Finding a word for the year

Every year, millions of Americans will set goals for the coming year, and by February, the vast majority of them have given up. 

One of the things I like to do is focus on one thing for the year. One goal, one thing I want to grow in or learn. While I might hit more than one thing, focusing on one thing not only helps me accomplish what I set out to do but also brings a lot of focus to my life. 

Over the years, I have loved the power of having a word for the year. A word that describes the kind of person I hope to become, the kind of follower of Jesus, husband, father, friend, sibling, and boss. 

One word. One focus. 

How do you come up with that? Here are a few simple steps to do one your own:

1. Ask the question: What kind of person do I want to become in the coming year? Another way to ask this is, If I become more like Jesus in the next year, what would that mean? I would encourage you to make a list. You don’t need to narrow it down yet, and your list can be as long as you want.

You can focus on your most important relationships: parent, spouse, friend, boss, employee, child. 

Your list might have words like generous, patient, joyful, calm, faith, etc. But, again, you aren’t narrowing it down yet; you are brainstorming what God is putting on your heart. 

I think it is good to have this be your own word because it might be different from your spouse or your family. I think it is a good idea for each person to do this on their own and then come together to see what God might be saying to your spouse or family.

2. Pray through what comes to mind. Now is when you want to start editing your list and asking God for help.

Are there words that stand out? Are there words you’d like to avoid? I often find my word is one I’d rather not focus on. 

Maybe as you think through this, you will start to see words around or come up in conversations. If that happens, that’s a way of God speaking to you for your year. 

You can also share your list with your spouse or a friend to ask if they have any insight. God will often use someone else to speak to us. 

3. Find a Scripture connected to your word. I’d encourage you as well to find a verse related to your word, a passage that you want to focus on for the year. It might also be a verse that you plan to memorize. Put this verse in a place where you will see it often. If you need help, you can search here.

4. Share your word. Once you have it, please share it with your spouse, small group, and online.

When we verbalize something, we are more likely to remember it, focus on it, and live it out. You can use it as wallpaper on your phone or a screen saver.

5. Live your word. Look for ways to live out your word. Maybe try to find a book or podcast about your word that you can read and spend intentional time growing in.

I’d also encourage you in your community group to pull your words out each month and share how you are doing, celebrate how you are growing, and encourage each other when you fall behind. 

The new year is here within my reach, and my thoughts ping around my brain like the silver ball in a pinball machine. There are so many things I want to do as the year comes to an end, so many loose ends to tie up. Each thought sets off a ding! and lights up all the different parts of my life that need attention:I want to rest in peace and calm after a busy fall season. I want time and space to reflect on the year past, to see what God has done and how far He’s brought me. I just bought everyone’s Christmas and birthday gifts because on top of the regular holiday craziness, there are nine birthdays we need to celebrate as well. I want to be present with my kids during the rest of their winter break, while still having to work, clean the house, and plan and make dinner.

I want to enter the new year with purpose and intention, with a word that will guide and frame the twelve months ahead, but I know that can’t happen while I’m rushing to and fro, both in body and mind. I can’t see and hear what God is up to when I’m too busy, unable to stop the activities, the responsibilities, the noise.

But in the midst of it all, there are pockets, moments, even hours when I can choose to put aside what clamors for my attention and to sit and be still. After the kids are put to bed, after the kitchen and living room are back in order, I sit at my desk with my journal and pen and empty space. I take three deep breaths because even though it’s quiet, I still need help quieting my soul. I open to a fresh page in my journal, and in my usual way, I start writing to God.

Dear God, what a year it’s been . . .

I reflect on everything that has happened over the last year. I go through my planner with its scribbles and crossed out to-do lists, remembering the events and what God showed me about Himself in those times. I try to pinpoint the feelings and lessons I learned to see if there has been an overall trajectory God had me on. I had chosen the word cultivate at the beginning of the year, and in many ways — though in ways I didn’t expect — God cultivated the soil of my soul through a fallow season and through all the yeses I said to Him this year.

Every year I’ve chosen a word, it has helped me stay grounded. It has given me a solid foundation to come back to when I start to wander aimlessly and busily through the year. When I get bogged down by all the mundane things of life, by the million decisions I need to make, I take a step back and remember the word.

Am I living it out? How am I doing so? What is God teaching me about it? What is God teaching me about through it?

It serves as a gentle reminder and an insight into how God is wanting to grow me.

My word for 2022 was cultivate, and now as I look toward 2023, I see how cultivate has made way for a new word for the new year. I faithfully said yes to everything God invited me into this past year, and now I sense God saying it’s time to focus in, to learn to say yes to a few things and no to many things, to say yes to the better things and to say no to good things.

