Reflecting over my word for 2023

Last year was my eleventh year to ask God to give me a single word to focus on during the year. I started in 2013, the year I brought home my second son. Here are the words God gave me for that year and then for ten consecutive years after that: 

2013-Trust (While trying to finally complete Juan's adoption successfully.)

2014-Live (Learning to embrace life with a new son)

2015-Give (Wanting to give back or pay it forward for all that had been given to us through Juan's 5 year adoption process)

2016-Joy (Spelled GRATITUDE)

2017-Focus (Pulled back from everything but the essential to give God room to be God)

2018-Cherish (So many precious, priceless memories to hold close to my heart)

2019-Shine (Spending time with Jesus should make his love shine through us)

2020-Release (Let go of expectations and experience God in new ways)

2021-Receive (After releasing my expectations, I was in a better position to receive new blessings)

2022-Peace (Life may get hectic, complicated, and uncomfortable, but Peace is a Person who is always there.)

2023--Satisfy (Click on the link to read last year's post on this word.)

We sang this song in church many times over the last year, and every time it reminded me of the word God gave me for the year. Not only did it remind me that nothing in life can satisfy me except for my relationship with Christ, but it also reminded me to not rush through my time with Him and leave that sacred time and space still unsatisfied. 

This year's word will definitely follow me into the new year, and I hope it always stays on the forefront of my mind. As I went through training in Biblical counseling over the last year, I realized that every sin or struggle with strongholds in life always points back to the heart. When my heart isn't passionately pursuing and loving Jesus, my focus will be on myself, and I will never be satisfied. I'll always come up short, always hungering for more. I'll never have enough, and nothing will fulfill me. I don't want to be that person that's like a jar with holes in it that can never fill up, no matter how much is poured in. 

I'm learning to be content with where I am even though it's not yet where I want to be, but I will continue to seek my satisfaction in Christ's presence, knowing that He will satisfy my heart--not despite my present circumstances but because of whatever present circumstance He has me in. Which leads me to my next word for 2024.....