Core Scripture: “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

Message: I do this every year.  Go back to any of my blogs around New Year’s and you will find my new word of the year.  A word that I have prayerfully thought out to revolve my life around.  Words from years past are still in my heart: obedience for 2023, patience for 2022, leadership for 2021. 

This tradition is inspired by a book from Jon Gordon, Dan Britton, and Jimmy Page called One Word That Will Change Your Life.  It simplifies your new year’s resolutions down to one idea.  For 2024 I feel God putting a new word on my heart …

Purpose. 

Every day God has a new purpose for me.  He created me for a reason, and that is to live out the gifts He gave me with intentionality.  Recently, I feel like my purpose is lacking.  I am going through the motions.  I have become a bit lazy.  I am not tuning into God’s direction as efficiently.  I need to rediscover my purpose.

Purpose changes day to day.  It is impossible to give my heart to all the different balls I juggle.  Just think about them … family, work, hobbies, chores, friends, rest.  It can seem overwhelming.  But wise Solomon reminds us of some amazing truth in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8:

 For everything there is a season,

    a time for every activity under heaven.

 A time to be born and a time to die.

    A time to plant and a time to harvest.

 A time to kill and a time to heal.

    A time to tear down and a time to build up.

 A time to cry and a time to laugh.

    A time to grieve and a time to dance.

 A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.

    A time to embrace and a time to turn away.

 A time to search and a time to quit searching.

    A time to keep and a time to throw away.

 A time to tear and a time to mend.

    A time to be quiet and a time to speak.

 A time to love and a time to hate.

    A time for war and a time for peace.

This begs the question of how … How do I know when to be quiet and when to speak?  When to tear down and when to build up?  When to embrace and when to turn away?  Only God knows the answers to these questions, and the more I commune with Him, seeking His will, the more I will discover my purpose. 

I know God has amazing things planned for me in 2024.  Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”  What an unfathomable thought!  Before I was even born, God knew His plan for me. 

What about you?  Where do you need to sharpen yourself?  What word can you begin applying to your life in the new year?  Pray about it.  Ask God to reveal that perfect word.  Listen.  He will gently begin nudging you where you need to be. 

Challenge: I would love to hear back from anyone out there who would like to share their word for the new year.  What word is God impressing on your heart?  Share it in a reply below.

Song application: The song “Faithfully” by TobyMac has been getting a lot of air time lately on the radio.  It has become my anthem to describe my innermost feelings when I reflect on 2023. 

It’s been a long year, it almost took me down, I swear
Life was so good
I’m not so sure we knew what we had
I’ll never be the same man
I’ll never feel like I felt before (felt before)
It’s been a hard year, it almost took me down

But when my world broke into pieces
You were there faithfully
When I cried out to You, Jesus
You made a way for me
I may never be the same man
But I’m a man who still believes
When I cried out to You, Jesus
You were there faithfully

Prayer points: Lift up the following areas to the Lord …

• Praise God for what He has guided you through this past year.
• Pray that God would reveal a new word for 2024 that can grow you closer to Him.
• Pray that you can faithfully live that word out in your life.

Just for fun: This meme brought a smile to my face.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for this past year and for the possibilities in the new year ahead of me.  May 2024 be a year where I grow spiritually with You.  Amen.