What’s Your One Word for 2012? A Faith Dare
When you make new year resolutions, do you think of who you are becoming more than what you want to be doing?
You wouldn’t think it’d be so difficult.
To choose one word. For the new year.
But, it is.
I’ve been trying on my one words for 2012, like a madwoman in a dressing room trying on clothes. Right before summer.
Does this fit right?
Is it me?
How in the heck do you wear this thing?
My first thought was to stick with last year’s One Word: confidence. I definitely need a continuing refill on that. But, is this what God wants me to wear new this year?
…Back to trying on more words.
A Soul Resolution
I flipped through my recent journals entries and looked at where my faith journey is pointing next.
I whittled it down to two.
Which one is it?
I made the decision to go with the one I feel least confident about.
The one that takes greater faith.
It’s not one I can easily do, but it’s one I wished was really true.
I call it my New Year’s “Soul Resolution“, because it’s more about living it out in my heart, rather than striving to accomplish a goal.
My One Word for 2012 is taken from Isaiah 62:4 –
“It will no longer be said to you, “Forsaken,”
nor to your land will it any longer be said, “Desolate”;
But you will be called, “My delight is in her,”…
For the Lord delights in you.“
His Answer
My One Word is: Delightful.
I am Delightful?
I came across this word in my friend Holley Gerth’s book, God’s Heart For You.
I couldn’t even say that sentence out loud: “In God’s heart, I am delightful.”
Here’s what Holley said –
“I frequently ask… What brings you joy? Delight, which is a synonym for joy, is powerful.
If you asked God the same question, what do you think He would say? As amazing as it may sound one of His answers would be “You”.
Not The Same
We’ve all got some mountains to climb this year, even though we all walk through different seasons of faith.
After an extended season of letting go, God is calling me to step out in new circles, friendships and adventures.
With each new beginning, I face my old giants again. Insecurities return. I feel the scar of the past.
It takes faith to walk out into the open fields again.
But, it’s different this time, God says. You are not the same Bonnie.
Faith has rebuilt my heart.
God’s love has healed me and I know He is strong enough to carry me through.
I feel the joy of His goodness and He’s brought me faith friends who understand and encourage me.
This time through, I want Jesus to make me new this way –
Delightful.
A Faith Dare
Like my boys who toddled their walk with first steps, I am opening my heart to learn too.
I am daring to walk as a woman who God tenderly whispers, “You are my delight.”
How will this happen? I am not sure, but I am confident He knows.
I am praying His word will settle deep in my soul and become a living part of me.
I’m asking myself how would I do life differently, if I really believed this were true?
I’ve begun brainstorming a list — A Faith Dare of Delight –
how I’d do things differently,
preferences I’d adopt,
what I’ll say no to,
what I’ll say yes,
things to enjoy, and
things to try.
Don’t worry. I don’t plan to do them all. Maybe one or two?
Who knows what ups and downs the new year will bring?
It doesn’t really matter.
Because after all, in God’s heart — I am delightful.
So are you.
And that’s all that matters.
I’m curious what the year ahead has in store for us. Together, we can share the journey. We can encourage each other in our One Words for 2012 — our Faith Dares for the year.
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What is One Word God is placing on your heart for 2012?
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*** NOW, IT’S YOUR TURN — FAITH BARISTA JAM! ***
*Today’s 1/5/12 Topic*
Share one word God is putting on your heart for the new year. (Here are last year’s One Wordsfor 2011. Click here.)
*Next Thursday’s 1/12/12 Topic: * Share your thoughts on the One Word: Delight
Approach it any way you feel inspired! Only required ingredient: keep it real.