This will affect every decision I make, both big and small. It will most likely mean sitting at my computer writing more than I’ve done before and saying no to coffee dates, even though those are deeply important. My word for the year will shape the way I spend my time, my money, the way I set rhythms in my life. And though I can’t see everything God has in store for me, I know that when I live out my word for the year, it will be the way He unfolds His purposes for me.

I wonder what God is whispering to your soul as you look toward the new year. I wonder what word He has for you and what ways He’s going to work that word out in your life. He is speaking, and He is wanting you to hear. He wants you to draw near, to be bold in obedience, to stay rooted, and to grow more into maturity in Christ.

Be still, even when things are not, and seek the word He has for you, seek His purpose for the year ahead. Let’s live intentionally this coming year!

Making resolutions this year? Let us help. Take DaySpring’s Word of the Year quiz to find your 2023 Word of the Year — one word that will help you focus on what God is calling you to accomplish in the year ahead.

Looking for more inspiration? Check out our Devotional Library and be sure to sign up for our e-newsletter to receive free articles, updates from our Ecard Studio as well as exclusive deals.

Your word of the year can be life-changing. Of course, there is nothing special about the word itself. Just like a New Years resolution, the power is not in the word but in the actions that accompany it.  

You might be asking:

What’s the difference between a New Years Resolution and a word of the year?

A New Years Resolution

A New Years resolution is a promise that you make to yourself to start doing something good or stop doing something bad on the first day of the year: 
For example, “Have you made any New Year’s resolutions?” “Yes, I’m going to eat more healthily and give up smoking.”  (Cambridge Dictionary)

And of course, a new years resolution can be great!  But usually what starts off as a great idea can often end up feeling rigid and restrictive and therefore ditched after a few months.

A word or phrase of the year 

I would describe a word of the year as a scripture or faith based-theme that flows through and influences your life throughout the year. It is like a chord that links areas of your life together and brings about faith-based intentionality and focuses your decision-making and underlying behaviours. It’s a word or value that speaks to the physical, the heart, mind and soul. It should inspire personal growth.

I first discovered the idea of having a personal word of the year before I knew it was even a real thing. Around New Years Eve, we’d go to church and pastor’s, prophets and preachers would announce what God has been speaking to them about on behalf of the church. They would then say what the ‘word of the year’ or the theme or scripture would be for the church the following year and then we’d pray the New Year in.  

I remember being at home one NYE and staying home with the family. I read a scripture that stood out to me and new that would be my personal word of the year and we prayed the New Year in. That guided me so much in my life the following year.

I, later on, found out that this was a thing and thousands choose a personal word of the year. That was over 10 years ago and I’ve had a word of the year ever since. 

This might change year on year. To me, this is really uncomplicated and tends to come through quite a natural process after doing to for several years. If this is your first year, I’ll share some steps you can follow to discover your word of the year and with a quick google search you’ll find many more.

1) Goal or Purpose Oriented word of the year – 

You may have a mission on your heart for 2020 – maybe God’s calling you to step out in faith and do something new or expand a project. Depending on what it is, you might want to choose your word of the year to help you focus on that. For example:

Conquer

Inspired

Action

Lead-her-ship

Faith

Purpose

Embrace

Goal-digger

Bold

Unlimited

Thrive

Accomplish

Able

2) When reflecting on the last year, is there a topic that has repeatedly cropped up?   

For example, you may feel like you are at burnout point now due to being super busy, you may look at words like: 

Rest

Grace

Self-care

Whole

Balanced

Flow

Simplified

Intentional

Refresh

Renewal

3.i) Choose a scripture of the year –

Look at scriptures about the topic you have selected in step number 2 and have that as your scripture of the year:

“He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake” – Psalm 23:2-3  

“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” Matthew 11:29 

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10 

“I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the LORD sustained me” Psalms 3:5  

3.ii) You can combine step 2 or your chosen scripture from step 3i into a word of the year or a phrase of the year 

Whole Restoration

Rhythms of Grace

Self-care & gentleness

Less is More

He Restores

God Leads Me

In His Presence

Self-compassion

Soulful-Rest

Intentionally Still

Be Still & Know

You can follow steps 2, 3i & 3.ii for any topic that stands out to you.

4) Has God been speaking to you about an area of your life that needs to change for the better? 

