OnlyJesus – Chiara Talluto

Okay, so I’m late to the party, I know, but it’s still January. Drum roll, please… Here is my post on “My Word of the Year”.

My word of the year is Revive.

Dictionary.com defines Revive as:

Verb (used with object), re·vived, re·viv·ing.

To activate, set in motion, or take up again; renew: to revive old feuds.
To restore to life or consciousness: We revived him with artificial respiration.
To put on or show (an old play or motion picture) again.
To make operative or valid again.

Verb (used without object), re·vived, re·viv·ing.

To return to life, consciousness, vigor, strength, or a flourishing condition.
To recover from financial depression.

I’ve been doing “word of the year” for a bit now and find that it grounds me, focuses me, and reminds me throughout the year (the meaning and why I chose that word) when I forget “my word of the year”. I know some people do “word of the month” or “word of the week”, etc. Two years ago, in 2020, my word was RESTART, in 2021, my word was RESET. I happen to write a blog on RESET too. And now this year, 2022, my word is going to be REVIVE.

I know what you’re thinking? What gives with all these “R” words? I can’t honestly tell you, except maybe I like the alphabetical letter “R”.

Why REVIVE?

Two reasons:

The Bible scripture of Ezekiel 37:1-14 is “Valley of Dry Bones”. It conjures such a vivid image in my mind that I happen to find a picture similar online, see below. To me, this scripture is an awakening, a reviving of those things that are important. I’ve been feeling a little dry, and a little out of sorts. I need a NEW breath in my bones. I need an awakening of ideas and thoughts that have been “asleep”. And so, I need this word, REVIVE, more than anything to jump-start me to action. Click here for a great article that explains the scripture.

For those that don’t know, I read the Bible from cover to cover, Genesis 1:1 to Revelations 22:21. I started it as a Bible in January 2019. It took me two years and two weeks to finish reading in February 2021. I documented my reading experience and that story was covered in a local Christian magazine, called Christ Is Our Hope. Click here to read it.

A great song by one of my favorite Christian bands, Casting Crowns, off of their album, Only Jesus, titled: “Awaken Me”. When I first heard the song, it referenced Ezekiel 37: 1-10. It made sense that it was about breathing into the bones that were dead. However, as I listened to the song over and over again, and read “Chapter 4: A Beautiful Thing”, the book version of the CD, Only Jesus. Here, I realized that this song has themes from many Bible scriptures. Such as:
1. Luke 15: 11-32. The story of the Prodigal son who realized his errors and returned home to his father after squandering all his money.
2. Ephesians 5:13-14. Comparing God’s truth to a bright light.
3. Isaiah 6: 5-7. Only God can clean your unclean lips and change you.

Here is the Youtube video of “Awaken Me”. Then, watch the video from Mark Hall that explains the meaning behind the song.

The book is available via Amazon.

“Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” Ephesians 5:13-14.

For the last two years, my heart has been stirred to look at my Bible more for guidance and direction in my life for help with my relationships with my husband and daughters. I’m finding myself growing spiritually and reviving my soul in God’s Word.

In August 2021, a thought crossed my mind and I had to write it down. Here it is:

“I can’t unknow what I learned to know about the Truth of Jesus Christ.”

This statement is very true. I am NOT ASHAMED of who I’m becoming—a saved, born-again believer in Jesus Christ. I can’t go back to who I was before. Little by little, the TRUTH is being manifested in my everyday life. I have been REVIVED.

Do you have a “special” word? Drop me a line and let me know.

References:

https://www.dictionary.com/browse/revive

https://knowingscripture.com/articles/dry-bones-and-the-resurrection-of-the-dead-ezekiel-37-1-14