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Following God For the Family You

I’ve Picked One Word for One Year, Now What?

I've Picked One Word for One Year, Now What?

A lot of you chose to ditch the traditional new year resolutions in favor of selecting one word for one year for a transformed forever.

You’ve bought a cheap journal; you’ve picked on one word for this year… now what?

If this describes you, don’t worry.  You are not alone!  A lot of friends have asked, “What’s next?”

Here are a few suggestions to go forward after you picked on one word for one year :

1. Talk to God.  Spend time with Him and literally ask Him what it is He wants to teach you.  And remember this:

God doesn’t help those who help themselves.  God helps those who abide with him, those who walk with him in faith.

2. Depend on God.  While you’re spending time with God, be mindful that this one word exercise isn’t a magic tool to make you patient or thinner or happier. No, no, no!

The goal this year is not for you to swear you’ll do better at this or for you to promise you’ll never again do that.  Sweeping promises inevitably breed feelings of failure.  The aim is for you to use your one word to get into a focused posture and remain there while you depend on Christ.

3. Wait actively on God. I know, I know… how can we “wait” AND “be active” at the same time?  One way is this… pray (active) that God would show you His teaching through your word; read books, quotes, the Bible and listen to friends, sermons, your spouse (all active); jot down “take-away” ideas in your journal (active)… and then wait for God to connect the dots for you. Because He WILL.

God is honored not by your chosen word but by your faith in him to effect change through this process.

4. See life through your word. As I’ve looked at my habits “through” my word (“discipline”), I’ve noticed that when working on my computer I use two different browsers with a total of 10-15 unrelated windows. I am sensing that to have better productivity, I need to improve focus when I work. I also see that time with my girls is more meaningful NOT when I’m trying to multitask, but instead when I am disciplined enough to give them my full attention.  These are just two areas where I see God speaking to me through my word, nudging me to be more disciplined. In essence:

I want to train my eyes to look at my world — all of it — through the lens of my one word.  I need to learn to see differently, if I am going to live differently.

When you begin seeing your world through the lens of your one word, opportunities for action and growth abound.

5. Write down the “a-ha” insights. They might be so profound that you know you’ll remember them, but you won’t.  So… write. them. down.  Writing helps you articulate, pay attention to and SEE the God-work:

I am convinced that our struggle to see God at work in our lives is not a result of his lack of work, but rather of our lack of attention to it.  Our failure to take the time to articulate it when it happens.

I don’t think of myself as a writer but as someone who is willing to take the time to articulate how I have tasted and seen that God is good.  This is an act of worship.

6. Ignore the calendar.  So what that it’s the end of January and you haven’t written a thing in your journal.  Have you selected a word?  Have you started spending more time with God?

We become so consumed with getting where we believe God wants us to be that we forget to be with God.

There’s nothing particular about day number 365.  There is also nothing magical about January; you can begin in any month you like or in any month you find yourself.

7. Stick with it. Days and even weeks may go by where nothing seems worthy enough to be captured in your journal, and God seems silent.  Trust that He has not forgotten.

… the single most difficult part of this One Word journey is continuing to focus on our word for a full year.  To get the most out of this project, it’s imperative that we find ways to regularly pay attention to it.

8. Enter this giveaway, and if you don’t win, buy this book. Do you see all of those perceptive and discerning quotes beneath my numbered suggestions above?  Every single wise tidbit came from this book:

My One Word: Change Your Life with Just One Word

My One Word: Change Your Life with Just One Word

Mike Ashcraft and Rachel Olsen have been doing the one word challenge for years, and they wrote down all their wisdom in this incredibly helpful book that is SURE to give you clarity as well as practical applications for your pilgrimage.

AND GUESS WHAT??  They gave us two copies of the book AS WELL AS two copies of the accompanying DVD study!!  So you can read this book with friends, watch the DVD teaching, and learn together how to ensure that your one word for one year can transform your forever!!

