I keep hearing people talking about their “word for the year”. It’s a lot like having a resolution, but more general. Some say they want to be more patient or productive. Some want to focus on worship while others want to be more obedient or disciplined. Although we’ve done this together as the staff of a church, I’ve never done it personally. Some of that probably has to do with my aversion to new years resolutions. I think my longest resolution lasted just over a month.

The more I thought about it this year, the more I felt like I could do a word for the coming year. A song that I haven’t heard in a while came on the radio yesterday morning and as I listened to it, I began to feel like it could be my theme song for the coming year. David Crowder’s Wholly Yours opens with lyrics describing the depravity of man juxtaposed against holiness of God. The introduction of grace leads to a chorus that declares God as holy. Continuing through the second verse and chorus there is more imagery of God’s majesty and grace, and then we come to the turn. The bridge takes a turn that connects the grace of God to the depravity of man; “Your grandness in me, making me clean.” After worshipping through a third chorus, the lyrics turn once again. Instead of wanting to be holy like God, the desire turns to be wholly His.

Anyone who has worked in a church knows that it does not automatically bring you to a point of full devotion to God. It can be easy to fall into a pattern of spiritual complacency and routines. I don’t want to be there anymore. In meeting with my mentor yesterday, he recommended 30 minutes of reading scripture and/or a devotional, journaling, and prayer. It starts today with waking up early. I can spend 30 minutes in the morning, six days per week on that. I’m sure after a few weeks, it won’t even feel like a sacrifice anymore.

  • 10 minutes of reading through scripture and a devotional.
  • 10 minutes of journaling either here on the blog or in a pen and paper journal.
  • 10 minutes of prayer that will likely be guided by the scripture and journaling over time.

It’s not a resolution. I’m just acting on a desire to be wholly His this year. It starts today.