For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV
You have probably heard people mentioning their watch word for the year already. I have to confess that the first time I had ever heard of this concept was last year ~ and I like it. The word gives you a focus on your study time with God, and a way to grow and be encouraged in our walk with Him.
So what is your watch word for the year?
This year, my word is Hope. I’ve all ready started Oswald Chamber’s book Hope – A Holy Promise. I’m “hoping” this will help and encourage me as I walk through this year.
Do you have a family watch word?
I remember (several years ago now ~ possibly the last year we were all living at home!) when as a family, my parents, sisters and I had a topic we shared together. Very similar to the watch word idea, we decided that we would choose a Fruit of the Spirit that we felt individually we needed to improve on. While our words weren’t all the same, we helped each other with learning verses that would help our Fruit to grow and encouraged each other in our particular chosen area. I chose Peace. The study of that time really helped that Fruit grow in my life, and is something that has stood me in good stead for the following years. I look back on that year with fondness ~ it was a great time of togetherness as we built each other up.
If you have a Bible Class/Youth Group, do you have a watch word that you as a group have chosen?
It’s something I’ve never done, but as a Tent Leader on a Christian Youth Camp, I wish I had thought of it. It would have been a nice focus in the evening Quiet Time to discuss a word the girls had chosen and look at verses in the Bible to help encourage them, and maybe even found some hymns and choruses around that theme that they could have sung together.
Incidentally, the chorus You are My All in All and the hymn My Hope is Built are two songs I’m going to be singing a lot this year, and I’ll be looking out for others with the hope theme to focus on with them.
I’m looking forward to this year, and discovering more about Hope.
I hope you all have a fun and blessed journey as you explore your watch word this year, be it on your own, as a family, or as a youth group.
~ Wendy Sparkes ~