Enter to win a copy of My One Word and the accompanying DVD study below! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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About Rhonda Owens

Rhonda Owens is the co-author of the "Undivided" devotional series: Undivided Family: Living FOR And Not Just WITH One Another and Undivided Marriage: When TWO People Become ONE Flesh. Gifted with one beautiful daughter for her tenth wedding anniversary and another for her twentieth, high school English teacher turned homeschooling mom Rhonda Owens is passionate about the Word. She loves nothing more than to study it, talk about it, write about it, apply it, live it and teach it… all preferably accompanied by deep community and good chocolate. Exploring with her husband Mitchell and her two girls is a favorite pastime, and you might find them snorkeling, hiking, or kayaking in a remote corner of God’s world.

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Comments

  1. Lisa Landrum Henson says

    January 30, 2014 at 12:07 pm

    I haven’t found my word yet! I’d love to win the book and study set.

    • Rhonda says

      January 30, 2014 at 12:32 pm

      Good luck!

  2. Treva Buchanan says

    January 30, 2014 at 12:07 pm

    I’ve actually picked 3 words this year & they all fit so well together…pray, lean & trust

    • Rhonda says

      January 30, 2014 at 12:32 pm

      Oooooo… that’s interesting. I haven’t seen anyone try three at a time. BUT it looks like it will work beautifully since they are so interconnected!

  3. massies6@yahoo.com massie says

    January 30, 2014 at 12:12 pm

    Looks like a cool book! Great tips …

    • Rhonda says

      January 30, 2014 at 12:31 pm

      You’ll really love it!

  4. Leigh Ann Meadows Hollinghead says

    January 30, 2014 at 12:13 pm

    I don’t have a word yet. Thanks for the post. I was wondering what people were talking about and then I saw this on FB.

    • Rhonda says

      January 30, 2014 at 12:31 pm

      If God lays it on your heart to join the journey, you’ll be so glad you did!

  5. Tiffani Anderson says

    January 30, 2014 at 12:19 pm

    I chose patience as my word. Such a hard one. O.o

    • Rhonda says

      January 30, 2014 at 12:30 pm

      YES! SO. HARD!

  6. Nicole Padilla Darcy says

    January 30, 2014 at 12:27 pm

    My word is “bloom”

    • Rhonda says

      January 30, 2014 at 12:30 pm

      Love it!

  7. Rachel Harvel says

    January 30, 2014 at 12:29 pm

    I have a word, but I’m definitely struggling with it….in fact, completely forgot that I was supposed to have a journal for it….ha!

    • Rhonda says

      January 30, 2014 at 12:30 pm

      Haha, Rachel! The beauty of that is you DO NOT have to be tied to a calendar or anything. So you’re still good! 🙂

  8. Briana says

    January 30, 2014 at 12:39 pm

    Interesting concept. I would love to read more about it.

    • Rhonda says

      January 30, 2014 at 1:04 pm

      YAY! I hope you win the book and DVD so you can delve more into this journey!

  9. Jackie Clemonds says

    January 30, 2014 at 12:41 pm

    My word for this year is peace. In one month It has changed the atmosphere in our home already. God is blessing us through this in so many ways!

    • Rhonda says

      January 30, 2014 at 1:03 pm

      AWESOME! Isn’t it AMAZING how God works through one. teensy. tiny. WORD? Love this! Thanks for sharing!

  10. Brenda Veinotte says

    January 30, 2014 at 12:43 pm

    My word is no fear..actually two words.

    • Rhonda says

      January 30, 2014 at 1:03 pm

      Hmmm… I really like that… I’m wondering how it would look if you focused on the positive alternative to that. So instead of focusing on NO FEAR, I wonder what would happen if you focused on, say, COURAGE? Praying that God speaks clearly to you through your word and sooo confident that He will!

  11. Amanda Doyle says

    January 30, 2014 at 12:47 pm

    If I had to choose one word for the year I would choose patience. I would love to read this book, it is a very interesting twist on having a New Years resolution!

    • Rhonda says

      January 30, 2014 at 1:01 pm

      Patience is a really good one!

