Let’s be perfectly honest. 2020 was a whole year of nope. There’s a global pandemic that’s still ongoing. California fires that came close to where I’m at. Racial and political unrest. My dad had two heart attacks. My grandma went to heaven. It still catches me off-guard, especially when I do something that I think she would have loved to hear about. A friend lies in the hospital, while another also went to be with Jesus quite suddenly. Me, personally? I’m still figuring out my diabetes. I switched doctors at the beginning of 2020 so it’s been a journey.
2020 sucked. I said it and it’s true. I didn’t even list everything that happened, and that’s why I wasn’t going to pick a 2021 OneWord. I feel done. But Bianca Olthoff released a podcast episode called Finding Your Word For The Year where she shared her process. What I liked most is finding Bible verses related to your word, and keeping those verses in your heart, your mind, and somewhere visible. I also liked that she started by making a list of blessings in 2020.
So let’s start there. 10 Blessings in my 35th year aka 2020:
- The grace of God. While my family has been through a lot in 2020, God was still ever so good and loving to us (and He continues to be)
- Family to lean into these tough times
- Friends who have your back and whom you can talk with about racial pains, political upheavals, and funny TikTok videos
- The Internet. Specifically for making it possible to continue the ministry and hang out with friends online
- Starting a retirement fund
- New laptop and software that helps me create better ministry videos
- A Nintendo Switch and the escapism/relaxation it gives
- Having income & insurance (I’m so grateful because I know many lost jobs and I’m praying God provides new ones)
- A Google Pixel update that finally allows me to use an external mic with the cell phone’s video camera. I no longer have to lean in so close for the ministry videos I make
- Rest. Just, rest.
And yes, the crown is a TikTok-made-me-buy-it purchase.
Now, for my 2021 OneWord: RENEW.
It’s a claim of faith of what God will do this year, a looking at life through different lenses, and a moving forward even when it’s hard.
Here are the Bible verses with this word in it, from the NIV (emphasis added), and the areas of life in which I’m proclaiming these verses over:
For my relationship with God:
“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalms 51:10
For my health:
“but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31
For my ministry and work:
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2
For my God-written love story:
“He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.” Ruth 4:15
For the next generation:
“When you send your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the ground.” Psalms 104:30 (“they” refers to all creatures)
For our churches:
“Restore us to yourself, Lord, that we may return; renew our days as of old” Lamentations 5:21
For our communities:
“They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.” Isaiah 61:4
For our nation:
“Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go to Gilgal and there renew the kingship.” 1 Samuel 11:14 (this verse refers to when the people confirmed Saul as their king in the presence of God. There was fear and battle, then God rescued Israel through Saul and Samuel. Then there was a peace and celebration.)
For our world:
“Be silent before me, you islands! Let the nations renew their strength! Let them come forward and speak; let us meet together at the place of judgment.” Isaiah 41:1
