It took me longer than usual to choose my one word this year.

Sometimes I know my next word by early December; often by early January.  But this time it was late January before I got it.

And I was starting to think it wasn’t going to come – that I wasn’t going to have that moment of clarity when I know this is my word for this year.

But it came.

 

My One Word for 2013 is FIRST.

My verse is Matthew 6:33: “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.”

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Am I excited by FIRST? Well, honestly, not quite like I was at the start last year with the one word CREATE.

For some reason FIRST just doesn’t feel as “sizzle” as CREATE did.

I’m a word-girl. I love language. Some words are poetic, some are artsy, some are pointed, some feel-good, and some are enticing. They sizzle.

FIRST feels kind of pedestrian to me in comparison. What girl wouldn’t want a cute bracelet with the word CREATE stamped into it? Now who wants to wear one that simply says FIRST?  (In my mind people would probably mistake that for some kind of medical alert bracelet.)

I did order a photo from local photographer Kate Morgan who will write your one word in the sand at Wrightsville Beach and take a photo of it for you. Peruse her Etsy site and you’ll see photos of people’s one words in the sand – sizzle words like JOURNEY, SERENITY, TRUST or HOPE.

 

 

See?

Somehow I can’t imagine FIRST looking all that inspiration-y written on the beach.

But I ordered mine anyway. And then I realized that the fact that the wave is about to wash over (and erase) my word in the sand, reminds me not to procrastinate. To do FIRST things first. To give God the FIRST part of my day – before the time is gone. To give God the FIRST-fruits of my labor, before the paycheck is gone.

So while FIRST may not carry inspiration-y sizzle, I think it will be a gentle but firm task-master. A priority (re)organizer. I think it will keep my soul well-ordered.

Which in truth, I probably need more than I need “sizzle.”

{Sigh – why are want and need two different things so often?}

So, yes, I am excited about my one word FRIST, because I know that God will use this word to speak to me, guide me and shape me this year. And because I believe there are rewards to be reaped for striving to put God FIRST.

 

Does your one word feel like a “sizzle” word to you?