  12. Sherri says

    January 30, 2014 at 12:58 pm

    I’ve picked a word. I hope I win this!

    • Rhonda says

      January 30, 2014 at 1:38 pm

      Good luck!

  13. Denise says

    January 30, 2014 at 1:01 pm

    I have so many issues that need addressing- I don’t know what to address first. So I suppose my word should be discernment!

    • Rhonda says

      January 30, 2014 at 1:38 pm

      Ooooo! Love hearing your process of picking a word!

  14. Jacqueline says

    January 30, 2014 at 1:04 pm

    This email was very much needed! Thank you for the encouragement. 🙂 My whole
    family is doing this together and this has helped us know more about what to do to make this part of our life.

    • Rhonda says

      January 30, 2014 at 1:37 pm

      So glad it helped! How cool that your family is doing it together!

  15. Donna Scott Cantlay says

    January 30, 2014 at 1:06 pm

    just ordered book and dvd study…. a little late but I can’t wait to begin…. wow… may use the word GROW still praying for the one word.

    • Rhonda says

      January 30, 2014 at 1:37 pm

      Super! You will love the book! And I love your word!

  16. Daisy Fields says

    January 30, 2014 at 1:34 pm

    My word for 2014 is RELAX! I’m a perfectionist and try to do everything. I actually started this as my goal during Christmas holiday events. Best. Christmas. Ever. I even took a nap on Christmas Day before loading up the family to go to relatives’ homes. It was wonderful! 🙂

    • Rhonda says

      January 30, 2014 at 1:36 pm

      AWESOME!

  17. Lezli says

    January 30, 2014 at 1:58 pm

    I have not found my word yet. I need to get the book and pary about it.

    • Rhonda says

      January 30, 2014 at 4:15 pm

      God WILL give you one! It’ll be soooo awesome and refreshing and obvious when He does!

  18. Rae Wright says

    January 30, 2014 at 2:20 pm

    My one word is enjoy. I don’t seem to enjoy life and I need to change that. I want to enjoy who I am in Christ, enjoy all the small things around me, even people, places and food even. I just want to take the moments that go by so quickly, slow down to enjoy and savor them.

    • Rhonda says

      January 30, 2014 at 4:14 pm

      So true for so many of us, that we don’t slow down to enjoy the moments God gives us. What an awesome journey you’re going to be on this year!

  19. Cassie DeLapp says

    January 30, 2014 at 2:25 pm

    My one word is WAIT. Waiting on The Lord to lead and guide and direct my steps before taking them. Waiting for His will to be done in my life not on my time frame but His. He has big plans in the works right now and I just need to wait.

    • Rhonda says

      January 30, 2014 at 4:11 pm

      Ooooo… wait is a HARD one, I bet! But soooo good!

  20. Samantha Gluck says

    January 30, 2014 at 2:52 pm

    I love the idea of one word. My family and I have been doing this for years; although, we didn’t call it one word. We choose a personal concept or even a strength/weakness that each of us wants to work on throughout the year and we choose one as a family. I didn’t realize there was a whole movement centered around this idea; nor, did I realize that there was an entire book about it. Thank you for sharing your encouragement and thoughts with us.

    • Rhonda says

      January 30, 2014 at 4:13 pm

      That’s so cool that you’ve been doing it all along!

      • Samantha Gluck says

        January 30, 2014 at 4:29 pm

        Well, “sort of” doing it all along. Ours is a “concept” or strength or weakness that we want to work on through out the year. I hope I win the One Word book and set. Will be so cool to read how “it’s really done”!

  21. Kris Biddle says

    January 30, 2014 at 2:56 pm

    My one word is eucharisteo and I am loving what God is doing in my life through it. 🙂

    • Rhonda says

      January 30, 2014 at 4:13 pm

      YES! Loved Ann Voskamp’s book, 1,000 gifts!

  22. Shirica says

    January 30, 2014 at 2:57 pm

    My word is strengthen.