If you’ve identified an area of improvement or change you don’t want to choose the negative word as your word for the year, you want to choose the positive opposite to motivate you and help you dig deeper and draw closer to God, For example:

 

5) Read the Holy Bible  

When reading your Bible is there a theme that arises regularly or a thought that keeps popping up in your mind and touching your heart?  

Maybe you haven’t really paid attention but look back now and think about any recurring themes that came to your mind during your Bible reading time. What Bible story or verse resonated with you the most? That might help you find a theme for the year ahead and your word of the year.

If you are do Bible journaling, look through the notes on your pages and your theme might become clearer. 

Check out my blog post on how I came to my word of 2019 through Bible reading, hearing God through his Holy Word and journaling!  

 Maybe you’ve lost the zeal to read your Bible and reading the Bible more is something you plan to start in the New Year, but why wait. Grab your Bible now, dig in and hear what God has to say through His Holy word. There’s no reason why we can’t dive in today! 

6) Prayer  

During prayer, God often speaks to us. Pray and ask God if there is something specific for your life in the next season that He’d like you to focus or lean into. Align your word of the year to match that. 

7) Developing a spiritual habit 

Maybe you’ve realised there’s a spiritual habit in your spiritual life that is lacking, maybe it’s prayer, or thanksgiving or fasting, reading your Bible, or attending fellowship. Whatever it is you may wish to choose a word of the year that’ll help you encompass the change you want to make and the habit you wish to develop to spend more time in God’s presence. Look at words like: 

Submit

Devotion

Well-Watered

Dig Deeper

Jesus First

Deeper Dive

Grace-Laced

Gratitude

Living Water

Priorities

Surrender

Daily Bread

Intimacy

And if none of the 7 ideas above work for you, pop over to DaySpring.com for a 2020 word quiz 

Here are some key things to remember: 

• A word of the year or phrase of the year is personal to you 
• It’s between you can God and you don’t have to share it with anyone
• You don’t have to choose one on Jan 1st! Sometimes it will come to you before Jan 1st and sometimes a couple months after. That’s completely ok, don’t rush the process. Last year I didn’t know my word of the year until after the New Year. However, I already know my word for 2020!  
• Have fun and have faith. This idea of a word of the year is to motivate and encourage you to focus on what is important in this season of your life. 
• My hubby and I had a word of the year for our marriage last year, it was ‘submit’. And we had a great time exploring it. You can apply it to other areas of your life.
• You can change it at any time! My word of the year for 2019 took on new meaning as we approached the end of the year. As God spoke to me things evolved and that too is ok. It’s a journey and a journey will take you to different places.  You can read about it here

I don’t know about you, but New Year is one of my favourite times of the year and I feel so thankful!

I hope you find this helpful in choosing your word of the year! Come on 2020!!!

Let us know if you have another process for finding a word of the year? Let us know about some of your previous words of the year or what you have in mind for the year ahead?

With heart and Hope

Shovorne Adams

xoxo

The word of the year quiz asks you 20 questions to reveal the term you resonate within 2023. Find out what word summarizes your year based on your vision.

Word of the Year Quiz Explained

The test is a series of questions with the goal of revealing your word of the year. It reviews your visions, memories, and experiences to discover the term that fits into your life for the upcoming days.

Your word indicates what kind of year is expecting you and how you’ll approach the happenings. For instance, 2021’s term was “perseverance,” implying the struggle and hard work in facing the pandemic. So, what expression or word do you think could explain your life? Take the quiz to find out.

Word of the Year	Year
They	2019
Pandemic	2020
Vaccine	2021
Embrace	2022

Find Your Guiding Word of the Year 2023

For many, discovering the year’s term is somewhat spiritual, like a message from their guardian angel—or something along the same line. The good news is that the quiz helps you identify the dictionary term that recaps your upcoming year. Plus, it offers a brief but comprehensible explanation of why we think your life resonates with a specific word.

Who Chooses the Word of the Year?

There’s no specific organization to select the word of the year. However, Dictionary.com chooses a trending word that describes the gist of the happenings annually.

The organization offered “Allyship” as the best fit for the 2021 events, claiming that “[it] acts as a powerful prism through which to view the defining events and experiences of [the year].”

How to Find Your Own Word (No Quiz Required)

It doesn’t have to be a complicated process. Discovering a term or expression that guides you through the year should be pretty straightforward. You just need to know what to consider and where to look at. Here’s a 4-step guide in case you’re not a fan of quizzes and want to hunt your own words.

#1. Choose it based on your goals and resolutions.