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Trackbacks & Pingbacks
- One Word
- New Year of Boldness « Julie Sunne
- Pursue
- one word 2012: connect « inspiration-driven life
- 2012: Just ONE Word? « betsystretar
- { Faith Dare } Open To Love | Faith Barista
- When Stars Come Out | Writing… Apples of Gold
- Light in My Heart | Writing… Apples of Gold
- { Faith Dare } Joy Takes More Than One Coat Of Paint | Faith Barista
- Why You Can’t Turn Back When You’re Pregnant With a Promise | Faith Barista
- Your One Word For 2012 Matters | Faith Barista
- Focus Word~Affirm « Because Of Grace
- One Word: Giving Voice to Your Soul When You Have Very Little To Offer | Faith Barista
Sheryl on What I Killed & What I Want To Write Instead
Vikki Sapp on What I Killed & What I Want To Write Instead
Vicky on What I Killed & What I Want To Write Instead
Debbie on What I Killed & What I Want To Write Instead
Katy on What I Killed & What I Want To Write Instead
I love it! “Delightful’ seems so much more delicate in my mouth than “joy” does . . . and it is so fitting for you. I’m excited to see how God unfolds this idea in your mind, heart, and life this year.
I know it’s true, but I do have a hard time believing that God delights in me. It’s a struggle to grasp that truth.
Sheryl´s last [type] ..One Word for 2012
Beautiful post! Thank you!! My word for this year is CULTIVATE. Last year God brought many new blessings to my life. New job, new friendships, new…well, many things. I was (pleasantly) overwhelmed by the newness but I had no idea how to organize it all. This year He’s teaching me (lesson number one learned last night…blogged about it today) to cultivate those things. No idea what the year holds in the land of cultivation, but I’m eager to see!
Bekah´s last [type] ..Brilliance
This year my word is Confident! For two years I and my husband have been trying for a second child. I am now confident that god has put this want in my heart for his glory and im confident that I can wait this out. To those of you who have a dream and not sure why it’s not come true yet know that god does all for his glory. Pray for me that I can be helping and ever prayerful for my friends who are expecting ans confident that my time will come.
I’ve missed you! Was so glad to see your post land in my inbox!
I like YOUR word……but I know……. I need to have my own.
I’m new at this “word of the year” thing, although I have heard several of my blogger friends mention it. And I already had a word before I realized it was the thing to have!
So my word for this new year is RESCUE. I’ll leave it at that because if I get started on what that word means for me, we might be here till next years new word rolls around.
Julie´s last [type] ..The Place God Calls You
Julie…RESCUE sounds like a word FULL of expectancy…I will look forward to your comments in 2012. BTW, thanks for recommending Sheila Walsh’s book; I really enjoyed it…Blessings on the beginning of your 2012!
Thanks, Tara! Loved that book, too!
Julie´s last [type] ..The Place God Calls You
God smiles in delight when I think of Him looking at me. I’m glad you chose that word for 2012 ~ it’s a great feeling to know God’s love and to know that you are wonderful in His sight! My word will be “persevering hope” because I was told in prayer that God has a new mission for me in the near future and I’ve been waiting so long! I wonder what it will be and when He will prompt me to get started on it.
You are a delight to all of us as well.
Nikole Hahn´s last [type] ..Don’t Die in The Middle of The Race
Love this post, what a great word.
My 2012 one word is Live.
Bindu´s last [type] ..One Word 365
Love this post.
My One Word for 2012 is Righteousness. My focus in all things will be to lead a life that is pleasing to God. This is a big One Word, but I am off on my journey. I have been sown to reap righteousness.
joan´s last [type] ..ONE WORD 2012
love this! was just listening to Beckah Shae’s song “Hephzibah” this morning (on youtube), which speaks of His delight in us. no more shame do we carry, but rather a new name. one of delight. He is pleased with us!
blessings,
steph
HopeUnbroken´s last [type] ..in the grey
I love it! “The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great {delight} in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing (Zeph 3:17)”
My word is “Meekness”. I want to learn to be more willing to submit to the Lord’s will in my life and to do some with “Meekness”. I think is going to be a hard word, but I’m still excited.
Jennifer´s last [type] ..Sacred.
I took your challenge last year and decided on the word intentional – being INTENTIONAL on doing the things I want to, going after dreams, and making relationships. I look back and I would say the word that characterized my year was PURSUIT – both God pursuing me and me pursuing God. Sure there was some intentionality in it but it was much more about become re-acquainted with myself, God, and His will. It was being found, broken, and healed by God’s presence and then stepping out in faith to pursue Him plans in response.
