It has been my practice most years to pick a word for the upcoming year. In 2019, I picked the word “process.” That word is still following me around. When January, 2020, rolled around, I asked God for a word. I was specific. “Lord, I would like a word that would be an extension of process, something more like progress.” I laugh now, realizing what a child I was. I was basically telling the Lord I’ve had enough of processing. I was ready for progress. Yet not progress, but a word similar to progress. Who knows what I had in mind other than “forward motion.” I continued to wait for the right word. 

It is so like God that during my quest He hands something to me in answer to my search. See if you agree that this was such a powerful, well-timed, message.

C.S. Lewis wrote a book entitled, George MacDonald. It is a devotional of 365 short teachings C.S. Lewis exhumed from the teachings of George MacDonald. In the preface, Lewis said that everything he wrote was influenced by George MacDonald, which is interesting as C.S. Lewis said George MacDonald had not written any good novels. Though he was a poor novelist, yet a supreme preacher. Some of his best thoughts are thus hidden in the dullest of books. I am still working my way through his book of devotions, several years later; however, day four leapt off of the pages and captivated me. 

George MacDonald 1824–1905

The Beginning of Wisdom

“How should the Hebrews be other than terrified at that which was opposed to all they knew of themselves, beings judging it good to honor a golden calf? Such as they were, they did well to be afraid….Fear is nobler than sensuality. Fear is better than no God, better than a god made with hands….The worship of fear is true, although very low; and though not acceptable to God in itself, for only the worship of Spirit and of truth is acceptable to Him, yet even in His sight it is precious. For He regards men not as they are merely, but as they shall be; not as they shall be merely, but as they are now growing, or capable of growing, toward that image after which He made them that they might grow to it. Therefore a thousand stages, each in itself all but valueless, are of inestimable worth as the necessary and connected gradations of an infinite progress. A condition which of declension would indicate a devil, may of growth indicate a saint.”

Right to the heart for me, as in 2019, I certainly had had a few moments of “declension” (or moral decline). A devil may have been indicated but thanks to my Advocate, out of it came growth. It turned out the Lord liked the word “progress” after all. I went with “necessary and connected gradations of an infinite progress.” The Lord didn’t seem to mind that I went with a sentence that year. 

In all honesty, I haven’t had a word since then. Covid hit. Things for me got busy and messy. Five years later, my Word for 2025 is JOY. Sounds simple, even to me. I’ve had a few words that were somewhat more complex but nothing more brilliant than Joy. The songs, Scriptures, messages of Joy are popping. I am thrilled to be spending a whole year chewing on JOY. I already have the making of a story surrounding Joy with a little help from my Lord and Friend, but it is in “process.”