Well hello friends! As previously promised, I am going to share my new “word” for the year. My word just kept popping up around me, everywhere that I went, so I took the hint and wrote it down (on my hand of course) so I could remember it and think about what it meant for me. Some call it a “push word”, but for me, choosing a word is more about embracing the season I’m in and selecting word to complement it. I’d like to push through this season just like everyone else, but I don’t want to force my way through it. I want to soak in every moment and reflect as I go along the way.

Before I get to my word, I want to share a little bit about the last few weeks. As we finished up January, I celebrated my 42nd birthday (yay me!), and was able to share in some special celebrations for some near and dear friends. It was a great way to start of this new year of life. It’s so important to celebrate the goodness that we see in the lives of others. This world has a way of trying to make us so self-focued that we can often lose sight of the beauty and blessings in the lives of those around us. Not every story comes with just beauty, but every story is worth celebrating. It’s wonderful to celebrate the days when there is something beautiful because it causes us to reflect on the obstacles overcome, the challenges faced, and the joy that follows.

That’s life. Overcoming and celebrating, so we can overcome and celebrate again, and again.

That’s how we can live contented lives – by remebering and celebrating God’s goodness and kindness, even in the seasons that are tough. That’s how we can demonstrate love and joy to those around us as we cheer them on in their hard seasons, and celebrate with them in the blessings they experience. We can live with contented hearts; satisfied with what we already possess and hopeful for what is yet to be satisfied in us.

Each new year, we get the chance to be satisfied by The One Who holds all things together…The One Who is already good, kind, merciful and holy.

We can be satisfied by The One Who knows exactly how to care for us in every season and year of life.

You might have guessed it, but my word for 2022 is SATISFY.

I want to live contentedly in this 42nd chapter of my life. I want to remember that Christ alone is able to satisfy me, because that is the truth dear friends. He is more than enough on the days when we feel weak and He is more than willing to offer us His strength. He is able to see the needs we have and the ones we don’t yet recognize. He is able to walk with us through our darkest vallies and on the highest summits. In the dry seasons that feel fallow and even when we are bearing visible fruit – He is The One Who satisfies.

I want to live knowing and demonstrating that He satisfies.

I want that for me. I want that for you – and for all of us, everywhere that we are.

He can satisfy us dear friends. In the depths of our soul He can satisfy. In the darkest of nights when we don’t have all the answers figured out, He can satisfy. On the days where we feel we have something special to celebrate and on the days were it’s hard to see anything worth celebrating, He can satisfy.

I’ve known this was my word since early January, but now was the right time to share it.

If you haven’t chosen a word yet to reflect on, maybe this can be your word too. And in the spirit of sharing, here is a verse that I’m keeping close to my heart to remind me of God’s ability to satisfy my own heart:

I’m so grateful for God’s Word and how it can be an anchor for our soul as we walk out this new year. Whether we are starting a brand new year of life or starting a brand new life because of what this year has brought us so far, I hope you’ll keep this verse close too.

Let’s Pray: Heavenly Father, today we recognize that nothing else on this earth can satisfy us like You. Nothing can even come close. Lord, we want to remember that You are good and You are more than able to satisfy us right where we find ourselves today. We ask that You help this promise from Your Word sink deep down into our souls for the days we need it most. We ask that you keep this reminder at the front of our mind so that when times of blesssing come, we can be quick to position ourselves to praise You. Thank you for knowing we would have needs to be met and for being The Only One who can meet them. Thank you in advance God, for the ways that you are already satifying our hearts and for all the ways we will get to experience complete peace and satifaction in relationship with You. Amen.

peace – liz

Go The Extra Mile: Friends, I have such a special song to share with you today! Right around my birthday, I heard this song and it wrecked me in the best ways. Check out “Just As Good” by Chris Renzema and Ellie Holcomb, and remember that God is still just as good and just as kind as when you met Him.

BONUS CHALLENGE: If you have chosen a word for this new year, share with us YOUR word for 2022 in the comments below! AND please share where you are reading this post from! Are you on the West Coast or from the deep South? Are you a friends from the UK or from India? We want to know where you’re reading from and what your word is! Ready, Set, SHARE BELOW!