did it find you? I’d love to know!
Giveaway!
Leave your ONEWORD2020 in the comments to be entered to win one of Kraft Kash designs! A winner will be chosen on Monday, January 13th!
This year the word which I was drawn to is “savor”. It will be interesting to see the journey each of our words will take us on.
I love that word!
Kris, that word found me.
Savor every single moment of 2020. Great word.
Good word, Susan! I like when words can have various meanings and layers like abundance does. My word is BECOMING, like we are in process of becoming more like Christ.
Absolutely. We are all “becoming” and when we all become – He’ll come snatch us away!!! And, then we will live in HIS ABUNDANCE!!!
Engaged. We talked about how it came to be. It is proving to be challenging to lay aside other things, my many trains of thought, to be fully engaged with the person to whom I am speaking, reading I’m doing, etc.
This is definitely an area of pruning. Grateful even when it stings a bit.
xoxo
Shelby, I was under the Master Gardener’s pruning shears for years. It’s not a fun time but it is definitely a maturing time.
What a great word! And a great post!
XO
Hey Tam’ thank you! Do you do a word?
Good Morning, Honey. Love your word, and your pictures are Beautiful! I’ve started searching for my word in December, I believe that I was trying to hard, and then one morning, as I was praying and talking to Our Lord, it came to me. The word, Warrior, kept coming to my heart, and I remember saying Prayer Warrior, is that it, Lord. I just heard Warrior, that’s your word. Thank you honey, for being a blessing! Love ya!
Woman with sword = warrior!
I think my word found me late in the Fall of last year. Simplify or some variation of that word best sums up my desires for this year. To live simply by getting rid of more clutter so there is more time for creating and spending time with loved ones. Not only to rid physical clutter, but clutter that fills up my mind. I want to weed out stuff that just doesn’t matter and spend more time talking with others, praying and just enjoying life, which can be shorter than we realize. In other words, I want my remaining days to be meaningful, not filled with junk. I LOVE your word abundance! What joy it brings to mind! Blessings and love to you, dear Susan. xoxo
Gayle, your word is perfect. Certainly abundance (for me) is not more “stuff.” More of all the things you mention – an abundance of God’s goodness!!! Thank you for reading. You are a woman of courage and excellence. xo
My word found me this morning…in
Hebrews 12:1…perseverance! Sometimes as we age we coast & I don’t want to end that way so with the Holy Spirit’s help, I will “run with perseverance “ in marriage, in family & friendships, and in ministry! Thanks cousin for the inspiration ! Fixing our eyes on Jesus in 2020!
My eyes are FIXED! Thank you, cous’!
I have a “life word” but haven’t asked the Lord for a new one each year. That’s a great thought, though. Love your post as always.
As you know, my life word is Hope and has been for almost 18 years; however, I do like the yearly thing and watch the Lord work in it.
My word that the Lord gave me for 2020 is “delight”. I already see that this will have many applications.
Delight – wonderful word.
Hello, there, Susan! My word for this year is “renew.” Since I’ve reached the age of 76, it seems to be a time of renewal for me…my goals, my closeness with my Father, my changed relationship with a husband who’s now in a nursing home, unable to walk even one step, my own changing of physical abilities, and so many other areas of my life that need to be renewed. Only God can do that renewing, so I’m depending on Him to do what needs to be done. Love you!
Glenda, a brand new season – not particularly the one you want to find yourself in. But God. Right? Praying and believing for God’s grace to rain down on you and hubby. xo
I LOVE THAT, Susan! Abundance. “Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance” (Isaiah 55.2b). And you have a verse to go with it. Perfect! I like how you let the Spirit guide you! This was so thought-provoking!
Tweeted.
Thanks for linking up at InstaEncouragements!
What’s a word without a scripture? LOL!
Susan, I love your word for the year! Mine is PRESENT. I think the Lord has a number of different angles He’ll be addressing/ teaching me more about this word. I’m like you, I pray through the fall that God will reveal my One Word for the following year. I don’t usually set out to find them; I just begin seeing that word/hearing that word in lots of different places. 🙂
What a fun drawing you’re hosting!
Jeanne, and your book is almost ready? I cannot wait! I’d like to be present when it launches into the world!
I have been struggling against anxiety the last few years, and it has robbed me of joy on more than one occasion. So for 2020 I am clinging to the command given enough times in the Bible to read one every day of the year: FEAR NOT! So my word of the year is FEARLESS. I need to continuously remind my brain what my heart knows – I don’t need to fear because God is in control!
GirlMamaX5, good word. Walk in “no fear.”
I think I could learn a lot by sitting with the word abundance.
That is my hope.
Oh, Susan, I love that word. I am excited to read how you think about abundance this year. For 2020, I never (consciously) prayed about my word for the year. I just heard it in early November and knew – “humility”.
Good one.
As you wrote “the Word found me”, that is my experience. I was not looking for a word. I was not looking, as it were, for a plumb line to dangle by my life in 2020. I have the Bible – all 66 books – as my guide. Right. Then there was a “BUT.” Oh how the LORD loves to interrupt my smugness.
The LORD has put upon me for 2020 the word TRUTH. Somewhere scripture says, “God desires TRUTH in the inward parts” (KJV). Truth is reality. Unvarnished, uncomplicated. TRUTH. That which pierces the heart and soul to the marrow of the bone. Truth is God. God is Truth. Jesus is Truth. Truth is Jesus. The Word of God is TRUTH.
That is the word the LORD has given me.
Truth. Sounds like Holy Spirit!!!
I’m looking for a spiritually abundant life this year. Somehow, I think if I follow this search of the spiritual gifts, I will find abundance in HIm. And He may even bless me in life a little as well. He always does.
Yes!
Abundance is such a good word. I know you think my word is perseverance but I am introducing my word next week on the blog. It is “steward” and was a definite Holy Spirit moment when it popped into my head. Isaiah 55 will continue to teach you throughout 2020.
STEWARD. One of my great prayers is that I am a good Steward to all the Lord has given me.
I love that the year you downsized to a tiny house the word you were given is abundance. That’s just like God, is it?
I hadn’t thought of that – crazy, right?
Well… you know I love Abundance… obviously!
My OneWord for 2020 is Gather! (It terrifies and delights me!)
~K~
GATHER! You do it all the time, though. Remember where 2 or 3 are GATHERed….
Abundance: what a beautiful choice, Susan! I love it. Isaiah 55 is one of my favorite chapters. I committed it to memory a few years ago, but need to review it so I won’t forget it. I have chosen Linger and will write about it on my blog Monday.
To memory? That is incredible. IF I were to even try to memorize one or two chapters I would choose Psalm 91 and John 17. Thanks for coming by.
Hi Susan.
Abundance-what a lovely word to have been given. I’ll look forward to reading more about the abundance God shows you throughout the year. The word I’ve been given this year is perseverance along with the verses, James 1:2-4. It feels challenging, but I’m trusting Him to fill me with His strength.
I’m so grateful to have visited.
Your neighbor at Faith on Fire,
Tammy
Tammy, I’ve seen perseverance several times this year. It’s a great word and one I had great conviction with several years ago. The Lord really did a work in me.
My one word is transformation. It feels right after heal. Abundance is such a great word. Abundance as in blessings!
I think it’s a perfect word after HEAL.
My word for this year (“full”) found me too, Susan! Like yours, it has many different applications, but the main verse I keep thinking about is John 10:10, where Jesus talks about coming so that we can life “to the full.” Or, in other translations, “more abundantly.” (Which ties right in to your word … how cool is that?) 🙂
Exactly! Love how they tie together!