Every year for as long as I can remember I have chosen a Word of the Year. I am a firm believer that words are powerful. What you speak is what you are telling your body, mind, and soul to believe. I have always been very cautious of the words I use.
I was set on my word for about the last four months. I had chosen B-R-A-V-E.
- · Showing courage
- · endure or face (unpleasant conditions or behavior) without showing fear
- · fighting spirit
I knew what some of my goals for the upcoming year would be and I wanted a strong word to get me through the tough times. Times when I would want to give up and not persevere. I just knew this was the word for me in 2016. I went as far as planning on having it tattooed on me. Yes, I was certain that this was to be MY word!
Well, then the Universe had fun with me. During the month of December I could not get away from the word JOY. Every time I picked up something to read- JOY. Every time I went somewhere something would pop out that had the word JOY. Even Starbucks wrote my name wrong on my cup, not once, but TWICE in the same week. Instead of writing Jess the barista wrote JOY. I was laughing at this point.
I understand the importance of joy and really feel like I experience it on a regular basis. I am a joyful person; I try and keep a joyful household and it is important for me to have the office be a joyful place. I love seeing people experience joy. It just seems natural. Oh, how I am wrong on so many levels that I really didn’t even understand until New Year’s Eve.
Have you really taken the time to fully understand what the word JOY means?
Nehemiah 8:10 (ESV) Then he said to them, "Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."
For the joy of the Lord is your strength This beautiful sentence is, literally, delight in Jehovah is a strong refuge.
The joy of the Lord is your strength, i.e. rejoicing in God in the manner prescribed in his word, or serving him with cheerfulness and thankfulness, which is your duty always, but now especially, will give you that strength both of mind and body which you greatly need, both to perform all the duties required of you, and to endure and oppose all the crafty counsels and malicious designs of your enemies against you; whereas this dejection of mind, and excessive grief, if you indulge it, will both offend God, and damp your spirits, and weaken your very bodies, and make you unfit for God’s service, or for your own necessary occasions, and so an easy prey to your enemies.
I am so giggly with excitement over 2016. I have been this way for weeks. I know it is going to be more than amazing. I now know that JOY is the word for me. I love it and am looking forward to a year of awesome adventures, a year of peace, a year of vitality, and year with JOY.
Until next time.
