How is the start of your New Year shaping up, friend? Personally, I find it helpful to lean into the great unknown of the coming months by focusing on one word. Just one little word to consider, reflect upon, pray over, and claim as my own for the year. To be honest, I was hoping for a lovely, kind, warm word this year like JOY, PEACE, or DELIGHT. But apparently, my “one word” for 2022 is SURRENDER…
“It is wonderful what miracles God works in wills that are utterly surrendered to Him.” Hannah Whitall Smith
In reality, SURRENDER is a beautiful word—yet it also rings raw and real and I have a feeling it’s going to require no small amount of work on my part… but I’m embracing it. If I’ve learned anything over the past couple of years, it’s that I am not in control. God is. He’s still on the throne and longs for us to utterly surrender our wills to Him.
Thoughts of surrender began percolating a couple of months ago when I wrote a devotion from Luke 19 about The Triumphant Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. It’s the occasion when, enraptured in celebration and song, a throng of devoted followers threw their cloaks upon the dusty ground before the King of Kings; this was a marked act of adoration and of submission.
I considered that image of cloaks laid down—and then pondered what manner of “cloaks” I might be willing to surrender before the feet of Jesus… what might be distracting, detracting, dimming my adoration of Him?
And now, as we dive into the unknown waters of a brand-new year, what fear, shame, pride, overwhelm, sorrow, or a hundred other “cloaks” are weighing me down? Or perhaps weighing you down, too?
Surrendering my plans, passions, health, hopes, family, work, and everything else to God… it sounds daring and daunting, yet I know that in the surrender there is JOY, PEACE, and DELIGHT. Those lovely, kind, warm words my heart originally yearned for—they are by-products of my one word. Oh, how I love that!
“Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
he’s the one who will keep you on track.” Proverbs 3:5-6 (MSG)
And so, I’m going to hunker down in 2022 with these verses—my life verses, actually—and attempt a posture of surrender in all areas. As I pry open my clenched fingers, I know I’ll fall and fail and flounder as a flawed work in progress—but thankfully our King of Kings is also our good Father, abounding in grace, mercy, and love.
“Love comes softly, it cannot be forced… cannot bear the weight of our expectations. Love always comes in the surrender—in the falling.” Ann Voskamp
I pray we will all know more of His love in the surrender…
Finally, if you have a word for 2022, feel free to share it in the comments—it’s wonderful to see what God has placed on our hearts!
Blessings to you for the coming year…
P.S. I’d love to hop into your inbox once a month with “Laura’s Letters”—my newsletter, complete with a book giveaway, book reviews, recipe, and a little soul encouragement. Sign up HERE and enjoy your choice of freebies!
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INSPIRE ME MONDAY; GRACE & TRUTH; TUNE-IN THURSDAY; LET’S HAVE COFFEE
thank you for this Laura, Surrender is a scary word I think, but you’ve served it well by surrounding it with love, so it takes some of the fear and unknown away so thank you!here we go 2022!!!
Thanks so much, Heid— it’s definitely scary but there is SUCH sweet peace in the surrender! Trusting He always knows best… and praying for your 2022, little sis! ❤️
This is true, Laura, “SURRENDER is a beautiful word—yet it also rings raw and real.” My word for 2022 is intentional, and I sense part of being intentional is intentional surrender. I appreciate all that you shared, Laura. May it be a beautiful year of surrender and discovery.
Hi Lisa, thanks so much for sharing your word. I agree— intentionality and surrender can go hand-in-hand! 🤗 Blessings to you in the coming year!
What a wonderful word Laura, mine is Intentional. I can’t wait to how God speaks to you this year. Blessings.
Visiting today from Tune In Thursday #8&9
Thanks so much, Paula—and thank you for sharing your 2022 word with us. You’re the second “intentional” word we’ve had here— may it be precious to you through 2022! 🤗
Laura, I love your word for 2022. Surrender is such an elegant word so rich in meaning and benefit! May God bless you abundantly as you follow Him through your word!
Hi Donna— thanks so much for your lovely encouragement… it’s much appreciated! 🤗 Blessings to you for the coming year!
Surrender was my word for 2021! My word for this year is “focus.” If you would like to read about it, the post is here: https://encounterswiththedavisfamily.blogspot.com/2021/04/surrender.html
Thanks for sharing your word for this year, Cindy— I’ll check it out. 🤗 And I love that you had “surrender” for 2021… I’m sure it was an interesting year! Blessings for 2022.
Laura, surrender is a lovely word, encompassing a willingness or a yielding. It also is a hard word which can include a bending of our own will and desires. It is a word that means the Lord will be at work in ways that are both sweet and hard but will yield much fruit. May God bless you as you intentionally lean into Him!
Hi Joanne, thanks so much for your words of encouragement here— I so appreciate your wisdom! 🤗 Blessings to you for 2022!
I so appreciate your word Surrender because my word for the year is Release. Definitely related! It’ll be interesting to see what God does with our words this year (and with us!). 🙂
Hi Lisa— oh yes, it sounds like we have very similar words for 2022… blessings to you with all it holds in store! 🤗