It’s that time of year when I start to seek and often find a theme word for the following calendar year.

What if you find yourself not finished with your word for this year, or what if it feel like you've fallen short of the goals for the word and for the year? Yep, that’s where I’m at.

For example, I’m doing an A-Z of my word “Mystery.” You may have noticed I’ve only posted A-K. That’s because I’m not done. Here it is November and I’m on “L”. That means I’m only 11 words into a 26 page spread journal.

If I put pressure on myself to hurry and catch up by the end of this year (next month) I will lose much of what I am supposed to learn in the process. The outcome will most likely be disappointing. What to do?

For the first time, I’ve considered having the same word for two years in a row. It is a totally acceptable and maybe even good option. Although continuing the word Mystery in 2019 is a valid option, it feels a bit like I'm trying to avoid feeling failure, since I didn’t meet my expectations. Also, what if I get bored because it's like making the same journal twice in a row? What if I want to give up shortly after the first of the year, or when I finally finish the A-Z of Mystery journal? 

At times like these, I’ve found it’s good to pause, get quiet, and ask God to speak to me about my word, without me contriving how I can work it out to make me feel better…

As I sense God speaking to my heart, I hear, “Release your expectations. There’s a reason you're on “L” in November." My “L” word is Light. I’m fascinated with the colors of light, light shining in the darkness, and the Light of the World… Certainly there is enough about light, as a noun and a verb, and even an adjective to be a word of the year. Light is a word full on mystery. Even better, Light reveals mysteries. Just as this year, 2018, is flowing into 2019, my word for 2018, Mystery, and it’s darkness is making way for the Light of revelation. Stars sparkle in the darkness, dawn breaks through after the darkness of the night. May it be so in 2019!

I'm still leaving room for another word, but it feels good to have some revelation, some movement... toward the Light. Now I notice in the "Mystery" page, shown above, there is a hexagram and candle light. Those are two of the symbols I was thinking of for 2019, and I'm taking that as a confirmation for "Light" as my word for next year.

The process of listening to God without expectation of outcome for my word of the year has brought my thinking and feeling from a place of discouragement into a place of gratitude and hope.

Looking through my 2018 everyday journal, I’ve decided to add a page at the end of “My Favorite Things in 2018.” This is a good activity for me. It causes me to realize the benefits of keeping a journal, and helps me focus on being grateful and on the many blessings I have and have enjoyed in 2018. Even though I didn’t finish all I intended, I did other beautiful things that were unexpected and unplanned. 

As we move from the Gratitude of November into the Advent of December, may we be filled with hope and the revelation Light of the Holy Trinity.

"I pray that the light of God
will illuminate the eyes of your imagination,
flooding you with light, until you experience
the full revelation of the hope of his calling -
that is, the wealth of God's glorious inheritances
that he finds in us, his holy ones."

Ephesians 1:18 TPT

"Our loving Lord
is not just present,
but nearer than the thought can imagine -
so near that a whisper can reach Him."

Amy Carmichael

Bernice Hopper, and Mary Brack, and I share insights through blog posts for keeping an Everyday Calendar Journal. We will be using the journal to record events, experiences and relationships; to explore our word’s meaning in visual and fun ways. If you would like to connect with others in creative way about organizing your word, your ideas, thoughts, prayers, events, or your projects all in one place, you are invited to join our Facebook group: Everyday Journals ~ Living Your Word of the Year.URL for Facebook group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/203309083575277/

URLs for Instagram: #livingyourword2018 & #everydayjournals2018

CHECK OUT THE BLOGS:

Bernice: https://newlycreative.blogspot.co.uk

Mary:  www.foundonbrighton.com

Valerie: https://valeriesjodin.com/blog/ (this one :-)