You want a word that guides—or at least motivates you—through the year. So, it’s crucial to look into your expectations before choosing one. What do you want to happen? How are you going to fight the struggles? Do you need more “STRENGTH,” or are you already feeling “BLESSED?”

#2. Choose your word of the year based on last year’s happenings.

It’s cliché, but what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. So, what happened last year that made you even tougher? Such events or turning points in your life can also determine your word of the year—before you opt to take a quiz. Did you survive an unbelievably challenging year? Then your year’s term should be “THRIVE.” Did you go through a loss? “Growth” might be the word you’re looking for.

#3. Go with the vibe of the whole world.

Another way to discover your word of the year is by listening to humankind. Each year, certain struggles and happenings form mutual concerns and visions. You can use them to come up with your own relatable term and seek guidance along with all other humans. Google’s Year in Search is an excellent tool to see what the world is going through and how one word could describe it.

#4. Revisit your browser history.

It may sound too geeky but bear with me. Your search history has some profound pieces of info to offer. It can be a door into your visions, expectations, wishes, and plans. So, for the sake of finding your word of the year without a quiz, open your browser history. See if you can find any meaningful relationship between the queries and your wants for the new year.

How the Word of the Year 2023 Quiz Works

The test goes through the most critical aspects of your life. The goal here is to decipher your resolutions to see what word can best describe them.

It analyzes your vision.

You start the word of the year quiz by answering somewhat philosophical questions. We’d want to know more about your personal views and opinions about fundamental topics, such as finance, love, career, family, etc.

It reviews your speech patterns.

Unlike most other word of the year quizzes, we value your word choices to come up with the most fitting suggestion, a word that you’d be willing to use in your daily speeches. Some alternative online tests leave you with cumbersome terms that require a dictionary to decipher. But here, we analyze your responses to guess how you talk before revealing your special word of the year.

It also considers your recent memories.

What you’ve been through so far should shape the word of the next year—because our memories make us who we are. Some quiz questions focus on your experiences and the boldest recollections to help finetune the results.

Finally, it searches through our database to find the fitting word.

We use your responses to the word of the year quiz to create an accurate profile. Then, the algorithm goes through the database of terms and expressions, revealing the one with the highest matching percentage.

Bonus: Christian Words of the Year Are Included, too.

As you know, the word of the year is somewhat of a spiritual thing for some people. That’s why the quiz includes suggestions for Christians. The terms for this section are handpicked from the Bible itself, making it easier for you to seek guidance.

Questions of the quiz

• Question 1
  

  How would you describe your year in one word?

  

  • Memorable

  • Promising

  • Critical

  • Successful

  • Unsuccessful

  • Meh

• Question 2
  

  What do you think about the challenges you face in life?

  

  • Life’s meaningless without them

  • I’m ready for them

  • I think they teach me lessons

  • I try hard not to give up against the challenges

  • I’m tired of them

  • I’m numb to life in general

• Question 3
  

  Why do you want to know your word of the year?

  

  • It sounds fun

  • I need guidance

  • I need support

  • I want to ensure I’m on the right path

  • I’m bored

  • I don’t even know

• Question 4
  

  Choose a word that summarizes your memories of the past couple of months.

  

  • Enjoyable

  • Real

  • Harsh

  • Valuable

  • Traumatic

  • Meh

• Question 5
  

  What do you think is the best strategy to face life’s hardships?

  

  • Holding onto your faith

  • Acceptance

  • Education and experience

  • Toughness and consistency

  • I don’t know anymore

  • No strategies could help with that

• Question 6
  

  What was the pandemic like for you? How did it affect your life?

  

  • It taught me a lot of lessons

  • It made me a better person

  • It made me grow up

  • It turned into a tougher person

  • It hurt me deeply

  • It didn’t have a significant effect

• Question 7
  

  What are your hopes for the next year?

  

  • I hope the pandemic ends.

  • I want my family and friends to be happy and healthy

  • I want to succeed in my business/job

  • I hope that I make it

  • I hope that I can recover

  • I want the next year to be a bit more exciting
• Question 8
  

  What’s something that you really want to do in the upcoming years?

  

  • Spend more time with loved ones

  • Focusing on my mental and physical health

  • Educating myself and becoming a better person

  • Keep trying and not focusing on my goals

  • Giving myself some time to let everything sink in

  • Have fun and enjoy my time on earth

• Question 9
  

  What do you think is the key to having peace of mind?

  

  • Believing in the greater good

  • Befriending your faith

  • Never stop learning

  • Believing in yourself

  • Not overthinking your past

  • I don’t really know

• Question 10
  

  Which one sounds like a better definition of happiness?

