My One Word for 2021...JOY

Instead of setting New Year’s Resolutions and a list of goals, I have found it more helpful to choose one word that I want to live my life by. Last year my one word was courage. This year I want to live my life by joy.

As I reflect back on my life, I must admit it hasn’t been filled with joy. Fleeting happiness, yes. Joy, definitely not. My joy and happiness has always been dependent on external circumstances and other people.

As a recovering codependent and perfectionist I have lived my life with a sense of sadness and feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders. Not a joyful way to live to say the least.

My prayer is for 2021 to be different. I want to live my life moving forward from a place of joy.

DIVINE INSPIRATION

As I was having my daily quiet time the other morning, God put it so strongly on my heart that I was looking for joy in all of the wrong places.

We have joy in divine relationship with God. When we are solely dependent on His influence in our lives. That flies in the face of how I have lived my life. I have lived my life for the approval of others. A sure sign of codependency and joy stealer. Can you relate?

True joy happens when we can find peace and happiness independent of our outward circumstances.

To find the deepest form of happiness we have to see ourselves the way God sees us, as his beloved sons and daughters. When we embrace that and truly live our lives that way, joy and peace will follow.

TAKE A CHANCE

When we lack joy in our lives, we have a tendency to play it safe. We get caught up in comfort and security. We get stuck in a rut and lose all joy in our life.

As Helen Keller says, “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” I know that “nothing at all” part of the quote all too well.

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.”-Helen Keller

I am not talking about the jumping out of an airplane type of adventure, I am talking about taking risks for God. I am talking about trusting God in every area of our lives. When we hold on so tightly to the illusion of control it sucks the joy right out of us.

I have been a control freak my whole life. All of this need for control has led only to quiet desperation and sadness.

I am learning to take a chance on myself. To let go of control and surrender every area of my life to God. Without faith and optimism we are doomed to a life of worry and anxiety. 

How much of your life is consumed by worry and anxiety? When we are willing to trust God and believe that His ways are better than our ways is when we can truly live a life of joy.

BE JOYFUL IN HOPE

My one word of joy for this year is going to revolve around this one scripture that I have chosen. It’s a simple and powerful scripture. Romans 12:12 “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

Romans 12:12 “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

I have felt hopeless in the past when I was in a marriage where I was emasculated and lost who I was. I have since gained my identity back and know that I can be joyful in hope because of my ever deepening relationship with Jesus.

I have had much affliction both physically and emotionally as I have had two major orthopedic surgeries and even worse, much heartbreak over the years. I am learning to remain patient during affliction knowing that God is working everything together for good.

Being faithful in prayer is something I am learning to lean on more in my life. As I do, I am finding it easier to be joyful in hope.

YOUR ONE WORD

As we step into 2021, what is your one word going to be? How do you want your life to be transformed in 2021?

Change is never easy. But if there is one thing that I have learned, change has to happen from the inside out. It all starts by seeing ourselves the way God sees us.

I am looking forward to living a life of divine inspiration full of joy in 2021 in relationship with the people, work and surroundings I love.