You made it thru the first week of the New Year (phew! 4 whole days — it’s never easy coming back after taking Christmas break — good for you).

Or maybe it’s been so crazy, you’re not sure you even got time off to reflect and recharge?

Your first weekend for 2018 is here, so if you haven’t taken the time to do so already, ask yourself these three questions:

1. Do you have a word or phrase that God has given you for 2018?  If not, ask him.
2. What’s a 2017 highlight for you?
3. What do you hope for in 2018?

Take this fresh word from God for your life, and soak in it.  Expect that you’ll hear from him this year, expect that the word he’s given you means something.  Consider that all three of these answers are his word alive in your life, an expression of gratitude for what he’s done, or a hope for what he will do in the coming year, all from him and thru him and to him.

After all, in James 1:21b we’re told “humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.”  That word “save” is sozo in the Greek, and alternatively in the New Testament sozo is used to  refer to physical healing, deliverance for the soul, or forgiveness for the spirit, salvation as we typically think of it.  However, considering the complete meaning of the word, you might think of it this way — God wants to plant this fresh word in you, to cause it to flourish and grow, and utterly redeem every part of you — body, soul and spirit.

He’s faithful.  He’ll do it.  Lean into it.