  

  • Having a lovely, healthy family

  • Living with peace of mind

  • Following your passion

  • Surviving the hardships and achieving your goals

  • Getting along with life’s challenges

  • Not overthinking anything about life

• Question 11
  

  What’s something your life is missing right now?

  

  • Mercy

  • Love

  • Challenge

  • Stability

  • Peace

  • All of them

• Question 12
  

  What’s the feeling you get when thinking about the future?

  

  • Hope

  • Excitement

  • Fear

  • Stress

  • Uncertainty

  • Indifference

• Question 13
  

  How would you describe your relationship with the past?

  

  • I appreciate my experiences

  • I respect my past

  • I don’t like it

  • I’m proud of it

  • I can’t stop thinking about my past

  • Meh. I don’t have anything to say about that.

• Question 14
  

  Why do you think some people give up and never try to fix their lives?

  

  • They don’t have faith in what they do

  • They don’t believe in themselves

  • They don’t have the proper resources

  • They’re not tough enough for the challenges

  • They are tired of failing

  • They just don’t want to waste their time

• Question 15
  

  Fill in the blank. I’d like to focus on my relationship with__________.

  

  • My family

  • My friends

  • My coworkers

  • My future

  • My past

  • My classmates

• Question 16
  

  Choose a word that you think gives off positive or soothing vibes.

  

  • God

  • Angel

  • Ocean

  • Mountain

  • Home

  • Party

• Question 17
  

  What do you usually do to calm yourself down and get rid of stress?

  

  • I pray

  • I meditate

  • I talk to a friend

  • I devote more time to work

  • I watch movies and avoid working

  • It’s completely random

• Question 18
  

  How would you score the past five years of your life on a scale of 0 to 5?

  

  • 5

  • 4

  • 3

  • 2

  • 1

  • 0

• Question 19
  

  What motivates you to keep going and try even harder?

  

  • My beliefs

  • My loved ones

  • My goals and achievements

  • My responsibilities

  • The promises that I’ve made

  • I’m not motivated, TBH.

• Question 20
  

  Final question; how old are you?

  

  • 60 or older

  • 45-59

  • 30-44

  • 20-29

  • 15-19

  • 14 or younger

As you stand at the entrance of a new year, do you ever reflect on a word for the year that could be yours throughout the year?

I do this practice every year. For me, this has never been an exercise such as coming up with a New Year’s Resolution (which never works anyway, right?)

Taking time to discover how to choose a word for the year prompts me to pause to reflect on the year that I’ve lived through and consider what God might be inviting me into in the new year ahead.

What is the Word for the Year?

In December 2019, I began asking the Holy Spirit, what is the word for the year for 2020? It didn’t come immediately.

It took time and intention to allow God space over several days to begin nudging me with words that arose.

Certain words began “calling” to me. I knew the season ahead would require my openness to change and unknowing as I wondered about what life would look like as I faced retirement in 2020.

The phrase “Open to Wonder” became my focus for 2020 as I anticipated the new year and new decade, and like all of the world, I had no idea that the need for openness to change and unknowing would be required for more than being newly retired.

But God did.

He was inviting me to be open to the wonder (both the awe and the questions) that living out retirement AND the reality of a worldwide pandemic would require.

It would be a year like no other…and He was ever-present to me in it.

Here we are in 2021…about to come to a close of 2020. Good riddance, we might be thinking, but what if we took time to reflect on the year we’ve been given?

Why Choose a Word for the Year?

We each stand at the threshold of 2021. We may wonder why choose a word for the year and will it be worth giving time to?

In Psalm 90, Moses contemplates the largeness of God and his relationship to Him. These verses remind me why it’s good to consider what I’ve experienced and what I hope to experience in relation to God and His world in the next year.

Teach us to number our days [with intention] that we may gain a heart of wisdom….Let Your work appear to Your servants and Your glory to their children. And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands for us. Yes, establish the work of our hands.   

Psalm 90:12, 16-17

 I find that contemplating on my word for the year is a way for me to “gain a heart of wisdom”…to be in a position of receiving God’s wisdom about my life – where I am now and what He might be inviting me to join Him into in the days ahead.

I desire Him to “establish the work” of my hands…to bring purpose and meaning to each of my days on the earth.

How do I Choose a Good Word for the Year?

To learn how to choose a good word for the year, it’s necessary to set aside times of silence and solitude over a few days. We can’t be in a hurry.

Choosing a word for the year has nothing to do with the Holidays or New Year’s resolutions.

