TODAY’S SIGNATURE VERSE ••• But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. (Acts 16:25 NKJV)
PRAISE & PRAYER PROMPT ••• I need to make an announcement… this will be the last “My Grace-Full Life” post that I write… this year.
Ba-dum-dum! Insert stupid, cheesy, end-of-the-year joke.
Today, I’m going to end the year with a brief recap of my 2021 Word of the Year (WOY) and the announcement of my 2022. I also covered this in the December column in “Forsyth Family” magazine, so you can read it there if you’re so inclined.
Like every year — the WOY is never fully finished or mastered. It’s a time of growing. I was terrified to study “Surrender” this year, but it was the Word God put on my heart. My biggest takeaway is that surrender is never a one-time thing. Sometimes, surrender is moment by moment. We’re fighting the flesh in addition to our spiritual battles. We have to keep fighting our selfish wants and me-centered attitudes. We have to remember that God’s plan is ALWAYS better than even our most scathingly brilliant ideas.
I covered this more in the article, but I want to share about my 2022 WOY: Worship.
I chose this word back in October. I’m so excited about it — it’s a happy, uplifting word, though I already know a big part of this upcoming year’s lesson will be worshipping God despite my circumstances, not because of them. But since my last two words have been Contentment and Surrender, I’m excited to have word that automatically brings to mind joy and gladness.
Because here’s a truth I already know about worship: when we worship, there’s no room for worry… no room for anxiety… Worship takes us out of the darkness of our fears and into the light of Jesus.
I struggled to choose a verse of the year… But the verse I selected for 2022 will be, “But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them” (Acts 16:25). This is a bit of a departure from my norm because this verse is a part of a narrative. But I chose it because it’s a reminder — Paul and Silas worshipped DESPITE their circumstances. They were in prison, yet they knew God was still on the throne and He is always worthy of our praise and adoration. And if you know the rest of the story — their worship made a difference to others.
Do you study a word of the year? If so, I’d love to know what it is and why you chose it!
Until next year…
Today, as you pray, thank God for the lessons He is constantly teaching us (when we’re willing to learn). Ask the Holy Spirit to help you be a good, receptive student as He works to make you more like Christ.
SHARING ••• My Grace-Full Life is written by Denise Heidel. You are welcome to share anything I write, but please credit my writing and graphics accordingly. Visit www.MyGraceFullLife.com to read past blogs. Subscribe through my website to have My Grace-Full Life delivered to your email. You can unsubscribe at any time. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the NKJV translation.
