Every year I quietly pick a motto for myself for the coming year.  There are usually some words that come to me and stick.  I’m always curious to see which words they will be.  I put those words on the first page of my journal where I see and remember them.  I started doing this several years ago and it’s become quite meaningful for me.

The words for his year have come to me.  They are:  Magnify, Multiply, Maximize and Mobilize.  The meaning of each year’s particular words usually unfolds during the year, making themselves clear.  By the end of each year, they have become profound and these simple words become life-changing in their small and quiet ways.

I’m curious to see how I might magnify my abilities and multiply my strengths and skills, giving the most I can give this year.  Maximize is a huge word that’s a little scary.  I hope I can figure out how to do that.  Mobilize is a word that I added after some thought and looking at events happening in my life.  I hope to rally many to goodness this year.

I keep thinking of the words in the hymn “More Holiness Give Me.”

More holiness give me,
More strivings within,
More patience in suff’ring,
More sorrow for sin,
More faith in my Savior,
More sense of his care,
More joy in his service,
More purpose in prayer.

More gratitude give me,
More trust in the Lord,
More pride in his glory,
More hope in his word
More tears for his sorrows,
More pain at his grief,
More meekness in trial,
More praise for relief.

More purity give me,
More strength to o’ercome,
More freedom from earth-stains,
More longing for home.
More fit for the kingdom,
More used would I be
More blessed and holy–
More, Savior, like thee.
–Text and music: Philip Paul Bliss, 1838-1876

How to be more fit for the kingdom, more used?  That’s what I need to figure out this year.  Let’s see what unfolds.