I spent some time praying and asking God what my focus should be on this year. What did He want to work on in and through me? I also asked a couple of my closest friends to pray for a word for me. One came back that night and said, “Confidence. That is the word that keeps coming to mind. It doesn’t really make sense to me, so maybe He is just saying have confidence in the word he is telling you.” I laughed to myself (but not out loud!) because it did make sense to me. I had focused on my confidence (or lack thereof) several years ago; and felt a pressing need to refocus on this – but really didn’t want to. I was also hearing the word “Confidence” but I don’t make decisions lightly, so I continued in prayer (practically begging for a different word – I don’t want to spend another year on this!). Then, about a week later my other friend came to me and said, “So, I don’t really understand it. The only word that keeps coming up for you is confidence/confident. That is so confusing to me. You are confident. I’m sorry I couldn’t come up with something useful!” And I laughed, and cried. Yes, God knows me better than my closest friends, and I will be focusing on confidence this year! I am now excited to see not only how God will work on confidence in me, but also through me and for His people!