This practice is intentionally connecting with God to discern what He’s up to in us, for us, through us. And doing this is best done in quiet and aloneness.

We’ll need to parcel out some time for reflection. I know how busy our lives are, but choosing a good word is like “mining for gold” and time for discovery is needed.

During my set-apart time, I find it important to begin by connecting to my breath – inhaling through my nose slowly and exhaling through my mouth fully.

This practice helps bring me to a settled place where I can connect to the immediate moment where God’s Spirit is present to me in each breath.

In this space, I then ask the Spirit to remind me of moments – events, memories, emotions – that have made up this past year. I let Him remind me of where my word given at the beginning of the year came into play and how I responded.

I am remembering God’s faithfulness.

Don’t expect your word for the year to come in your first sitting. It’s wonderful if it does, but in my experience, it rarely does. We must be okay with that.

Think of selecting your word for the year like a rosebud unfolding. It’s a process and forcing it won’t help.

7 questions you can ask yourself to help choose a good word for the year:

1. Where did God show up for me this year?
2. What lessons was I able to grab onto?
3. What came to me this year that I might take into the next?
4. Where am I now?
5. What am I longing for?
6. Is there anything new rising up in me?
7. Has God been speaking anything lately?

My 2021 word for the year came to me after about 5 or so days. At one point, I recalled something God spoke to me during online church in the spring of this year.

I heard within “I am freeing you. I am releasing you.” Those two small sentences served to anchor me in the midst of the stay-at-home mandate.

I also was reminded of something a friend had asked me a few years back that deeply impacted me – “What would it look like for you to thrive?”

As I mulled over the impact of those two experiences, I found my word for 2021 – Freed to Flourish.

What you need to know about “your word for the year” is that even after your word comes, you have no idea the depths of its meaning until you come to the end of the year.

Your word for the year’s purpose is to serve as an anchor, as a focus, like a seed being planted for next year’s harvest. It’s like a thread to follow throughout the year to see God at work.

That’s what my new word for the year will be for me.

Creating a Word for the Year Journal

Once I have my word for the year, I create a word of the year journal. I use a black and white composition book and decorate the front and back covers with collages.

I find words and images in magazines or online related to my word for the year, arrange them in a meaningful way on the cover, and then glue them into place. I paint the covers with Mod Podge to seal and protect the images.

Often, I make two books since journaling is a regular spiritual practice for me, and I’ll need enough space for the whole year.

If this is your first time deciding to “find your word for the year,” don’t stress over it. Simply do it and have fun with it. The Lord is with you in it. If you often select a word for the year, enjoy the process another year.

Once you have your word for the year, would you be willing to share it below in the comments? I would love to hear about your word for the year!

A PRAYER

Lord, give us a word. May the “seed” be planted deeply into us so that we may gain a heart of wisdom from the year ahead. By Your wisdom, we will cultivate the work of our hands for Your kingdom of love in the world. Amen.

A few years ago I hopped on the pick-a-word-for-the-year train.

I thought it was a little silly at first, but I wanted to do what the cool kids were doing ?, so I decided to give it a shot.

I had a hard time choosing a word that first year. 

It needed to be just the ‘right’ word, I thought. What if I chose the wrong word and I would have a horrible year or didn’t learn what God wanted me to learn?

uhem… I don’t think there is ever a right or wrong word to pick. (unless it’s a cuss word, then you might want to reconsider! ?)

I tend to agree with one of my friends who said, “Picking a word doesn’t have to be hard and it doesn’t have to be super spiritual.”

Sometimes we complicate things when we want to have things ‘just right’.

Three ways to Pick a Word for the Year

1. Choose a word or topic you want to learn more about.

The first year I chose a word I didn’t know where to begin.

I’m a word-lover so I wanted all the words. Things got narrowed down when I asked myself, “What is one thing I struggle with?”

That overarching topic for me was trust.

So my first year I chose the word trust.

Then I began digging into what trust meant for me:

• Spiritually – I asked myself things like, “Do I trust God?” “Are His Words and His ways trustworthy to me?” “What can I do today that will declare I trust Him?”
• In relationships – I began to process how trust fits into (1) a damaged relationship, (2) how to build trust in my marriage, (3) how to open myself to others instead of holding back in a self protective stance.

If you are stumped about picking a word or topic, choose something you know you struggle with or something you want to claim throughout the next twelve months.

2. Pray.

Of course I’m going to recommend that! ?

I generally just start talking with the Lord about the possibility of having a word for the year.

Sometimes a word or topic comes within the first sixty seconds. It settles deep in my heart, my spirit nods and I know God has given me a treasure.

