ERICA DUNOMES

“Cheers to the new year and another chance for us to get it right.” ~Anonymous

Here we are again facing that pivotal time of the year where, in just a few days, one year will be closing and another year will be beginning. Can you believe it? For me, personally, it’s also that time of year where I zone in to discover what my one word for the new year will be. Choosing one word has been my adopted practice every year, for the past eight years. To discover my one word this time I had only one simple question: God, what’s missing? Surprisingly, it did not take long at all for the answer to come to me. So, as always, here is my one word for 2024 + a FREE Bible Reading Plan to begin your new year.

My One Word for 2024: Committed.

My desire for 2024 is to be committed. Last year, my one word for 2023 was Different. My desire was to spend the year allowing God to change and transform me. I had a mission to decrease so that God could increase in me. Honestly, this desire has not changed. I don’t think it’s one that ever will. To be different is God’s will for you and me. Everyone of us who confess Jesus as our Savior and Lord are predestined by God to be what He considers to be set apart.

The knowledge and understanding of that is what leads to my one word for 2024. There are times in my life where I have fallen short of living and being how God has called me to be. By now, I would have hoped to have reached a point where I wouldn’t find myself having to say those words. However, I find that to be unrealistic. I’m in no way making an excuse for not rising up to the best standard. I’m just simply acknowledging that there is a battle that rages between my flesh and my spirit.

Constantly I am reminded of what Jesus told the disciples who were with Him in the Garden of Gethsemane.

"Watch and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit is truly ready, but the flesh is weak." ~Mark 14:38

Jesus, in that moment simply lets us know that we will have moments where we will fall short. We will be tempted to do other than what we should do. What we’re commanded to do. If you read the context around this verse, Jesus had chosen several disciples to be with Him in the moment that He was being betrayed. He gave them a command to watch and pray. Instead of the disciples doing that, they slept. Three times they did this. They were not above falling short, and as long as we are in this world, neither are we.

The question is, though, what will we do when those moments come? Will we choose to give up or will we stay the course? This is where the word committed comes in. It takes a level of commitment to stay the course when your flesh is tempted to give up. Quite frankly, it’s easy to give up. It’s hard to stay committed. But commitment to Jesus Christ, in my opinion, is worth the hard. We certainly can apply that to all of life, can we?

I’m going to tell on myself a bit. By this time, after having reflected on reaching another year of not having reached certain goals, I would normally be so down and hard on myself. However, I’ve done this to myself enough to know that responding that way is not the answer. Moreover, I chose instead to focus on the fact that something was missing. So, I decided to ask for what that was. As He always faithfully does, God answered.

What we commit to matters.

We can commit to many things in life, but it doesn’t mean that we are committed to the right things. Every day we have a lot of things that fight for our focus. And if we are not careful to guard our hearts, we will find ourselves greatly distracted. Then what was most important for us to focus on has been left neglected. I believe this to be why we always find ourselves back at the same point of having gone around the mountain to feeling like we are starting all over again. Never getting anywhere.

Oh……my!

The right things are what I want to focus on being committed to this year. It’s important to me that these things take the front seat of prioritization. Here are a few of those things for me:

• Family
• Health
• Finances
• Relationships
• Ministry

There are goals that I have in these areas. So, to commit to properly prioritize them is to make a commitment to sticking to doing what’s needed to see those goals come to pass. And that is where I need the amazing help of my Helper. Holy Spirit. First, I must commit all of my works to our Heavenly Father. After all, God is where my ultimate help comes from.

Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established. ~Proverbs 16:3

Timing is everything when it comes to pivotal moments in life. Isn’t it time we all realize and admit that we cannot do things on our own? We weren’t created to. God created us so that we would need Him. His wisdom. His leadership. His guidance. His word is our greatest source. That’s why, I’ve put together a Bible Reading Plan with very important verses of scripture to start and guide our new year.

A Bible Reading Plan to Begin Your New Year

Spend the first ten days of the new year receiving guidance from the Lord on how to approach the journey that lies ahead. This plan has been placed in a strategic order just for you. Each day has a clear message of a promise and a prayer. Not only will it give you guidance. It will also give you hope. A lot is going on in the world around us. Yet, we are not without hope. God is still in control.

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So, what one word has been laid upon your heart for the new year? Do share in the comments below.

Happy New Year, Friend!