It was a strange month. Since Thanksgiving everyone was sick with each part of our family getting hit with something different, yet unable to get well.
As the weeks since Thanksgiving began to pass, I was pretty certain I was not going to do, or have, a One Word 2025. But I think God may have thought otherwise.
One morning the verse on my calendar quietly began to speak to me. Each time I was at the kitchen sink, it beckoned for me to read it.
“The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him, The spirit of wisdom and understanding, The spirit of counsel and strength, The spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.” (Isaiah 11:2, NASB)
The nudge began stirring in me as I thought, “I want the Spirit of the Lord to rest upon me just like this.” I long to navigate life with wisdom, understanding, strength, and knowledge. I want to live in the fear of the Lord, assured that He is guiding and directing my life.
But how? How do we grow in these characteristics?
The answer began to slowly come together.
One morning my Advent reading shared how Jesus sat in the temple. He listened. He asked questions. He was willing to be taught and to learn.
Another morning it was a verse which provided more insight:
“I sought the Lord, and He answered me, And delivered me from all my fears.” (Psalm 34:4, NASB)
Reading in my commentary brought more clarity. Wisdom relates to handling problems of daily living, while understanding is the ability “to see beyond the details of a particular situation, make an appropriate assessment, and come to conclusions about necessary decisions” (from The New American Commentary, Vol 15A, page 271).
We need these characteristics in our lives
so that we are rightly live and make decisions and choices.
And the only ways to grow in these characteristics is to seek God.
Come, sit a spell. Bring your coffee, your posts, and your thoughts. If you link up, kindly visit those who have drawn up a seat around you.
Sorry to read that your family were ill Joanne. I hope you’re all well now.
Your WOTY is an interesting one, it will be fun to see what God reveals this year surrounding it.
Blessings, Jennifer
I am most curious to see what God reveals this year 🙂 I was so sure I would not have a word this year. My family seems to be on the road to being healthy thankfully. May the year ahead be filled with the joy of our Lord, who continually is our strength!
Don’t you just love when a verse grabs hold of us and won’t let go? What a powerful way to choose your Word, Joanne.
I do love the process the Lord takes us through, especially as I was pretty sure I would not have a word this year. So grateful for your shared post this morning!
I’m sorry for all the sickness your family went through. I hope everyone is better now. I like that distinction between wisdom and knowledge. One of my favorite verses about seeking is Psalm 105:4: “Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face continually’ (NASB).
Another ‘seek’ verse!!! I love it and will be looking at this one for sure!
Seek is a beautiful word choice, Joanne. It’s been a hard winter of sicknesses for many families; I’m sorry yours was hit so hard over the holidays.
I’m sad to hear your family struggled with sickness through December, and I pray each one regains their strength. Seek is a deep WOTY, and I look forward to hearing all the Lord teaches you as you seek Him in 2025.
Joanne, I am likewise sorry for all the illness you battled over the holidays! I trust you are all feeling stronger heading into a new year!
What a great word choice for the year, Joanne. We gain so much wisdom AND understanding when we seek the Lord. In our seeking we always receive more than we expected!
I hope you’re all feeling much better, Joanne. Thank you for sharing your quest to be closer to the Spirit. Jesus is our best teacher–listen, ask questions, learn, use His example in our own lives. Thank you and Happy New Year.
It’s doubly hard when sickness hits during the holidays. Mine hit a few days after and I thought I’d never think again. It is particularly beautiful how your two scriptures came together and what you did there – wisdom for the daily challenges – and understanding to see beyond – that is beautiful hope!
I was sorry to read that sickness impacted your holidays this year. Last year, our family was hit with Covid on Christmas Day and we missed a lot of together time! I love your one word, Joanne! The meaning of “seek” can be interpreted in so many ways and it will be so interesting to see how God will reveal Himself to you during the coming year.