In January, I always pray about what words I will choose for that year. My two choices for 2024 were brave and align, and I was less than enthusiastic about both. They foreshadowed a year of challenges, stretching beyond my comfort zone and confronting fears. I braced myself for a difficult journey ahead.
Now, six months into the year, I’m in awe of how bravery and alignment are so real and necessary in my life. They’ve taken on new meanings, reshaping my perspective in ways I couldn’t have imagined. The words have pushed me to grow, stretch, and learn beyond what I thought was possible. More importantly, they’ve taught me the value of leaning into God’s alignment for my life, no matter what it looks like. This leaning in often requires bravery—like jumping into deep water and trusting there will be a life raft waiting to catch me.
The illustration I keep thinking about involves a small boat near a dock. You toss out a rope, secure it to the dock, and pull. Are you drawing the dock towards your boat or your boat towards the dock? Of course, it’s your boat moving toward the sturdy dock.
This scene mirrors our relationship with God. He is the unchanging, immovable dock. Prayer doesn’t attempt to move God; it brings us closer to Him, aligning our lives with His purpose. The more we align our will with God’s, the more breakthroughs we experience. We adjust our course to match His divine plan, not trying to bend His will to fit our desires (something I’m good at).
This realization has led me to always ask these questions: Am I being intentional in my actions? Are they aligned with my 
desires or with God’s plan for me?
My 2024 words have sharpened my discernment and brought me closer to fulfilling God’s purpose in my life. The dictionary defines align as “to arrange in a line or so as to be parallel” or “to adjust to produce a proper relationship or orientation.” This journey has taught me that if I’m not growing, I’m probably out of alignment. And I’ve learned this important truth: If I continue to do the same things, I’ll see the same results. But if I’m brave enough to step out of my comfort zone and align myself with God’s will, I’ll experience some extraordinary outcomes.
I’m no longer anxious about the words brave and align. As I look ahead to the rest of this year, I’m excited to see how they will continue to shape my faith journey, push me toward growth, and align me more closely with God’s purpose. What are your words for 2024? If you haven’t chosen one (or two), it’s not too late. Pray about what God has to teach you, and embrace the words He puts on your heart. You’ll be surprised by what God can do with just a few words!