Somewhere in the middle of November, I began to wonder if I would have a One Word 2022. It’s hard to believe it has been a practice of mine for seven years already.
- In 2014 – it was Faith.
- In 2015 – it was Believe.
- In 2016 – it was See.
- In 2017 – it was Audacious.
- In 2018 – it was Focus.
- In 2019 – it was Fruit.
- In 2020 – it was Savor.
- And in 2021 – it was Prevail.
Each word always seems to find me. The word would repeatedly come before me as I read or listened to sermons. But this year it came announced differently.
Advent. The season of waiting. We wait with anticipation. With expectation. With a humble reverence, knowing the Lord is going to come at just the right time.
We go through the season of Advent, remembering the events leading up to the birth of Christ. We read about His birth, and listen to sermons as the candles are lit throughout the four Sundays.
And somehow this season of waiting does a work of preparation in our hearts. We pause, ponder, and proclaim the birth of our Lord when Christmas Day finally comes.
But what if I were to wait all year?
“Wait” has been defined as: “to remain inactive until something expected happens; to be available or in readiness; to continue in expectation” (from dictionary.com).Â
My Bible dictionary connects it with expectation.
In thinking about this for over a month now, one Scripture aligned itself with this concept of waiting:
“Lead me to Your truth and teach me, For you are the God of my salvation; For You I wait all the day.” (Psalm 25:5, NASB)
The Word of God has been leading people to in Truth for thousands of years. My desire is that He will lead me and teach me His Truth in greater depth and power as I wait on Him. May my heart be prepared, and expectant, as I wait on Him all the days of this year!
I love your word. May we wait on Him!
I am beginning to realize that as we wait on Him, we are assured of His salvation, protection, and presence.
Initially, I thought that your word sounds a bit “passive”, but coupled withh the Bible verse you cite, it makes perfect sense. Happy 2022.
🙂 I thought much the same – waiting and doing nothing. It seems to mean I am to wait while He leads, He teaches, and He works in my life. It will be interesting to see what 2022 holds in store.
I love your word and how wait comes with expectations and anticipation of His grace and goodness. I’m excited to see how He works through you as you wait on the Lord.
It is surprising to me how we can think we know the meaning of a word, and then God sheds an entirely different light on the word. We shall see what 2022 holds in store as I focus on “Wait”.
“My desire is that He will lead me and teach me His Truth in greater depth and power as I wait on Him.” Wait can seem like a passive word, but it is so active in it’s ability to make us go deeper in His promises, His grace, and His love. What a wonderful word for you this 2022 year!
I always love seeing the different words God leads people to, and it’s so true – waiting is not just for Advent! I’m sure there will be a lot to learn from your reflections as we go through this year!
I struggle with the concept of “wait.” I’m a “get it done” person. Your message today was just what I needed to hear. While it is important to complete tasks in a timely manner, I also need to wait, seek guidance, listen for God’s response, and WAIT some more until His direction. Thanks for sharing. Wishing you a joyful 2022!
Although I don’t choose a word for the year, I like your word. 🙂
Loved reading about your history of Words!
It’s can be an exciting time in ‘waiting’ Joanne. It will be interesting to see what God reveals to you.
I’m still clarifying my word for this year.
Blessings,
Jennifer
Though I have never felt led to choose a word for the year, I am always interested to hear how people came to their word and how it works out over the year. I love the connection with waiting before the Lord as He brings truth to us.
Although I haven’t chosen wait as my word, I will be doing it nonetheless. I am definitely waiting on the Lord for a relationship situation to turn around in which my hands are tied. It’s the Lord or nothing. It thrusts me into total dependency mode (which is reality anyway; I’m just not always aware of my dependency), so I’ll be eagerly listening to what you’re learning this year, Joanne!
I appreciate that wait is both an active and inactive word, “to continue in expectation; to be available or in readiness,” with our hearts being ready/alert and our souls being quiet. I look forward to hearing how the Lord leads you this year, Joanne, as you expectantly wait on Him.