Toward the end of December, 2019, I saw the challenge on Facebook to choose one word for 2020, which would be my theme for the new year. I don’t like feeling like I’m squeezed into someone else’s mold, and I refuse to jump on the bandwagon just because someone else thinks I should. However…

I loved the idea of a motto we had at Prairie Bible Institute, back in the 1980’s. The Junior class would secretly formulate a motto from scripture, which they would present to the Seniors on graduation. They would also formulate one for themselves. Each motto had to be true to scripture, and challenge them to action in their walk with the Lord. Our Junior class motto was:

Walk humbly with Thy God

Two years ago I wanted something similar for my journal, and chose my own motto from some years ago:

Henceforth unto Him

Last year I took that a step farther and borrowed from Oswald Chambers:

My Utmost for His Highest

At the beginning of January my mind was whirling, because how could I choose one word as my focus? Or even one concept of several words? And to make it even harder, the challenge said to find one word that starts with the same letter as my first name. W. Seriously?? I knew I was being rebellious and resistant… but at the same time, I wanted to be open to what God wanted for me as I went forward this year for the furtherance of His kingdom.

By the time a friend dropped in for coffee that morning, two great W words had come to me – not through any mental wrangling on my part, but through my daily readings in Oswald Chambers. And my friend gave me a third, which fit perfectly with another little saying that popped out at me a few years ago. Hence:

Watching… Waiting… and Willing

It wasn’t from My Utmost for His Highest that these words came. It was from my Complete Works of Oswald Chambers, in a small book called Knocking at God’s Door. It’s a collection of short prayers, one for each day of the year, taken from his many writings. The one for December 31 says:

“Lord, in this land of brooding silences, of great generating winds, and fiercely-killing sun, I seem to be brooded over by Thee – and what will be the result? Keep me watching and waiting at Thy threshold.”

That struck me, because a big part of my resistance against the challenge was that I didn’t want to choose a word for myself. If I’ve learned anything in this past year, it’s that God wants all of me… He wants me ready and available, listening for His still, small voice, and willing to obey, no matter what He asks me to do. I don’t want to rush ahead of Him, or to hang back. I want to be His in every way. Above all, I want Him to call the shots.

When I read that short prayer, it all fell together for me. And then, as if to confirm it, I reached for a bookmark my daughter Raewyn made for me at Christmas, with my full name on the front, and a verse she chose for me, on the back…

“Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.” – Psalm 27:14

Could it be any clearer??

When my friend said, “Willing – that would be a good one for Willena,” I had to agree! All the pieces fit together in a perfectly cohesive whole.

When I was sharing all this with my daughters, and got to the part about not being able to think of a W word… Raewyn also said right away, “Willing!”

Isn’t it interesting, how God brings things together for us when we are watching, waiting, and willing to listen for His voice and see His hand in the little things in life!