The Word for 2023

Grace and Truth

Two years ago, I wrote about choosing a word of the year. I shared how I had done that with my students, and it was a big success. We developed goals and sought to meet those goals throughout the year.

As I have been reflecting on this year and thinking about next year, I realized that I need to develop the mindset of THE WORD FOR A YEAR. I need God’s Word for a year.

John 1:14 says, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (KJV). Jesus is the Word who became human and lived on earth. He was “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14 KJV). In Luke 10, Jesus goes to Mary and Martha’s house for a meal and to teach. While Martha was hosting, Mary was spending time with Jesus. Verse 39 says that Mary “sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word” (KJV). May we be like Mary who sat at Jesus’ feet and heard his word. Luke 11:28 says, “Blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.”

Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (KJV). God’s Word is alive and active. It guides us to God’s will and helps us determine the condition of our hearts. God’s Word is abundant with grace and truth. Grace to show us his unmerited favor. Absolute truth to give us security in who we are in Christ, direction to live godly lives, and discernment between right and wrong.

Our hearts need God’s Word. When we spend time in God’s Word, we get rooted in truth, and as a result, we stop looking other places to find ourselves, and instead, we our focus becomes on other people. We stop looking for other people to fill our cups. We stop looking for humans to do what only God can eternally do.

Philippians 2:4-5 says, “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.”

We start developing the mind of Christ.

This year, make your goal to be in God’s Word for the year. Ultimately, that is what will forever change your life.

Here are three tips to have the Word for the year:

Get a new Bible to read from this year. Everything needs a fresh start. Perhaps buying a new Bible that can be specifically used for reading the Bible in 2023 is exactly what is needed.
Find pens or Bible highlighters that you like to write with. I love underlining in my Bible with the Papermate Flair pens. In each chapter you read, underline or highlight one thing that sticks out to you. It may be a whole verse or a part of a verse. Just mark one thing per chapter. By the end of the year, you will have a treasure of verses to look back on that reflect what God was showing you.
When you finish a book of the Bible, date it. Write down the start date and end date. This will give you small manageable goals that will be an encouragement to you. You will visualize your progress. Little goals add up to accomplish the major goals.