This year, I want to pursue STEADFASTNESS – it’s a quality that drives me towards friends, situation, significant others, and hopefully always GOD. But it isn’t a quality that I necessarily are in myself. So this year, I am focusing on being steady. If you want to know more about my plans and goals, read my blog post at http://journeyunplanned.blogspot.com/2012/01/in-year-in-review-and-preview.html.
BLESSINGS!
Jen´s last [type] ..In Year in Review and Preview
I chose a word that takes greater faith too: “Venture.” It is so NOT me. But all the more reason to choose it: I want it to be SO God.
I love, love, love your choice of Delightful. It fits you well, Bonnie! I’ll look forward to the things you’ll be sharing about it this year.
Lisa notes´s last [type] ..Really, God? My one word for 2012
Wonderful post. My word for the year is EMBRACE. I found that I’ve fallen into a rut of ENDURING life and not EMBRACING it. So my personal commitment to myself (and to my family, because enduring life makes for a wife and mom who is less than fun to be around and my attitude seems to be what trickles through the household) is to Embrace all that life brings, not to simply Endure the days. God provides the challenges for a reason…so I’m hoping to do better at embracing those struggles.
Last evening, my teenage son and I were watching a hockey game on television. Two of our favorite teams were playing, so we honestly weren’t sure who to root for – however, I did notice that, even though this was a big rivalry, the teams were not resorting to fighting (which we often see when watching hockey games). My son mentioned to me that these two teams don’t fight because the goalies set the feeling for the team, and both goalies are calm and confident…and the goalies like each other..so the rest of the players follow the goalie’s lead. He told me that the goalie is like the mom in a family…if the mom is nice, happy and has things under control, then everyone else is calm. But if the mom is in a bad mood, then everyone else is as well. Hmmm…God zapped me with that message:) So now as I embrace life, I’m going to picture myself in the hockey goal – Although goalies wear padding, I’ll be wearing my “armour”, and like those goalies, I will try to set the pace, even while fending off shots coming in from all directions.
Happy New Year.
I have decided my word shall be joy. I want to be joyfull in my life now & when things go wrong. I also heard joy as an acronym for- Jesus- Others-You- a reminder to keep my priorities in order. Put Jesus 1st and the rest will fallinto place
Thank you for sharing your heart with us 
Lovely post Bonnie! Thanks for te encouragement to
Lock on to a word for the year. I’m beginning to settle on the word “offer”.
As in Romans 12…”in view of God’s mercy, to ‘offer’ your bodies as living sacrifices…”
My prayer after a five year season of being ‘under the ground’ so to speak, is to
‘Emerge’ (at first i thought this was my word) to the surface and offer myself to others for the cause of Christ.
With the Spirit’s help, I want that list to include offering 1) my words (that
Bring life to others,, 2) my mind ( to continue to renew my mind and grow in knowledge and grace),
3) my heart (to see others with more of the heart of God), 4) my hands ( to serve others as Jesus would), and
5) my time, that I would manage it well as a good steward of all the Father has entrusted to me.
Looking forward to sharing more on my blog next week.
You are all amazing women! Happy to be a part of this sweet community of God-followers!
Betsy
and ….amazing men. Didn’t mean to exclude the fellas.
Betsy Stretar´s last [type] ..A Time for Everything.
My word for this New year is “Stewardship”. Last year it was “Trust”, and I still need adjustments on that “word dress”. But in looking back on the past year, I can see how God has/is working this out in my life. So this year, I want/NEED God to help me grow in the area of stewardship. I want to be a good steward in all areas of my life; time(spent with Him),health, family and finances. So my prayer is that by the end of this year, I will be able to look back and see how much I’ve grown and put into practice this one word, Stewardship.
I do LOVE your word, it is at time so hard to accept that God delights in me. I can’t wait to see what you have to share about it!!
Delightful is a great choice, Bonnie! If we could only truly believe it–see us as our Father does, what a difference that would make in how all of us live. My word for this year must be “boldness”–similar to your confidence of last. Thanks for the great prompt!
