The latest fad is to choose a word to define your coming year. While you can decide on one all by yourself, the internet will give you a million ways to pick one. Why you can even pay for the privilege.

Many of the sites I checked out suggest you choose your word based on yourself and what you think you need or want. Some sites even have the temerity to tell you what your word should be. Honestly; the nerve of some people’s kids! That hardly seems the Christian way to go about anything, especially when you want a defining word for the next 365 days.

What if they tell me my word large? Does that mean I can cheerfully eat my way out of my size 10 into a size 16? Or does it mean I am already too large? Should I buy a new house or turn in my poodle for a Saint Bernard? Should I live large by being more generous in spirit or join a large group of people in some cause?

It turns out that I have my word for 2017. I asked God to help me figure it out. Gradually, over the next few days, the word showed up in several places in several ways. It seemed to jump out from headlines and Bible verses. I even dreamt it once. Most of all, when I thought about the word, I had great peace and comfort.

If I tell you my word, will it still be my word? Then it would be our word. Wouldn’t it? And you would wonder what on earth it means to me and my life and if it applies to you and you might even try to compare my word to yours.

A circumstance earlier in the week made me realize that the word may not be so much about me as it is about how I am to help others. I am both a speaker and a writer. o I cautiously made these verses my own.

“Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones” (Proverbs 16:24 NIV).

“An honest witness tells the truth, but a false witness tells lies. The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment” (Proverbs 12:17-19 NIV).

“So they set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere” (Luke 9:6 NIV).

Likely you are now trying to discover my word without my help. Hint: The word is not word.

My word is healing. I am sharing it with you because, otherwise, your heads will ache from the effort.

A friend decided to pray the following verses over me. If my name comes to your mind, perhaps you might be so kind as to pray them as well.

“Thus says the Lord, ‘Who makes a way through the sea and a path through the mighty waters, Who brings forth chariot and horse, army and mighty warrior. They lie down together, they cannot rise; they are extinguished, they are quenched like a lamp wick: Do not [earnestly] remember the former things; neither consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs forth; do you not perceive and know it and will you not give heed to it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. The beasts of the field honor Me, the jackals and the ostriches, because I give waters in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to My people, My chosen, The people I formed for Myself, that they may set forth My praise [and they shall do it]'”  (Isaiah 43:16-21, AMP).

Do these verses contain the word healing? No, they don’t, but they contain promise and hope and those are the words we need to hear from the Lord more than any others.

Brenda J. Wood is a motivational speaker and author.
http://everydaychristian.com
http://heartfeltdevotionals.com
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