Other times I’m completely stumped. So I move on to number 3.

3. Brain dump words.

A brain dump or a mind map can be helpful in organizing thoughts and receiving clarification. So here is a simple step-by-step process for when you really want a word, but nothing is coming.

1. Things you’ll need – (1) a pen, (2) a paper, (3) 5-10 minutes, (4) a heart ready to hear from the Lord.
2. Pray specifically for words or topics to be given to you. Here’s a prayer to get you started – “Lord, speak to me about what You want to teach me this year. Clear my mind and heart so I may hear from You. Draw me close and open my capacity to see where you want me to grow or an area You want me to focus on this year. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
3. Then start jotting down any and all words that come to mind. Even the ones you don’t like and or the topics that make you uncomfortable.
4. Sometimes I know my intended word when I see it. Other times a few words from my brain dump catch my eye, so I circle them and tuck the paper in my pocket.
5. Throughout the day, or the next few days, I look for little things that could be hints or a guidance from the Lord in choosing a word.

How to know You’ve Picked the ‘right’ Word

My favorite way to describe how to know I’ve come across the right word for my year, is when two things happen –

(1) It settles deep in my heart, and
(2) my spirit gives a little nod.

Then I know God has given me a treasure.

As I mentioned before, this doesn’t have to be super complicated. If you find yourself stressing out about the whole thing, don’t force it!

Please keep in mind, having a word for the year is not Scriptural-ly supported, however it can be great tool for deep and personal spiritual growth.

Also remember, there are times the Lord let’s us choose things for ourselves and He blesses the choice we make. So if you’re not sure, just pick a word and trust God to bless it and minister to you in that area.

Do you have a word for this year? Drop it in the comments!

I’d love to hear it and then pray over you in that area. ???

Free Prayer Challenge!

Exclusive Free offers are available to Kaylene Yoder subscribers. By requesting this free Bible study you will begin receiving our weekly Monday Freebie email.

When it comes to planning for the year, rather than making New Year’s resolutions, I recommend starting with a word for the year. Having a single word by which to plan your goals is a powerful way to stay focused and keep your goals in sight.

But the one question I get asked most when it comes to choosing a word for the year is how. How do you decide on one word for the year?

For some, it’s trying to figure out how to narrow it down. For others it’s the fear of commitment. And yet for others, it’s simply not knowing where to start.

Whatever brought you to this post, my goal is that by the end of this, you’ll have a clear way forward, and quite possibly, you’ll have your one word.

What about NEW YEAR’s resolutions?

By now you might know that I’m a not a big fan of New Year’s resolutions. It’s not because I haven’t tried resolutions. It’s because I have.

Studies show that New Year’s resolutions have a very short life.

Many who start New Year’s resolutions give up on them even before January is over. Our good intentions don’t always pan out.

Now, if you happen to be in that very small percentage of people who stick with New Year’s resolutions all the way to the end of the year, please leave a comment on this post, so I can give you a virtual high-five! 😆

For the rest of us, New Year’s resolutions are notorious for failing.

That’s not to say that you shouldn’t have New Year’s resolutions. I opt for a word for the year coupled with SMART goals as opposed to New Year’s resolutions, but it doesn’t have to be either or. In fact, you can have both New Year’s resolutions and a word for the year.

The key is to find what works best for you, and you won’t know what that is until you try.

This is where I have turned to redeem my year. And I’m certainly not alone.

Having just one word feels a lot less overwhelming than having a long laundry list of do’s and don’ts for my year. But don’t underestimate the power of one word. This one little word, along with the goals inspired by your word, can make all the difference in the world.

What starts as just one word, becomes a beautiful tapestry as it weaves its way into your life. My word becomes the starting point for my annual goals in the various areas of my life. These are then broken down into monthly goals and plans, so you can see how this one word stays with me and keeps me focused.

Often, I don’t see the beauty of my word until I pause to reflect — and then I’m amazed by how God almost literally connected the dots.

Moments that I thought nothing of then begin to take new meaning in light of my word. I become of aware of missed opportunities, appreciate the lessons that were borne out of periods of struggle, and give God thanks for all of it.

And at the start of every year I get excited all over again for the new thing God is doing in my life, starting with prayer and my one little word.

See, I am doing a new thing!
    Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
    and streams in the wasteland.”

Isaiah 43:19

Because the truth is, my word, as small as it is, keeps me dependent on God.

That’s the beauty of choosing a word for the year.

By the very nature of it, it’s a more intentional and mindful practice than New Year’s resolutions.