    • Rhonda says

      January 30, 2014 at 4:12 pm

      Good one.

  23. Lisa White says

    January 30, 2014 at 2:59 pm

    My word this year is PEACE.

    • Rhonda says

      January 30, 2014 at 4:12 pm

      Makes me think of the hymn… “Peace like a river…”

  24. Jessica Fisher says

    January 30, 2014 at 3:05 pm

    Yes, my word is UNCONDITIONALLY

    • Rhonda says

      January 30, 2014 at 4:12 pm

      I haven’t heard that one before! Super creative!

    • Rhonda says

      February 1, 2014 at 7:44 pm

      Great word!

  25. Beth Wood Anderson says

    January 30, 2014 at 3:22 pm

    My word for this year is Thrive. My husband is being sent out on his third deployment to the Middle East this year; I don’t want to just survive yet another deployment, but to Thrive and grow through the challenging year ahead. 🙂

    • Rhonda says

      January 30, 2014 at 4:12 pm

      Wow. What a great testimony you’re going to have. And what a good message for anyone going through something difficult!

  26. Su Ann says

    January 30, 2014 at 3:34 pm

    Yes, my word is BELIEVE. Thanks!

    • Rhonda says

      January 30, 2014 at 4:11 pm

      Love it!

  27. Tammie Dillard says

    January 30, 2014 at 4:21 pm

    Our family word for 2014 is “Believe”. My individual word for 2014 is “Faith”

    • Rhonda says

      January 30, 2014 at 5:53 pm

      I love to hear that families are doing this together. So cool!

  28. ClubTwenty says

    January 30, 2014 at 4:46 pm

    My word is “Create.” Lately, I’ve felt too tired to create much, so this blog post was timely as I don’t want to lose sight of my goal. Thank you!

    • Rhonda says

      January 30, 2014 at 5:52 pm

      Love that word! So much potential there for sure!

  29. Linda Yost says

    January 30, 2014 at 5:50 pm

    I just read this, then found the introductory post from December. I am praying about my “word” and that I win the book and DVD. I love your site and insight! Thanks for sharing!

    • Rhonda says

      January 30, 2014 at 5:52 pm

      Thanks, Linda!

  30. Kristina says

    January 30, 2014 at 6:10 pm

    The word *Family* keeps popping into my head, so I think I will be using that one! Plan to get the family to choose their own words as well 🙂

    • Rhonda says

      January 31, 2014 at 1:44 am

      Ooooo… haven’t heard that word yet. And I do love to hear families doing this challenge together!

  31. Liana Montanher says

    January 30, 2014 at 7:08 pm

    My word is kindness…..for myself and to teach my girls, often I realized, before Christmas, that I was not living out the fruit of the Spirit and God burdened my heart to learn along with my 4yr old what kindness is and what it looks and sounds like

    • Rhonda says

      January 31, 2014 at 1:43 am

      So sweet… and to have the purpose of specifically passing along what you learn to your girls. Love it!

  32. Jenni says

    January 30, 2014 at 7:23 pm

    I had a word in 2013 – remember – but this year, I haven’t really found my word. There’s so much going on in my life right now, I’m not sure which way to turn! =)

    • Rhonda says

      January 31, 2014 at 1:43 am

      Hmmmm… maybe “peace” or “quiet” or “still”… Keep praying. God will show you the focus He has for you!

  33. Kristin says

    January 30, 2014 at 7:58 pm

    This is my first year picking one word and it’s INTENTIONAL. I’ve seen some fruit of this so far so I’m excited to see what the rest of the year has in store for me!

    • Rhonda says

      January 31, 2014 at 1:42 am

      That’s a great word!

  34. Stephanie Marie says

    January 30, 2014 at 8:10 pm

    My one word is Bless. I was sure of this word before the new year began. Excited to see what happens.

    • Rhonda says

      January 31, 2014 at 1:42 am

      Awesome!

