In the past week, I’ve had two friends pose an idea via social media. At the end of your year, prayerfully choose a single word that you hope will define your next year. Then, use this word as a declaration over your life in that year. Pray on it, study it, speak it over your life. One friend did this for herself personally, the other chose a word as a family. The minute I heard this idea, I knew we needed this for our 2017.

I’ve seen so many good “words” that sweet friends will be claiming this year. Renewal. Fulfillment. Acceptance. Discipline. Transformation. I’ll provide a link at the end of this post to a dear friends’ blog, where she also discusses her word for 2017.

I read the first friends’ post on New Years Eve. I hadn’t even posed the idea to my husband yet, when a word came to my mind during our New Years Eve church service. I knew this word was for me. And, when I later voiced the idea to my husband that we do this as a family, he agreed that this was the perfect word for our 2017.

GROWTH.

I, as a person, and we, as a family, want…and need…to grow in so many ways in this coming year. First and foremost, spiritually. There is obviously always room for growth in our walk with the Lord. That’s a given. But, individually and as a couple, our household has become what feels a little stagnant. We faced some hard things in 2016- big, faith challenging things. Things that rocked us a little. Some of our spiritual mentors became less present in our lives. Our faith wavered a little. Gods’ promises didn’t pan out the way we thought they would. Our faith was on trial, and I, for one, could feel it. We pray to grow closer to God than ever before in the coming year. We pray to be more intentional in our time spent with the Lord. We pray for clearer understanding of His Word and His purposes for us. We pray for our salt to regain its’ flavor this year. We need spiritual growth.

Personally, I have a longing for growth in my purpose and His annointings on my life. I want to be certain, without a doubt, that I’m walking in the calling He has for me. This has been on my heart for some time now. But, with all the roles I’m called to fill in this season of my life, it’s challenging to grow in some areas- this area in particular. I need to be more intentional in doing– putting into practice- what God has told me to do. Write. See…….I’m so hesitant to share this. But, maybe if I share it here, I’ll have more accountability. Only a small handful of really close friends know what God really told me to do a couple years ago. A couple YEARS, I’ve been putting Him off, y’all! And these ladies are good at reminding me. But, I haven’t held up my end & been intentional in doing it. I need to grow here!There are two things in my life that I have been 110%, absolutely certain that God spoke directly to me & told me to do. One was to not take the medicine that would, in turn, bring a successful pregnancy to fruition. Thank you, Lord! The second- He told me to write a book. I need intentionality, growth within myself and my calling, to do this. I mean, I don’t know the first thing about writing- much less writing a book! Oh man, do I need growth in wisdom, knowledge…so many things!  2017 is the year.

Our family is praying for financial growth this year. We ended this past year with a desire and driving effort to pay down debt, be more intentional and guarded in our spending, and be better stewards of what the Lord has given us. We are praying for growth not necessarily just in finances (although that would surely be nice!), but in our wisdom of stewardship over them.

As a family, we would like to see growth in relationships. Those within our household, as well as outside of it. We would like to see growth in our careers, and certainty that we’re walking in His purpose in them. We pray for growth in our church, its membership and leadership. We pray for spiritual growth within our city. I pray for growth in compassion within myself.

Lastly, we pray that the Lord would allow us to see physical growth in our family in 2017. Yes, physical…as in, a baby. We are prayerful, we have faith, we have expectation, and we will be claiming this in 2017. We understand that His plans are perfect, but this is our hope.

These are some of the ways we hope to see GROWTH in the coming year. I’m certain that God will go above & beyond our expectations. I’m sure that He will show us growth in ways that we can’t even think of or expect right now. I’m excited to see how He will use this word in our life this year!!

When I look up the word Growth, the synonyms are “development” and “maturation” and “blooming”. And that! That is absolutely perfect for what I hope for myself and my family this year.

And now, I challenge you. Whether you choose to do this individually or as a family, pray that the Lord will show you a word for you this year. Let it be your motto this year. Pray that God will bring it to your mind often. Pray that He will bring it to fruition in your life. Study it. Meditate on it. Find verses about it. Seek it. And let God do the rest.

Here are some verses & promises from His Word about growth that I’ve found recently.

“For now I have chosen and consecrated this house, that My name may be there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually.” – 2 Chronicles 7:16

“Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing, and increase the harvest of your righteousness.”- 2 Corinthians 9:10

“but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head- Christ” -Ephesians 4:15

“that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” -Colossians 1:10

“but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.” -2 Peter 3:18

If you’d like to read about my friends’ word, and how she will be seeking Renewal this year, check out her blog at Momma Needs A Minute {Renewal Post}.

Have a blessed 2017, friends!!