Which Word Will Dominate Your Life In 2016?

There are a lot quizzes and games on Facebook, and each one is without error; if you believe everything they say. 

A fairly recent one is floating around, “Which Word Will Dominate Your Life In 2016?” 

Call me gullible, but I had to try it. 

And was I ever glad I did!

Our word, for Phyllis and I, is HAPPINESS. Every day of the year we’re going to have happiness. Yep, happiness. 

I read it on Facebook. 

I’d like to ask you the same question, with a bit of a twist. No, I don’t have any special quiz or “push this button and discover…”, but it’s something you can use to help you stay on the right course throughout 2016. 

“Whose word will dominate you in 2016?”

Let’s try a few different words, inserting some of the most popular ones into the scenarios.

The Media: It doesn’t matter which station, channel, blog, or newspaper. No one simply reports any longer. Basic reports do not sell subscriptions. If Media dominates you, no matter which way you lean, you’re still leaning. And he who leans while he walks will have a very difficult time walking straight.

The Politicians: As everyone knows, 2016 is an election year. A lot of words are being tossed around, with each one carefully chosen to affect your thinking, and voting. If you’re dominated by the word of the politician, be prepared to vote for your candidate and maybe not your conscience. The politician is fishing for your vote. Instead of listening to what they SAY, look at their record. What HAVE they accomplished before they started campaigning? How are they managing THEIR lives? Can you trust them with yours?

The Preachers: I kind of hated to include this group; after all, they are my own kind. And while MOST preachers are honest and sincere, there are some who will confuse you and put you into greater bondage rather than freedom. So if the word of a preacher, whether a big name, little name, or no name preacher, dominates you in 2016, you’ll probably wind up not hearing exactly what you need to be hearing.

It’s human nature, and you and I are human, to search out things and people who AGREE WITH US. So typically, we gravitate to those who preach the things we want to hear. 

The Bible refers to it as having “itching ears”. Wrong thing to be dominated by.

There are a number of others words we allow to dominate us; like entertainment, work, hobbies, sports, fitness, and even such wholesomeness as family. They all can be fine words, if kept in proper perspective; never our master.

But the word that SHOULD DOMINATE our 2016 and beyond is God’s Word!

To live, to live pure, to live pure, compassionate and productive lives, we must have God’s Word!

It needs to DOMINATE our thinking and our actions.

Here are some words to get you started.

“But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”” (Matthew 4:4 ESV)

“How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:9-11 ESV)

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.” (Psalm 1:1-3 ESV)

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16 ESV)

“And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.” (1 Thessalonians 2:13 ESV)

“And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” (Acts 20:32 ESV)

The year has just begun, and it could very well be your best year ever! Not because I said so; and not because some politician, television station, or slick tongued preacher gave you “a word” (for your generous donation of $50). 

No, we have a more sure word (2 Peter 1), and the more you and I pay attention to it, the more abundant our life will be.

What word will dominate you this year?

I hope it’s God’s word.