No longer am I trying to accomplish goals on my own strength. Instead I am looking in anticipation for how God will show up.

Sure, I do my part by setting goals but I also hold them loosely, allowing God to shape my year.

For more on setting goals, based on your word for the year, check out my article How to Achieve Your Goals in 5 Simple Steps where I share my 5-star goal-setting process.

This page includes affiliate links which means if you purchase using a link here, I may receive a commission. It’s no extra cost to you and helps support this site. Please know that I only share products/resources that I love and trust and which I believe will benefit you. See my full disclosure policy here. 

How to Choose Your Word for the Year

Let me say this upfront, the way I choose my word for the year is probably the most unconventional thing you’ll ever hear.

To choose my word for the year…

I pray about it.

Yep, that’s the gospel truth.

I turn to God and ask Him to give me a word that will guide and inspire me throughout the year. And you wouldn’t believe (or maybe you would) — He always answers!

Quite often, a word keeps coming to mind. Maybe it’s in a song, a Bible verse, or in a card from a friend. Sometimes it’s in a podcast or book. It sometimes gets to the point where it feels like a word is haunting me. But I’m a little stubborn and I don’t give in that easily, so I pray some more and ask God to make it clear if that’s my word.

Then I get still and listen.

I look for confirmation to see if that word is my word.

And if it is, it will continue to show up over and over again.

Just this year, I wasn’t sure what my word was going to be. I was thinking about a word but second-guessed it because it was a word I was using often in a course. I thought maybe the word was just showing up because I kept using it, not because it was MY word. So I let it go.

After the New Year, I started to think more intentionally about my word and decided to look up Scriptures that included this ‘possible’ word.

And the very first Scripture I turned to was all I needed to see.

Don’t laugh when I tell you that my eyes started to well up. That first Bible verse was like balm to a hurting soul. And I knew then and there that I’d found my word. See? Unconventional, right? But it works.

No Pressure

Choosing a word for the year is one of those things that you just have to try for yourself. Try it and see what God will do. You’ll never come away the same as when you started.

Sometimes I tell others about my word. And there are times I hold it more closely, keeping it to myself. Whatever the case, God always has a powerful way of impacting my life and my world, starting with that one little word.

There have also been times when I started my year with my word firmly planted in my mind and other times when finding a word took much longer, or felt impossible. I don’t sweat it. And I don’t choose a word just for the sake of it. I simply allow God to lead me to my word.

Once you have your word for the year, you might be wondering what to do next. In this article I shared three of my best tips for your next best steps after choosing your one word. (This is a guest post over on OneWord365.com — an ideal place for finding some one word inspiration).

25 Word for the Year Ideas

Speaking of inspiration, if you’re not sure what word to choose for your year, you might want to take one of these for a spin.

1. peace
2. become
3. success
4. heart
5. prepare
6. advance
7. win
8. prosper
9. shine
10. mercy
11. marvelous
12. steadfast
13. full
14. love
15. rich
16. power
17. love
18. commit
19. trust
20. one
21. upright
22. imagine
23. humble
24. joy
25. persevere…

Don’t have a word for the year yet? Let’s fix that. Here are 25 ideas to get you started. Click To Tweet

Did any of those words speak to you? Pray about it and ask God to show you if He wants you to have a word for the year and which one it will be. Which brings me to the next point.

Do I Need a Word for the Year

You might be wondering if you need a word for the year. That’s kinda like asking if you need ketchup on your French fries. No, you don’t–it’s totally optional. Same with your word for the year. It goes well with your year but it’s up to you if you choose to have one.

Neither should it be a case of divided camps — those who choose a word and those who don’t.

A word for the year is but one of many ways to approach the New Year with all your goals and aspirations. I don’t swear by it, but I find it works well for me and keeps me inspired throughout the year. And that for me, is a good reason to have one.

No Magic, just impact

The truth is, it’s not as if having a word for the year is the magic pill that will solve all your problems, remove all your mental blocks and automatically deliver your goals to you on a shiny, silver platter. I wish! It doesn’t work that way, but it’s quite possible that this one little word will have a big impact on your life.

Are you willing to give it a try?

If you’ve chosen a word for the year, why not share it below. If you haven’t yet, let me know how this article helped you. And if you need help figuring out your next step, just get in touch. I’d be happy to help you find the clarity you need and maybe your word too!

Encouragement for the Journey

Sticking with your well-intentioned goals is hard work. For some encouragement to help you thrive in work, life and faith, come on over and join me in my private community for women here.

---

Check out the February Sale on Etsy

X