I’m wearing a fancy new fitness tracker on my wrist as I write this — the kind that reminds me when I need to get up and move, drink more water, or climb a flight of stairs. It also counts calories and points out how badly I sleep. That last one isn’t so helpful, and I’m pretty sure whoever designed this thing didn’t realize that mamas with toddlers simply don’t rest.

I was restless last night — 23 times. Four times I was awake. The night before I was nearly the same: awake four times and restless 22 times. I don’t sleep well, and it doesn’t take a bracelet on my wrist — that I still haven’t quite figured out — to tell me that I’m weary.

My body isn’t the only part of me that feels restless right now. My soul is feeling it, too, and no fitness tracker can tell me how to fix it. I can’t healthy-eat my way to a satisfied soul. I can’t Zumba my way into a restful heart. And I definitely can’t hydrate my way into what I really need right now, but the answer is simple and uncomplicated. I need Jesus.

This time last year I was a few days into my new role here at (in)courage . . . and terrified that it was all going to be taken away — that somehow I would wake up from this dream and everyone around me would realize I wasn’t qualified or capable to do this ministry.

So I ignored the New Year’s resolutions and goals and to-do-lists and joined more than 400 of you here with Mary as we chose our One Word — and mine was “capable.” Because I needed desperately a word that would remind me to give myself grace on the days when I simply wasn’t capable to do what I’d been tasked to do.

But God is always faithful, and He would provide.

And He did. He does. He always will.

I didn’t expect to choose a word for 2015. I thought I would go back to my usual fitness and weight loss goals, tell myself I’d drink less coffee and eat more green vegetables, and then somewhere in February realize that chocolate is my love language and throw in the towel.

But my word for 2015? It found me. God whispered it over and over again as I prayed and asked Him for an easy 3-step process to rid myself of this weariness. He affirmed in conversations with friends as I recorded my 31 Days series. He reminded me of it again last week through a quote a friend posted on Facebook. My word for 2015?

Savor.

My heart sighs relief when I say the word. It’s a slowing down to enjoy what life will bring, not laziness or inaction, but purposeful, quiet, slow, enjoyment. It’s choosing to be present and take each day one taste at a time, to soak in the laughter, to acknowledge the tears, to replace instant gratification and unreasonable expectations with presence.

It’s my reminder to sit, to be still and be grateful and trust God to do the good works He has planned for my life.

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One Word 365 is a community and a movement. It’s about forgetting resolutions and scrapping your list of goals that you’ll either forget by next week or be overwhelmed by in the same time frame. One Word 365 says:

Choose just one word. One word that sums up who you want to be or how you want to live. One word that you can focus on every day, all year long.

 

It will take intentionality and commitment, but if you let it, your one word will shape not only your year, but also you. It will become the compass that directs your decisions and guides your steps.

 

Discover the big impact one word can make.

 

One word. 365 days. A changed life.

Will you be brave and commit to just one word?

Do you believe that one small word can have a big impact on your life, on your world?

We believe it at (in)courage. And we’re giving away a beautiful way to remember your word all year long — with a free set of Letterpress Blocks! We’ll choose one winner for every 100 comments on this post, so be sure to share via email and social media to encourage your friends to join us as well! The more, the merrier, and the more chances you’ll have to win! Woot!

To enter, simply share your word in the comments so we can join together and cheer for what God will be doing in your life! We’ll choose winners on January 12th, so don’t wait to join us!

For more information about One Word 365, visit OneWord365.com, Facebook or Twitter.

WHAT’S YOUR ONE WORD?

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