My One Word for 2013

In early December I started mulling over the one word I would focus on for 2013.  I haven’t done this an official way before though in this past year God was speaking to me so clearly through the idea of “making me new.” The idea that newness was coming gave me courage to push through, not settle for janky living, not lose hope.

For 2013, as I prayed I believe the Lord led me to the word: Establish.  I’m praying this year is about establishing new habits, establishing our home, establishing our marriage, establishing new parenting skills, establishing our finances, establishing ourselves.  Establishing something is laying root, giving foundation to that which is new.  My year of establishment is building on all that God has wonderfully resurrected in me in these past few years.

Establishing, root laying, digging out a basement, foundation laying, etc. they all happen beneath the surface.  As I ponder this word, I am keenly aware that what God is calling me to this year is preparatory in nature.  It’s prep work, it’s the hard labor, it’s the foundation of the house that only He can build.

May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us;

establish the work of our hands for us-

yes, establish the work of our hands.

~Psalms 90:17

Establishing is not the exciting stuff, the flash in the pan stuff, nor the adventurous stuff.  (i.e. the totally lame stuff)  Establishing something -painstaking as it can be- is what provides long-term sustainability.  Long-term health, growth & peace.  That’s what I need, and that’s what this little family of mine needs: a good foundation to build on.

I suspect everything about the pursuit of establishment is going to feel just a little bit icky, a little bit off, a little bit scary.  This is I know, if in a year from now all my “big rocks” are in a healthy, established, thriving place I’ll be truly ready for whatever is next.

Tell me, peeps do you have a word you’re milling over for 2013?  If you want to learn more about it, go check out #OneWord365 or @oneword365 over on Twitter.  Sit. Think. Dwell.  Get your word for 2013.  You deserve it.  If you have it, please share it here!