  35. disqus_jswRrpDmR0 says

    January 30, 2014 at 8:16 pm

    My word: TRUST
    My verse: Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
    And lean not on your own understanding; Prov. 3:5

    • Rhonda says

      January 31, 2014 at 1:41 am

      Amen! Good one!

  36. Danielle Ingram says

    January 30, 2014 at 11:39 pm

    My one word: humility. In God’s word it says that to the humble He’ll impart grace (James 4:6), wisdom (Prov. 11:2), He’ll lead and teach us (Psalm 25:9), and He’ll hear our cries/prayers (lots of verses!). I definitely am in need of all of those things, so I want to humble myself so I can be taught and led by the Lord!

    • Rhonda says

      January 31, 2014 at 1:41 am

      My word was humility last year and WHOA did God speak to me through that word! I LOVE these verses you’ve listed here, and I plan to add them to my journal on humility even though it was “last year’s” word! Thanks!

  37. Gigi says

    January 31, 2014 at 3:47 am

    FREEDOM!

    • Rhonda says

      January 31, 2014 at 6:03 pm

      Yessssss!

  38. ashley says

    January 31, 2014 at 5:15 am

    great timing for me to stumble across this post. i’ve been feeling Him laying it on my heart to choose a word for this year. i don’t know what it is yet, but i’m getting there. thanks for sharing.

    • Rhonda says

      January 31, 2014 at 6:02 pm

      Yay!

  39. Leah Casper says

    January 31, 2014 at 6:39 am

    My word should be focus…

    • Rhonda says

      January 31, 2014 at 6:02 pm

      Mine is “discipline,” but a lot of what God has been showing me has had to do with “focus.” 🙂

  40. Nadia Comaneci Gadson-Moses says

    January 31, 2014 at 9:00 am

    Still trying to discern…

    • Rhonda says

      January 31, 2014 at 6:02 pm

      Be patient… God WILL lead you!

  41. Lynn says

    January 31, 2014 at 10:17 am

    My word is Freedom!

    • Rhonda says

      January 31, 2014 at 6:01 pm

      Great word choice!

  42. Brooke Irwin says

    January 31, 2014 at 12:23 pm

    My one word is Intentional. I’m a stay at home mom, and I often feel like I’m so distracted by other things than to focus on my main thing, which is spending time with my kids. I’m looking forward to growing in this area! Thanks for the giveaway!

    • Rhonda says

      January 31, 2014 at 5:57 pm

      YES! Ahhhhh! That is a trap we all fall into if we aren’t… well… intentional! Good luck in the giveaway!

  43. Kelli j says

    January 31, 2014 at 1:27 pm

    This is a great idea. I will be praying for a word the weekend!

    • Rhonda says

      January 31, 2014 at 6:01 pm

      Awesome!

  44. Shelly Roy says

    February 1, 2014 at 3:56 am

    My word is discernment. Thanks for the chance to win-this book looks fascinating!

    • Rhonda says

      February 4, 2014 at 3:14 am

      LOVE that word. I might have to take a look at that one in the future, too.

  45. Kirsten says

    February 3, 2014 at 12:16 pm

    I have just been introduced to this idea, so I haven’t chosen a word yet. I’m thinking patience is my most needed focus right now, but want to pray about it before deciding.

    • Rhonda says

      February 4, 2014 at 3:14 am

      I’m praying for you right now, that God would lead you to the word He’d have for you this year!

  46. Michelle Axton Kelly says

    February 4, 2014 at 2:05 pm

    Thank you for this! My word for 2014 is Undaunted! It is inspired by Christine Caine’s book by the same title. After two years where I lost, then mourned three parents while adding a cross country move into the mix I needed to refocus my heart and felt God’s prompting that despite my surroundings I could fight for the life of victory and joy He promised. Blessings for your wonderful blog! I loved today’s post on sibling rivalry too!

  47. Matt Ham says

    February 4, 2014 at 4:41 pm

    Great blog Rhonda! I had Mike and Rachel back on in December. Such a powerful principle and so glad to see you embracing AND sharing!

    My word is TRUST this year and it’s already knocking my socks off!

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