My One Word

There is a website called My One Word and the purpose behind it is, instead of or in addition to defining New Year’s resolutions, to encourage people to select one meaningful word to define a resolution for change or effort for the New Year. If you go to the website, you’ll find several short videos of people describing their One Word and its meaning to them. You’ll see how that One Word carried them through some ups and downs and challenged them to move forward deeper in Christ, which in turn, enhanced their lives by bringing peace, prosperity, love, and ministry to others.

Back in November I knew the direction I was headed with a New Year’s resolution and so today I decided to capsulate that whole thing into one word. I’ve been a Christian for more than 40-years and I’ve recognized a calling on my life for most of that time. I’ve been blessed to have had great experiences in God and a very sound Biblical base that has anchored me steadily and solidly all these years. I’m blessed with a great family who loves God with all their hearts and serves Him fully, and I’m blessed with a great job that God is using to provide our needs. We are blessed to pastor a great body of believers who love God with all their hearts and desire to further His ministry. I have the ideal life. I don’t take that for granted.

But, even with all that, I want more. You see, one day late last Spring, I was digging back in the Book of Acts and that old nagging dissatisfaction came to me again. Then I did the worst thing you could do when nagged by scripture—I preached it and preached it all summer long at every service. Not only did I get nagged deeper, but I received more revelation that compounded my problem.  I saw clearly how the church began with a bang, with minimal doctrine, how they simply walked in the power of God, and I became deeply bothered with my own powerless life. God was using miracles through the hands of the believers to bring people to Christ, and although our church is a successful and energized church, we weren’t seeing the power. Many believe this indicates the church is going out with a whimper. I’ve never been satisfied with that explanation.

Then November came and through divine appointment, a “set-up” by the Lord Himself, we ended up in a prayer meeting one cold rainy day with a young couple, like-minded as us, and a few other hungry souls and when that prayer meeting was finished four hours later, we all knew something big was on its way. Since that time, we are seeing the miraculous.

Now I’m hungering after the things of God like I never have before. I’m asking for the Holy Spirit to teach me, guide me, and reveal to me, I’m seeking a deeper more intimate relationship with the Lord and seeking the gifts of the Spirit to function more profoundly in my life, and I’m knocking incessantly until the door to what I desire opens—and I want it to open wide.

I get my One Word from John 15:14-15. This is what Jesus says, “You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.

Friend is my One Word. I want to develop my relationship, my friendship, with Jesus to the extent that we trust one another and confide in one other. I think for the most part, my relationship has been that of a slave. Don’t get me wrong here, that’s a good relationship, but it’s only at the obedience level. I want to get to the place in our relationship that what He asks of me, His friend, I’ll do. And what I ask of Him, He will do. That’s friendship; and a whole new experience for me and I’m so looking forward to it.