Word for 2023

 I've done this before, and it's always been a good reminder to me of what to focus on for the year. I chose GRACE a couple of years ago, and it was a time when I really needed to grant myself grace, and give grace to those that I was having a hard time forgetting. I don't like holding on to old hurts and pain, but I found that I had gotten stuck in this place of not fully forgiving others for the pain they'd caused, and not allowing myself the grace to be messy and not perfect all the time. 

This year, my word is VICTORY. 

Webster defines victory as "achievement of mastery or success in a struggle or endeavor against odds or difficulties; the overcoming of an enemy or antagonist."

What do I need victory over? Where does my strength come from in this battle? 

I've been thinking really hard over the past couple of days about the ways in which I throw myself in the fire, and then am unhappy when I'm standing there all alone. Case in point, Safe Families and my post a couple of days ago about my sadness and feeling stuck and like the right thing isn't necessarily the right thing for me or my family anymore. I throw myself into the fire, take on all of the responsibilities and weight, and then get made when people around me are not as willing to jump into the fire with me. 

I need victory over my need to fill all of the needs of everyone in my life at all times. I need victory over my anxiety and depression and my emotional wars raging inside of me on a regular basis. I need victory over my health and my weight and my happiness - the true happiness that comes from liking who I am as a person, inside and out. I need victory over self-medicating with all kinds of different tools. Sweets, alcohol, self-harm, ink therapy, anything to numb the pain or emptiness that I've felt since I was 13 years old. I need victory over feeling like I'm not enough. That what I'm doing in my everyday life is not enough. I need victory over feeling less-than-worthy in so many areas of my life. I need victory over my own self-confidence. The list goes on and on....

Which leads to my next question. Where does my strength come from? I have amazing people in my life that do not believe there is a God. They do not believe in something they cannot see or touch or feel. And I still love them, and know that they love me despite our different beliefs. Because I do believe in one true God that rules heaven and earth, the God that loves me and wants me to be the best version of myself and to serve a higher purpose in His glory, for His good. So that is where I will pull my strength from as I focus on ways to be victorious this year. 

What is your word for 2023? 

https://youtu.be/YNd-PbVhnvA: Elevation Worship

The weapon may be formed But it won't prosper When the darkness falls, it won't prevail 'Cause the God I serve knows only how to triumph My God will never fail Oh, my God will never fail I'm gonna see a victory I'm gonna see a victory For the battle belongs to you Lord I'm gonna see a victory I'm gonna see a victory For the battle belongs to you Lord