As I finished my Chronological Bible reading for 2016 with the book of Revelation this morning, I was overwhelmed by God’s holiness and perfect orchestration of His majesty. Over the past few months I have struggled with this nagging concern that I miss the bigger picture of God’s holiness. The book of Revelation drove this bone marrow deep.
After my reading this morning, I knew My One Word project for 2017 would center on “holiness.”
Learning, searching His Word, praying… yes…I want to know more of His holiness this year.
The My One Word Project by Ashcroft and Olsen
What does it mean to choose a word for a new year? I prayerfully select a word that I feel the Lord is drawing my attention toward. Maybe it’s an area of my life or my heart in which He wants to prune or shape. Maybe it’s a need He wants me to recognize and He desires to fill with Himself. It may be something about Himself He wants to reveal to me.
The Lord and I choose a word, and I toss the list of New Year’s resolutions away. I want God to form my character at a deeper level, a sustainable level this year.
I doodle the word…I pray over the word…
I search Scripture for the word. When is the word used? Where is it used in the Bible? How is it used? Who is uses it? Why is it used in the context it is?
Word studies…Hebrew and Greek…
Selecting a word demands greater focus for me. It requires intentionality.
The word “holiness” will become the lens through which I examine my heart and my life for an entire year. The book My One Word by Ashcroft and Olsen has been a tremendous tool over the last couple of years. The goal of the My One Word project is ultimately a transformed heart.
My One Word journey this year is holiness.
According to Ashcroft and Olsen, “The aim is for you to use your one word to get into a focused posture and remain there while you depend on Christ. Change is possible. Focus is required.” I am focussing on God’s ability to do in me what I cannot do for myself.
Holiness… In Hebrew, quadosh… Greek, haigos…
The following quote from Art Lindsley sits on my heart as I think about the Lord placing this word before me this year. “One of the most important attributes for understanding God and ourselves is God’s holiness. When we catch a vision of God’s holiness, we can regard many things in our lives as holy. When we lose a sense of God’s holiness (as many have), then we lose the realization that anything is holy or unholy. In this latter case, we also lose a sense of our own sinfulness, our need for God’s grace, and the desperate plight of our culture.”
My prayer is for a greater realization of what is holy and what is unholy. My prayer is for a deeper need for Him in my day, in my life…and wisdom.
Did you have a word for 2016? My word this year was JOY!
What is your 2017 word?
My ONE Word by Mike Ashcraft and Rachel Olsen
My Philippians 4:8 Life 