One Word

“I can’t wait to talk to you about the One Word book,” my friend said. She had given me the book, One Word that will change your life, for my birthday and she was anxious to know what my word was. Because I was busy, I put off reading the book, but knew I needed to go through it because I was about to see my friend socially again.

The book, written by Dan Britton, Jimmy Page and Jon Gordon, challenges its readers to spend quiet time asking God to give them one word to live by for an entire year.

Without even praying about it, I thought my word was “serve.” God had already impressed upon me to be more of a servant like Jesus and I had recently told a Dallas area ministry I was willing to help them out in any way they needed behind the scenes.

However, I still prayed and asked God to let me know if “serve” was not my word.

Over the weekend, a friend of mine from California came into town because of a family emergency and wanted to attend church while she was here. There was a dynamic congregation near her hotel so I took her there.

I wonder if I’ll hear my word at the service?

I nearly fell over when the pastor said these words, “I imagine some of you are here to receive a word from God.” I wanted to jump up and shout, “Yes, just One Word!”

I was glued to the pastor’s every word waiting for my one word to be birthed.

Then he said it.

“The Bible can be summarized in two words, God gives.” Then the pastor quoted the verse many of us have memorized, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

He said, “Because God gives, we should give.” God gave the ultimate. The life of his Son for us so we might live with him forever. It occurred to me God sacrificially gave, so we should also sacrificially give, whether it is with our money, our time or our love. We need to give like God gives, not just part of us, but all of us.

So there it was, handed to me on a platter. My word is “give.” And this year my goal is to give my all to God in any way he asks me to.

The One Word book is a quick read but if you don’t have time to go out and buy it, just begin praying right now for God to give you a word for the year. Once he does, I’d love for you to post your word on the Pearls of Promise facebook page at /pearlsofpromiseministries. I’m just as curious to hear your word as I was mine. Lisa Burkhardt Worley