Episode 37 - Word of the Year Summary: Jake and Brett discuss the practice of praying about a word for the year and how this practice is about having a prophetic vision from God for your year. Guiding Scripture: "Without prophetic vision, people abandon restraint, but those who obey the Law are happy." (Proverbs 29:18) Key points: - Jake first heard about praying for a word for the year from his wife Heather and the Abiding Together Podcast - The word of the year is about hearing about a personal and specific focus God has for our lives during the year - it's a thematic vision from God - The vision is given by God - Prophetic is often misunderstood to be predicting the future but it's actually about listening to God and responding to Him - The word of the year is a theme that we hear from God that gives us focus for the year and it helps us navigate life - Using a word of the year generator defeats the main purpose of the word of the year - The purpose is to have relationship and listen to God to his word for us - We all ache to hear God's voice - "Surely the Lord does nothing unless he reveals his hidden counsel to his servants" (Amos 3:7) - Brett's word is hidden - "It is the glory of God to conceal a matter. The glory of kings is to search them out." (Proverbs 25:2) - Jesus said in John 10:10, "My sheep will hear my voice." - Once we have received a word of the year it can be good to then search the the Scriptures fo that word or look through our journal for that word Discussion Questions: - What struck you from this episode? - What is your experience with hearing God's voice? - Will you pray about a word for the year? Why/Why not? - Consider sharing your word of the year with a friend. Resources: - The Giving Tree Book - Abiding Together Podcast - "If you knew the gift of God!" The wonder of prayer is revealed beside the well where we come seeking water: there, Christ comes to meet every human being. It is he who first seeks us and asks for a drink. Jesus thirsts; his asking arises from the depths of God's desire for us. Whether we realize it or not, prayer is the encounter of God's thirst with ours. God thirsts that we may thirst for him." (CCC 2560)