A Good Word Wednesday
Current Substack Newsletter updated each Wednesday
A Good Word Wednesday
RENEW #175
January 7, 2026
A little bit of goodness, encouragement and hope in your mailbox today.
If you could take an extended break to renew yourself, what would you do? RENEW. It’s Your Good Word for Your Wednesday.
I can feel it. It’s time. Time for me to hit pause. I struggled with what my good word would be for such a time as this. I thought of Refresh. Remember. Refill. All good words. I settled on the word Renew.
As I mentioned last week, New Year’s Day is one of my favorite holidays. I know it’s just another turn of the calendar page. Waking up on January 1 feels just like waking up on December 31. But for me, I feel the newness of a fresh start. I feel the need to be renewed.
For a while, I’ve felt it is time for more than just a short break. Last year was a lot for me with church volunteer work, continuing to promote my book, considering writing a new book, and all the other stresses of everyday life. I’ve heard of teachers and preachers taking sabbaticals. But is that something for ordinary people like me?
Then I began to dream. I just completed a three-year rotation on a church committee. It was a lot. That was finished at the end of the year. My work with another committee has finished its major activity for the year and is on a natural break. What would I do with the extra time if I had someone else teach my Sunday School class for a short time? What if I stopped writing this blog each week for a short time? What would I do with my extra time if I created more margin in my life? In a world that relentlessly begs for us to do more, be more, get more, what if I didn’t? What if I don’t want to go anywhere, but just be home and be still? I began to make a list that would feed my weary soul:
Read more.
Walk more often and consistently.
Enjoy my outdoor space longer (when the weather allows) along with my coffee and the birds. Soak in the sunshine.
Pick up my good camera and learn to take better photos.
Learn how to be a better napper.
Write in my journal more.
Clean out some closets and cabinets much in need of some attention.
Listen to music that quietens my soul and leads me to worship.
Be still. Be quiet. And know God is with me.
Deep breath…. Ahh…. that sounds marvelous. I made a list of some books that will renew my spirit (included below.) I invited a Sunday School class member who has the gift of Biblical teaching to take my place for a bit. And without hesitation, she said yes. For one whole quarter. What a blessing.
So now, after a few more final responsibilities, I plan to hit the pause button.. Even on this Good Word that I will miss writing very much. I will miss connecting with you each week. But please don’t go anywhere. I will be back. And should you need some words of encouragement before then— there are 174 other good words in this library you can revisit here. As you reread them, make a list of your favorite words and send them to me. They could possibly find their way into a future book: 100 Good Words to bring you daily help, hope and encouragement. I will consider that. Just reply to this email or contact me directly at deannalynnsanders@gmail.com.
I truly want to hear from you. Please. I would love to know what your good word is. If my good word for this season is Renew, what is yours? Please share.
I am profoundly grateful to family and friends that make my season of renewal possible. I plan to resume on April 1st with a brand new Good Word for you. I can’t wait to see what that fresh new word will be!
Wednesday in the Word
Wednesday in the Word
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10. (Read the whole Psalm!)
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23
“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” 1 Corinthians 5:17
Share Your Good Word
Good Questions
GOOD Question(s) of the Week: Have you taken a long, intentional, extended break from your responsibilities to take time to be renewed? If so, what did you do? If not, what would you do?
Good Words I Recommend
A Good Song: Make Me New Again, Lord. “Take my heart and make me new again.”
Another Good Song: You Go Before Me (A New Year’s Prayer). Chris Tomlin
A Good Book: Dwell: 90 Days at Home with God, Sandra Byrd.
Another Good Book: The Sacred Art of Slowing Down: Find Relief from Rushed Living, Soothe Your Soul, and Restore Wholeness, A. C. Seiple, MA, LCMHC.
Another Good Book: Growing Slow: Lessons on Un-Hurrying Your Heart from an Accidental Farm Girl, Jennifer Dukes Lee.
Another Good Book: Unseen People: Sharing Light and Life with Your Neighbors and the Nations, DeAnna Lynn Sanders. My book is full of stories of how God worked in amazing ways to show Himself to unseen people.
A Good Book Series: I always enjoy reading good fiction, especially in the evenings, instead of watching television. I’ve enjoyed the Sisterchicks books by Robin Jones Gunn. Here is the first one: Sisterchicks on the Loose (Sisterchicks Series Book 1).
What’s on your reading or listening list? Leave a comment
A Final Good Word
If you can’t take an extended time to press pause, I hope you will dedicate time in each day to capture a few holy moments alone with Him. And in those moments, your heart will be renewed. That is my prayer for all of us.
I will see you back here on April 1 with our next Good Word Wednesday. Invite someone you know to join us. This publication is free, but your support is always welcomed. Please share it. Have a good week!
DeAnna’s email: deannalynnsanders@gmail.com
Gratefully yours,
DeAnna
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