Have you ever considered choosing a quality of God for your “Word for the Year”?
I know many people like to think of a concept or idea to focus on during the year. Although I don’t usually do that, the year I believed God wanted me to concentrate on “holiness” is the year God did a complete revamp of my life! I haven’t been the same since. Of course, it wasn’t because of choosing a word for the year, but because God had an amazing plan in mind.
I’m not sure if He will lead me to do something similar but if God is leading you that way, I highly recommend thinking of one of God’s many qualities to focus on.
I remember many years ago hearing a visiting pastor giving the sermon about God’s qualities. I’d never thought specifically about who God is. God stirred my heart from that sermon and I began actively studying and noticing God’s nature as described in Scripture. I even wrote a book about God’s qualities. (Unfortunately, it’s no longer in print.)
How about you? Here are only a few passages/verses that point us to what God is like. I’ve bolded the characteristics.
The Lord is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. Psalm 103:8
As a father shows compassion to his children,
so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. Psalm 103:13
And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and amazing are your deeds,
O Lord God the Almighty!
Just and true are your ways,
O King of the nations!
Who will not fear, O Lord,
and glorify your name?
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come
and worship you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed.” Revelation 15:3-4
“for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster.” Jonah 4:2
I could go on and on and on. If you’ve never noticed how often God’s nature is named in Scripture, please start. In the years since I started doing that, my trust and faith in God grew in ways I’d never thought possible.