Julie Sunne´s last [type] ..New Year of Boldness
Bonnie, I think your choosing “delightful” is…confident!
God bless you, you who listen to Him.
Monica Sharman´s last [type] ..A Minute Forty-Six
I love that word. It always brings to mind Zephaniah 3:17:
The LORD your God is with you,
the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
but will rejoice over you with singing.
I know you make Him sing.
Sandra Heska King´s last [type] ..Book Review: Understanding What Matters Most by Stephanie Shott
Oh I love your word for 2012! Mine is sufficient. A week in and it’s already challenging me.
Amy Nabors´s last [type] ..Refusal
I no longer want to be afraid to show and share my faith… so my word is “STAND” and in a word study I have found many Bibke verses!
A God who delights in us just because we belong to him is wonderful to ponder for the new year. I was thinking of a parent who looks on a sleeping child with delight and love. The child isn’t even doing anything, and yet the parent is delighted in the child.
ed cyzewski´s last [type] ..Disconnecting: 3 Lessons from a Season of Rest
I have picked a Word of the Year for four years now. It can be life changing! My word this year is ABIDE.
http://unafamiliaalaskena.blogspot.com/2012/01/what-does-it-mean-to-abide.html
Debbie´s last [type] ..What Does it Mean to Abide?
I love this idea which was new to me… My word is “WALK”
I wrote about it on my blog http://journey2wonder.wordpress.com/2012/01/04/my-one-word/
jecolorfulheart´s last [type] ..My One Word
I love this idea that was new to me. My word for the year is “WALK”
I wrote about it on my blog http://journey2wonder.wordpress.com/2012/01/04/my-one-word/
Jill´s last [type] ..My One Word
My word is “Complete”. I want to complete what I set out to do this year. From the easy, I put away what I get out, the bath towel hangs when the shower is finished. To the more difficult, I complete the report when the event is over and pass it on to the next chairperson. I am reading Holley’s book “God’s Heart for You”. “Enough” fit right in with this. I am enough, just as God planned, I am “Complete”. So 2012 is to move forward and continue to “Complete” the plan God has for me. Thank you Faith for sharing.
My word is very closely connected to yours, Bonnie. This is the year I want to drink deeply from the river of God’s delight!
Nancy´s last [type] ..Drink
Wonderful, beautiful, inspiring words, Bonnie. My word is trust. I am excited and anxious to see how God shapes this year. My word last year was Obedience, and I realized through that journey, how trust is connected to obedience in so many ways…
This is my second year now, to pick a “word of the year”, and am finding it very refreshing to do so. Giving a focus, and asking God to teach me more throughout the year about what all is involved in this word that He has put on my heart. Thanks for this place to share about it – and I love your word, Bonnie. How our lives would be totally changed if we lived and walked believing that word every day! Looking forward to hearing more, and growing along with you in “delightful”, as well as in “listening” and in “rest” (my word(s) for the year!).
Cherry´s last [type] ..Word of the Year
I am LOVING your word!
Jamie´s last [type] ..One Word
GRACE is my word for 2012. Grace, because I’ve been listening to the voice of the enemy telling me how fat, stupid, slow, and lazy I am. Grace, because God finds infinite pleasure in me even as He works Christ’s perfection in me. Grace, because I want to relax into His loving arms. Oh yes, this is the year of grace.
Diane Yuhas´s last [type] ..Comment on A Life That Counts by Diane Yuhas
My word is TODAY. I want to live in today. Not yesterdays failures….or successes…. I want to enjoy today. Be thankful for today. Love today. Trusting God’s forgiveness for yesterdays and trusting God’s faithfulness for tomorrow…I can enjoy today. I can be free and breathe deeply right now and every moment, truly living a life (today) abundantly. Jesus came so that we could have life, and have it more abundantly TODAY!!
My one word has become “intentional” – living life with more intention.
