Homecoming

Since 2009, I've maintained an annual tradition of inviting God to speak to me in December about the year ahead which has usually resulted in a single word that gives me a glimpse into what is to come whether by deepening my spiritual learning or forwarding momentuous action in my life.

Here are my words for the past 4 years:
2010-- Equilibrium
2011-- Restore
2012-- Rise
2013-- Thrive

Last year (Thrive) was a pressure cooker of learning and deepening; growing and bold action. In other words, it was intense! Almost every week seemed to emerge a new theme; each month, a refinement.

It felt like battle-- spiritual, intellectual, emotional, sexual, physical, nutritional, relational, professional, recreational-- and I become more of myself in the process; more brave, more true, more free.

I don't wish it upon anyone... AND I'm deeply grateful for who I am now as a result. So in that, I hope that everyone experiences their own version of unfeigned becoming.

Interestingly, I also discovered this year that for the past couple of years, God has had a habit of starting the next year's learning in October while one word was finishing and before I became aware of the next year's word. Apparently, He doesn't abide by the human tradition of January 1st resolutions. That's JUST like Him, isn't it?


Anyway, this year He's chosen to give me the word, Homecoming. This word carries with it an intrinsic notion of coming home to myself. I get a constant vision of God as my King and Daddy teaching me how to rule my kingdom as a king under His Kingship. There's a notion of Him allowing me to deploy Kingdom resources with the Kingdom authority He's granted me and doing so with His absolute blessing. He's revealed to me that last year was about my Aspects (reintegrating disowned parts of my God-given Identity that Shame held captive) and this year is about His Aspects (Jehovah Rapha, Jehovah Shalom, etc). Also, He's starting to reveal to me what was most true about an Inciting Incident in my life (a season of life when I felt most myself... 20 years ago).


While last year was markedly about war and battle. This year seems to have more of an emphasis on deploying resources for war on my behalf rather than engaging in frontline stuff; to rule as a king not battle like a soldier.


What traditions or practices do you keep to allow God to direct and guide you? Do you use an annual word or phrase? If so, what does that process look like? What have you discovered about yourself and your relationship with Him as a result?