“Believe,” my word of the year, was revealed to me at the end of our first quarter! You won’t even believe how it happened, girl.

In late February, I attended a fashion and beauty conference as VIP for one of my jobs. It was pretty amazing but that’s besides the point. I went home with a gigantic bag of goods from many brands and sponsors. There were tons of makeup and beauty products, books, fashion boxes and sunglasses for days. There was also this jewelry box that I was especially drawn to. I opened it to find a tiny, iridescent bracelet with the word “believe” glinting back at me.

I find that word pretty…regular. “Believe” is the word you find on every girl’s dorm room poster and in the kitchens and hallways of every young woman’s apartment. It isn’t a “special” word.

However, I still looked at the bracelet thinking, “Hmm, ah okay I’ll just wear this as a reminder to believe in God’s promises.” Yes, I’m the type of girl that adds meaning to precious items! Thing is, I’m not into wearing accessories everyday…in fact, I rarely wear accessories at all. But I slid this dainty bracelet around my wrist anyway and went to bed.

The next morning, I opened up my Bible to read. My youth and I are going through a “New Testament in a Year” Bible plan and we were in the book of Acts then, reading about Apostle Paul’s journey. As I was venturing into whatever chapter that was, the metals of my bracelet lit up against the page, leaving soft colors of pinks, yellows and blues. I paused my reading and glimpsed at it. Toying with it’s shimmery stones, I noticed a circular pendant that lied adjacent to the word “believe.” It glided and laid softly as I highlighted and flipped through the pages.

Looking closer, I noticed the pendant for the second time. There was a code on it: A0942. I did notice it upon first opening the box but merely considered it to be just a cluster of random numbers used by manufacturers to keep track of inventory. This time, I didn’t think of it as such.

Because I was in the book of Acts, my mind immediately referred back to the scripture. Was there an Acts 9:42?

Yes!

I flipped a few pages back and landed on the verse.

Acts 9:42 “The news spread through the whole town, and many believed in the Lord.”

Okay, whoa. “Believe” is in that verse!

I looked at my bracelet a little bewildered and awed at the same time. Is this a Christian company?! I reached for the box and googled them. They weren’t.

The company sells bracelets with words on each one – they use codes so that girls from all around the world could exchange them when they felt like the “word” served its purpose.

So the scripture they referenced accidentally was what my God planned for me on purpose!

I went back to the Bible to read the chapter leading into the verse. You’ll find that portion of the reading is when Saul (the biggest anti-Gospel advocate) becomes a believer. However, the particular verse (Acts 9:42) follows the miracle of Peter resurrecting Tabitha, a selfless believer who was well-loved in her community.

This moment was pivotal not only because of the resurrecting power Peter received from Jesus, but because it inspired the early church and led to an influx of new believers! The miracle was so life-changing because it brought people to believe in the Truth.  

You see, the Gospel is not selfish. It’s literally not even just about you. God can begin with you but the end results will be massive and beyond your own power. Believing in God for yourself leads to an outpour of growth, love, encouragement and inspiration in the body of Christ.

After that bracelet moment and studying that passage, I started to receive messages about what it means to truly “believe” in Christ with every aspect of my life! I can show you so many highlighted verses! I got the message loud and clear. No more compartmentalizing with trusting God.

And so this year, I’m working on unshakeable faith. I’m working on faith that shakes my circumstances. I’m working on faith that shakes people!

Here’s to not just believing that there is a God, but to believing in what He says He will do for and through you. Say goodbye to the pieces; here’s to giving Him our all.

Outfit details:

Top & Bottom: Courtesy of Rue 107

Photos by Dexterity Productions