I’m recognizing it in my day to day life even now – I’m floundering… I feel depressed (but not sad), unmotivated, and don’t want to get out of bed. This isn’t me in “normal” mode. My daughter says it’s “lazy” after a season of “crazy”, but I think it’s seasonal depression (we’re just turning the corner on getting a bit more sunlight each day!!) and my husband says it’s his crazy work schedule – he’s had long days and no weekend’s off and I miss him (and I’m GLAD I miss him!!). We both agree that it’s got a dose of spiritual warfare in it too, as we’re taking on new challenges and desiring to grow in God in new ways…
So TODAY, with intention, I woke up when I should have, and sat up…no laying in bed till 10…or 11…or 1pm…I opened my bedroom curtains, and grabbed my laptop and am getting to work; knocking through emails/blogs, pages printed off that need to be worked on for church, plans changed for tomorrow since my husband is taking a day off
. God’s good.
My plan for later – clean/rearrange my room to prepare a place of intentionality for quiet time with Him, a prayer closet in the open type of place. OH, and to write out scriptures of “JOY” to remind me that I need to be INTENTIONAL about keeping it around me, at the forefront of my mind. I don’t like being sad/depressed/disinterested, I want to be full of HIS joy, and encourage others to be joyful too!! I need to write these scriptures on my heart and my mind and my doorposts…so I will!!
Have a great day…DELIGHT in Him!! <3
marina bromley´s last [type] ..Thoughts on the New Year 2012
Love your post Bonnie! I’m sensing this year my word is COURAGE. I can get easily ensnared by fear, so I’m anxious to see what God does in me with that word. Blessings to you!!
I think delightful is a great word for you especially given what you already do.
My word this year is “beautiful”… that doesn’t mean an obsession with how I look… but it does mean taking better care of myself… inside and out… and making the most of all that God has given me. So that I will be “beautiful” before the Lord (see Psalm 45:11) and beautiful in my ways and relationships with others so as to attract others to the One that I worship and the One that I serve.
What a wonderful and encouraging word! It makes me feel full of life and joy which are such gracious gifts of our loving God. I’ve also been going through my journals and trying to come up with a word for the year. I still haven’t decided on one but I’m thinking about “faith” as I try to be more obedient to God’s will for my life and stepping out with my writing. Blessings to you!
Sandee´s last [type] ..Praise Him
“I am praying His word will settle deep in my soul and become a living part of me.” YES! I love these words, Bonnie! and A Faith Dare — how wonderful! I am going to steal your list idea. I’m such a visual person, and I think writing it down would help to solidfy my vision
My word for 2012 is SUBSTANCE. I want to be fully authentic and get down to the “real substance” of faith 
Excited to join you on your journey of delight!
Caitlin´s last [type] ..New Beginnings
My word for 2011 was ‘Joy’ and that led me in to all sorts of new ideas and new ways of understanding God’s love. I was thinking about God’s word or phrase for this year and probably deep down looking for something gentle and that required little!!!! A friend said something one day about it being a year when i could go new places, do new things, proclaim God more! So with these two thoughts in my mind I started to pray and that very night the words came. I thought ‘oh no’ that sounds a bit scarey. But the words stuck with me for several days. So 2012 is The Year of Living Dangerously’, I have no idea where that will lead but i think perhaps it is about learning to feel so safe and learning to trust in God that all things are possible! The first thing I did was start a blog. I’ve been writing (mainly poetry) for years but only share a little. Therefore my first dangerous thing is to share more of what tells me with others!
Words reveal so much about ourselves and God’s Word reveals so much about Him. Thanks for your perspective. My word is ‘persevere’: to press into God and be faithful to that to which He has called me to. Standing with you in the Spirit!
Kirsten Holmberg´s last [type] ..Our Good
You probably already know this but I absolutely LOVE your word. It’s like my life word and well hey there’s a reason Isaiah 62:4 is on my wrist! Love it! I bet it’s going to be an awesome year for you!
katy´s last [type] ..Just jump
Blessings Bonnie…What a DELIGHTFUL Word! And I love your SOUL… Resolution! I’m new here and lurk around by reading you in GR then popping in to see what’s happening. Not sure who led me to here, other than God and some of the other bloggers that join you in the Faith Barista JAM Community… I love the heart in which you write and many of the ones that write along with you.
