When I decided to choose a One Word for the year, I thought of “listen” as I wanted to pay attention more to what God is telling me and also to listen better to the pain behind the words of hurting hearts.
But lately God so often whispers in my heart, “Just rest, My child.” To rest in Him and His plan. To rest in Him concerning the hurts and burdens of others, also of my own. To rest in His power to comfort, to heal, and to revive. And I reasoned that in order to “listen” to Him, I do need to “rest.”
I still had some niggling doubts though, and I struggled with starting a blog post concerning it. But this morning God impressed on my heart that the word to focus on is “GRACE.”
While I still feel called to “listen” more attentively and I still know I need to “rest” spiritually, mentally, and physically, I need GRACE, that unmerited favor of God in Christ Jesus who has suffered and died for me and now lives forever for me. I need that unshakable foundation of God’s GRACE, or all my intentions and efforts will crumble.
“And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Ephesians 2:6-9
Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
2 Corinthians 12:8-9
So this year I want to focus more on GRACE – to dive into the depths of its meaning. And I am convinced God wants me to allow His grace to permeate my being so that it will influence my heart and life to see every person, including myself, through God’s grace-filled lens and to turn a grace-filled ear to hurting hearts.
And as long as you’re seeking My face,
You’ll walk in the power of My daily sufficient grace.”
Freed to Fly 
I’m glad you waited and listened for your true one-word, Trudy! Grace sounds like the perfect place to stop and rest this year! Blessings to you!
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I’m glad I waited, too, June. Yes, grace is the perfect place to stop and rest. 🙂 Blessings to you, too! May we rest in His grace in 2021!
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What a wonderful word, Trudy! To remember the gift of God’s grace daily is a blessing. Something we can never earn and don’t deserve, but given freely by the Father who loves us.
Blessings!
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We so need His grace every moment, don’t we, Martha? Blessings to you, too! May we understand deep in our hearts what that grace cost our Savior!
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Dear Trudy,
I love your new word for this year. OH, how I agree with you here, I long to dwell more deeply in His grace too. Both for myself and for those around me. Thank you for sharing this beautiful song too. He is so very patient with us, and He calls to us so sweetly. I pray for such blessings over your New Year, Trudy. May He keep bringing to you precious words to share with us, at just the right time, along with His full rest for you. Love and hugs dear friend.
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Thank you so much for your continued prayers, Bettie. Yes, He is so patient with us and calls to us so sweetly. May His precious grace flow over us and through us this year! Love and hugs to you, too!
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Thank you for sharing your story of how you arrived at the word “grace.” That makes a lot of sense – the more we understand God’s grace the more we find rest, and it also enables us to love others well and truly listen to them. Praying that you will grow in the knowledge of God’s grace this year. I look forward to reading more about how he uses this word throughout the year.
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Thank you for your prayers, Lesley. I pray you also will grow in the knowledge of His grace this year. May we rest in the unshakable foundation of His sufficient and free grace this year!
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Trudy, GRACE is such a beautiful word. I suspect you’re going to see more glimpses of God’s amazing love for you as you focus on this word this year. I look forward to hearing more about how God weaves His truths into your life. Sending you love and hugs, friend!
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Yes, may we both see more glimpses of God’s amazing love this year, Jeanne. I am looking forward to what He teaches you about living known. May God give grace to open our hearts to what He wants to teach us! Love and hugs to you, too!
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This is a fabulous word God has given you to focus on, Trudy, because it will help remind you to rest better in God and His overseeing, gracious care, and to receive all He longs to bless you with as you listen with a more grace-aware mind and heart. I love the story of how the word “Grace” became imprinted on your consciousness. I’ve found it can take some time to work out the right one! But oh how precious it becomes when we particularly focus on the word over the course of a year, and beyond. May you have showers of grace washing over your soul as you rest yourself in God, and may they revive and refresh your hurting heart as they remind you just how much you are cherished and loved. Blessings, love and hugs! xoxo ❤️
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Thank you for your prayers and kind encouragement, Joy. We need those showers of grace to remind us how much God loves and cherishes us, don’t we? Blessings, love, and hugs to you, too! May we this year “listen with a more grace-aware mind and heart!
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Oh yes, Grace! May you be steeped everyday in His grace. I look forward to reading more of how God’s grace shows up for you, and how He is making His grace sufficient for you. Blessings Trudy!
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Thank you, Lynn. I pray you also may be steeped everyday in His grace! Blessings to you, too! May we take greater notice of how God’s grace shows up for us!
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Trudy, I think “grace” is a perfect word for you to focus on in 2021. I’m so glad you took your time and waited to write until you were sure this was the word for you. Just today when I was listening to an Unlocking the Bible podcast episode from a few weeks ago, Colin Smith said something about grace that I wrote in my quote notebook … “Godliness can never be demanded. It grows in the soil of grace.” So powerful and also timely, don’t you think? Hugs, dear friend!
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I audibly whispered, “Oh, wow!” when I read that quote, Lois. Yes, so powerful and timely that it awes me. It brings tears to my eyes how closely it applies with the process of God bringing me the word “grace.” How He brought me to realize I can never listen better or rest more in Him without the foundation of grace. Thank you so, so much for sharing this quote! Hugs to you, too, dear friend! May God’s grace guide us in all our words and actions this year!
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Grace is definitely needed in greater supply! I’m so thankful you waited patiently for His leading. The authenticity of your journey is refreshing. Thanks for sharing!
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Yes, we so need it! I’m glad you were refreshed, Lisa. May our hearts be open to and attuned to the grace God so freely offers us and gives us!
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Grace was the word I was given in 2019 Trudy, it was a very fruitful year in God’s never ending love & grace but in so many different ways & circumstances then I thought.
I have just posted my word for this year in ‘Who has the Power?’, you’re most welcome to join me in a cuppa while we share it together 😀
Bless you,
Jennifer
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I just read your post, Jennifer. I finished my Yogi licorice tea earlier, but I still joined you. 🙂 Bless you, too! May we be filled with God’s never ending love and grace again this year!
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Thank you Trudy! Ooo, I have some licorice tea too. I just might go & have a cup with a slice of date & ginger loaf as its morning tea time here in Australia 😀
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Yum! Enjoy it! It’s almost 5pm here. 🙂 I guess it must be summer instead of winter there.
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Yes, a very uncharacteristic wet & cool summer this year! I’m still in autumn clothes in the niddle of Summer! Crazy!
But much better then our sweltering heat & bushfires of last year! 😀
And we needed the rain.
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Yes, I’m so grateful you aren’t having those awful fires!
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We are too 😀
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Grace is beautiful, Trudy. I’m guessing this word will impact your life greatly in the months to come. Praise God for the power of Scriptures and their impact on our lives.
Bless you, friend …
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With you, I praise God for the power of Scriptures and the impact on our lives, Linda. God is so full of grace and mercy. May we open our hearts to allow it to fill us and freely flow through us! Bless you, too, friend!
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Beautiful photos and post Trudy! Thanks for the reminders–His grace gives us rest. Much love to you this day.
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Thank you, Amy. Much love to you, too! May His grace give us to rest in His will and His faithfulness!
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I find it so interesting that I even need grace to listen and to rest! I need grace for everything, “the incomparable riches of His grace.”
How have I missed this Laura Story song? Love it.
Thanks for linking this at our One Word linkup, Trudy!
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It struck me, too, how we need grace for everything, Lisa. Isn’t that song awesome? I had missed it, too, until this post. Thank you again for helping us to delve deeper into our One Word. May we be open to observe God’s grace in everything!
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