2019 was my year to “Recalibrate life.” It was a year of learning and making slow changes in many areas of life. But, it was mostly a year of heart tranformation. Now we find the year nearing it’s end, and we’re ready to embark on a new year.
I made a long list of possibilities for my 2020 word of the year, and to be honest, nothing seemed right, one-by-one I scratched words off of my list. That is until I came upon the word “grace-paced,” I immediately knew it was a perfect fit.
It is a perfect word for me because it describes exactly who I want to become and how I want to live. Let me explain. To me to become and to live grace-paced means to really seek to learn to follow Jesus in His “unforced rhythms of grace”. And in order to do that I need to live out what I have shared in many of my goals. It means:
♡ living Spirit-led, quieted within, and aware of the Lord’s presence, aware of His nudges and whispers to me.
♡ living simply, unencumbered with too many things and too much busyness.
♡ living slowly, taking time to breathe deeply, taking time to be present, to listen, to play, and taking time to be aware of others, their feelings and needs.
♡ living intentionally transparent and authentic, not self-protected or fearful but rather more trusting.
♡ living in a way that demonstrates loving others deeply, more selflessly and others-oriented.
♡ living life from a restful and rested place within, not anxious, overwhelmed and exhausted, but calm and easygoing. Really learning more of resting in the Father’s love.
♡ living prayerfully, connected to my Sweet Abba, moment by moment.
Grace-Paced to me is really all about continuing my growth in Christ-likeness. So once again it is more about heart tranformation. This truly describes how I desire to live and who I desire to become.
As I read through all of this, I immediately think how lofty it all sounds. I had to remind myself it’s not about perfection, it’s about seeking to emulate Jesus and live life honoring Him. As in all of life it will be a gradual transforming. Again, it’s not about trying to do it perfectly, because I can’t. All changes will only come as I allow Him to work in and through me.
It is fully about growing in Him according to His timing and His lessons and being fully open to what He has for me. The pace of grace is living focused on Christ and allowing my soul to be refreshed by Him. Isn’t that how we are suppose to live?
As I have said many times, I have lived distracted, not focused, and too overburdened for too many years. And much of that has been of my own making as I have tried to fill empty heart holes. This new year, once again, as was 2019, will be more about heart transformation.
What about you, have you chosen your word for the year? How is your word already motivating you as you think about 2020? I look forward to connecting with you in the comments.
*Photo from Unsplash by Cara Fuller
Cheryl, what a great and unique and wonderful word. Just the word itself lends to powerful imagery of breathing and living in grace every day.
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“Breathing and living in grace every day,” that perfectly describes how I want to live my life! Thanks so much for stopping by!
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What a wonderful, thought-provoking, word for the year. I so enjoyed reading this post. My word for 2020 is growth. Last year it was expand – and I really did expand my horizons. Wishing you a wonderful New Year. Thank you for being a part of the Hearth and Soul Link Party.
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I am so glad you stopped by. I am really excited about learning to live grace-paced! Growth is a great word. May the Lord lead you in growing according to His will and for His glory! Many blessings to you in the New Year!
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What a wonderful mindset. I look forward to reading this this plays out for you.
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Thank you so much! I am so glad you stopped by! Sweet blessing to you in 2020!
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Grace-paced is a very poignant state of being Cheryl! Its such a privilege to see God working in our lives as we look to Him each year for transformation into His likeness.
I believe I have a word but am still praying about it…so stay tuned! 2019 word was Grace…I’m about to write a year in review about it. As it went both ways which grace always does 😉
Merry Christmas,
Bless you,
Jennifer
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So true! I love seeing how the Lord works in our lives. He is so personal, knowing us each deeply and growing us according to His personal timetable. I will look forward to reading about your word for 2020, and your review of your 2019 word. Merry Christmas and Sweet blessings to you.♡
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What a lovely phrase, Cheryl. I haven’t chosen a word yet, but you’ve left me pondering. Blessings, Tammy
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May the Lord lead you in your ponderings. Merry Christmas!
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Love your word for the year. Grace-paced. And it almost explains itself. I will be thinking about this word for awhile because it is something we should be becoming.
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Yes, it does almost explain itself. Walking in grace/walking with Grace should affect every part of our lives. I know Ineed to be more intentional with this. It definitely is a word that describes what a Christian should look like or become!Thanks so much for stopping by. Merry Christmas!
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Great phrase, Cheryl! One good thing about “grace-paced” is that if it doesn’t always look how you want in your life, the grace part reminds you to give yourself grace about it! 🙂 I’ve chosen a word too and will write about it soon! Merry Christmas!
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Thank you! I hadn’t thought about it that way, but you are right! I will have room to give myself grace with this word choice! I will look forward to reading about what word you have chosen! Merry Christmas to you!
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Grace-paced – I like it!
True, it does sound lofty, but I think we need to create goals that stretch us and make us grow!
Best wishes for your grace-paced 2020.
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Yes, we do need our goals to stretch us and make us grow. And I need to remember it is about what God is doing in me and leading me to become. It has to be about my abiding in Him! Thank you for your well-wishes. I am so glad that you stopped by! Merry Christmas!
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I have done a verse for the year, but never a word. I enjoyed reading about your journey. laurensparks.net
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I chose a verse for the year also. I haven’t done that for a few years. My verse for 2020 is 1 Peter 3:4 “but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.” This verse became very important to me as I worked through Cynthia Heald’s study”Becoming a Woman of Excellence.” I especially want to grow a gentle and quiet spirit. So glad you stopped by! Merry Christmas!
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Love the phrase and the concept. I began focusing on one word only last year. For 2019 my word was balance. For 2020, it’s “humility”.
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Balance and Humility are both great words. It is exciting to both look back on the lessons the Lord has taught us through our words and to look forward to what He has to teach us in the coming year. Thanks so much for stopping by. Merry Christmas!
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Cheryl, this is like the third blog post in a row that I’ve read this morning about choosing a word for 2020. God is certainly impressing on me that I need to do this! Thanks for this great post and reminder!
Thanks for linking up at InstaEncouragements! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
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May the Lord guide you in choosing a word for 2020, He knows just the word that is central to all He has for you to learn in 2020. Merry Christmas!
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Love your phrase! We so need to be paced by His grace!
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Yes! The Lord has been showing me that truth in so many ways. Thanks so much for stopping by. ♡
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Oh, how we need to take on the grace pace! It reminds me of the steady beat of God huge heart of love for us, his children!
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Yes! I love that, “the steady beat of God’s huge heart of love.” I remember loving to sit on my Opah’s lap as a little girl, pressing my head against his chest, listening to his voice and heartbeat as he told me stories. I want to walk in the beat of God’s love as I listen to Him. Thank you so much for stopping by and sharing your insightful words. Sweet Blessings to you!
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