My WORD this year… well, you’ll see it if you pop over. I shared a post on it on Jan. 1st and will continue each week… but have not written one specifically as My ONE WORD yet… just soaking in what God pours in… or shines… but I have created a page and linked to that!
May you truly DELIGHT yourself as HE delights in you in 2012!
Peggy
Peggy´s last [type] ..MAGI ~ 2
Love reading your writings! I feel so encouraged by your words, and always look forward to your posts. Thank you for this challenge. My word is COURAGE. I went back and forth with Obedience or Courage. Courage won because it will take courage to be obedient! Happy New Year!
I love you word, Bonnie. It so describes you!
I have never done this before but am doing it this year. I’ll have a post about it in a few days. I guess I’ll be giving it away but here goes. I didn’t want to choose a word; I wanted the Lord to give me one. It finally came: cautious. I decided to look it up. It partially means: to be cautious is often to show wisdom. Webster’s Unabridged, New Edition, 1881, defines it as “attentive to examine probable effects and consequences of measures, with a view to avoid danger or misfortune.” Synonyms are prudent, guarded, wary, circumspect, watchful, and vigilant.
Unexpectedly, I got another word: journey. Part of journey’s definition means passage or progress from one stage to another. Even more unexpectedly came two more: dwell much. Therefore, I will dwell much in the Lord and be cautious in my journey from one stage to another throughout the coming year.
Great post, Bonnie! May the Lord fill your year with many delights, making it and you delight-full!
Lynn Mosher´s last [type] ..The Quest
My word is Advance! I am excited and scared to find out all that this means. Advance His kingdom, Advance into areas that are new for me, Advance in the face of adversity.
Jann Cobb´s last [type] ..Blame it on the Olibollen
I love your One Word!
Diane´s last [type] ..Women Are To Be…
Wow, what wonderful responses…I wish I had time to read them all…my word for the year is “Peace” peace in my heart and in the hearts of those around me….to stop wrestling and striving and just allow the peace of Christ to fill my heart and spill over onto others. I still am not sure why that word came to me so strong, but I am hopeful to find out this year. Happy New Year Bonnie. Lori
Lori´s last [type] ..I will carry you….
Obedient. I have been called to obedience. Christ the Suffering servant was called to obedience in Isaiah in The Servants Passages. I as a Christian am called to obedience first to Christ and His Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20.
Bonnie, you ARE delightful! Thank you for all the inspiration you bring into our (your reader’s) lives! I have been thinking on what my word will be for 2012, and this is it, “Momentary”: 2 Cor. 4:17 “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” I guess I feel that I have been weighing too many things lately, and then wondering what worth they have…I hope to live, REALLY LIVE, in all the moments that God has in store for my life in 2012. And like you, I am wondering how that will actually look, and what will come my way. But our Great and Wonderful God will be achieving for me an ETERNAL GLORY…WOW…that will outweigh all that transpires in my moments. Can’t wait to see what else God is doing in all of our lives!
My word this year is STRONG/STRENGTH, God is calling me to strengthen many areas of my life and not just my physical self, which is also one area he is calling me…but I am to shore up on all sides of my life…
Hi Bonnie,
This is my first year of having a word. I love the concept and your word “delightful” is a great word. My word for the year 2012 is “seek.” The scripture that touched my heart was Luke 11:9-10. I just love those words of Jesus.
Have a wonderful weekend
Bonnie, what a great challenge and encouragement and I loved reading all the other posts. My word is Abide. I have come to realize that I must abide to bear any good fruit and therefore fix my eyes on Him, rest in Him, come to Him, look for Him (in all circumstances) and all the other words I was tempted to pick will come in His time. I feel like the “cheater” who when given three wishes says, “I’ll take three more” since all the fruit will come from Abide, I’m getting a lot more words for my one word
And, with regards to Delightful I think someone mentioned Zeph 3:17 17 For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”
Thanks for this great way to give my heart and mind focus. As you can see, I’m not a “one word” type of gal, so I really needed the help honing in. Bless you.