When looking at a New Year, my sister-in-law told me someone once suggested that we choose a “Word for the Year.” And then try to live out . . . live up to . . . that word. Sounds like a great idea.
New Year’s Resolutions have never worked for me. I tend to forget any resolution, sometimes as early as my birthday—which is next week.
Maybe a Word for the Year will be more effective. It’s short. Easy to remember. And it’s much easier to break a resolution that it is to break a word.
The challenge then is to come up with a word that has lasting meaning, significant impact, and a quality of guidance to lead through the next twelve months. There are lots of those words. I think.
You might say Joy. Or Love. Or Kindness. But those words are a bit amorphous. Foggy boundaries. Open to so much interpretation. And very hard to measure.
You might say Diet. Easier to measure. But hard to continually fulfill. And, how does my diet (or lack thereof) impact the world? What difference does it make to 100 million Chinese if I gain or lose five pounds?
But then I thought about peace.
Peace is pretty hard to come by, these days.
I'm not necessarily talking about international peace. This world of ours is not experiencing much peace as we enter 2025. It’s hard to believe there will ever be any true peace on this planet.
I’m thinking more today about internal peace. Peace of mind. Peace of spirit.
One of the many ills and ailments I often suffer is acute anxiety. It’s been that way most of my life. I’ve come to an age where I know what to look for—how to identify when my stress level is peeking and anxiety is about to kick in. That doesn’t always help. I’m all too prone to go over the edge of anxiety when stress presses past my peace.
Breathing exercises help. I’ve learned that. Prayer works even better. I’ve learned that, too. But, sometimes . . .
The last few months, more the last few weeks, have been “sometimes.”
I’m about to launch a book on February 17 – a little more than six weeks away. I may have mentioned that before, eh? A self-published book. So much to do. And I’m daily fighting all those familiar enemies: insecurity; low self-esteem; fear.
One recent morning in my journaling the Lord put on my heart a trilogy of hope: “It’s not about you. It’s not up to you. You can’t do it all.” So true. Thank God I’ve had help.
A faithful, praying wife, pastor, family, friends. A considerate and thoughtful editor. A talented and willing designer. Still . . . anxiety lingers.
Which is why my word for the year is Peace.
Ah, but you ask. Where can you find peace? Where is your peace coming from? How can you measure peace? Good questions. I have only one answer. Emanuel. God with us.
Billy Graham, in his daily devotional, Hope for Each Day, writes about a spring near his home in the mountains around Ashville, NC. For January 3 he writes that the spring, in all seasons, is “steady, reliable, and unending. Such is the peace we all yearn for—and such is the peace that Jesus promises to all who trust in Him.”
John 14:27 “My peace I leave with you.” His own words. God with us.
I’ve got to remember that truth . . . Who is here with me . . . the next time anxiety is lurking at my door. Remember my Word for the Year. Peace. And Who is the peacemaker. Who is the peace giver. “Steady, reliable and unending.” Emanuel.
Happy New Year.
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