Vision - Valor - Victory ~ V in A-Z Word of the Year Challenge
I was almost asleep one night recently when a phrase floated across my mind and I knew it spoke truth and asked to be written down. So I pulled myself out of bed and went to my journal to write:
"Vision with Valor lead to Victory."
This got me thinking of what this means to me personally. I went to the first A-Z journal I did with Bernice Hopper's challenge back in 2013. Here is my V for Vision for that:
Vision is a key word for me right now, and I think for a lot of people as we look forward to the upcoming year 2020.
Looking ahead I see the need for vision and for courage to take action in order to thrive and have victory now and in the year to come.
"The bravest are surely those
who have the clearest vision
of what is before them,
glory and danger alike,
and yet notwithstanding
go out to meet it."
~ Thucydides
Vision is a key word for me right now, and I think for a lot of people as we look forward to the upcoming year 2020.
As you look forward to 2020, will you have a word focus for the year? It will be my 10th year of being intentional about having a word of the year. Finding a word is a bit like a treasure hunt, a prayer, a looking for clues and confirmation. I think I may know what my word for 2020 is. What about you?
Words are powerful! Names are too…
V is my most personal letter, obviously because my name starts with that letter. There are other reasons as well.
As we’ve been going through this A-Z challenge this year, I am reminded of the power of words and especially names. Names are important. I believe people’s humanity is diminished if we only think of them as numbers instead of names.
What’s in a Name?
My name means valor, brave, courageous, of determined purpose.
It seems interesting that these things, especially being brave and charging forward have been the very things that I’ve struggled with for as long as I can remember. When I was 13 years old the speech teacher told my mother I would probably not lead a normal life because I was so afraid of speaking publicly. I dreaded the thought of even making a phone call. That I actually speak to groups, on camera and online at all is a healing miracle for me personally.
Did my parents give me the wrong name? No, I don’t believe they did. The name given me is the name of my true identity. It reminds me of Gideon in the Bible who went from a little cowardly guy harvesting wheat and hiding from the enemy and then was visited by an angel of the Lord who addressed him as, “Gideon, mighty man of valor…” I imagine him turning to see if the angel was talking to somebody else in the room. The truth is, God equips who he calls and often uses the least likely. That has always been encouraging news for me.
“Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit says the LORD of hosts.”
~ Zechariah 4:6
Have you noticed how people tend live up to their first or last name, or what people call them? For example, the piano player with the last name of Keynote… Or someone who acts exactly opposite of the meaning of their name? One person I know name means peace, and is the least peace bringing person I know.
What if you find your name doesn’t have that great of a meaning?
One friend of mine was disheartened to learn her name means ‘wanderer.’ With a meaning like that it’s worthwhile to dig deeper, to look at the opposite. In her case seeking the importance of finding the path that leads to Life, to know your identity and walk in it with purpose and confidence.
Questions & Challenges
What does your name mean?
Ask God what he says to you about your name and what He calls you
How are you living the meaning of your name?
Write down what it means for you to walk out the destiny of your name.
Take one practical action step in that direction today.
Are you seeking a word to focus on for 2020?
What vision do you have for the remainder of 2019 and into 2020
Take some quiet time to ask, pray, consider, and discern, and to write down what comes to mind. In a few days come back to what you wrote. Thoughtfully and prayerfully respond.
Idea
Creatively write your name and think of an acronym for your letters of traits you desire to be true of you.
Imagine
What life would look like with those things to be an accurate description of you?
It takes vision and valor to take action that leads to victory.
Let’s do it!
Living Your Word 2019 Opportunity
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: #livingyourword2019
CHECK OUT THE BLOGS:
Bernice: https://newlycreative.com
Mary: www.foundonbrighton.com
Valerie: https://valeriesjodin.com/blog/ this one :-)