“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”— Psalms 119:105

Every January, the pressure to craft a list of task-based New Year’s resolutions can feel both obligatory and overwhelming. The excitement of a fresh start often gives way to the guilt of unmet goals by mid-February (click here to learn why your New Year’s resolution to join the gym is doomed to fail). What if this year, instead of striving for perfection through task-based resolutions, you chose a gentler, more meaningful approach to guide your year?

Enter the practice of choosing a "Word of the Year."

This transformative tradition invites you to set aside the checklist of self-improvement and instead focus on a single word or phrase that reflects God’s invitation to you in this season. It’s less about doing and more about being—being attuned to God’s presence, being rooted in His promises, and being open to the growth YHWH has in store.

Why Choose a Word Instead of Resolutions?

Resolutions often focus on external achievements: lose weight, save more money, run a marathon. While these goals aren’t inherently bad, they can become exhausting when detached from a deeper purpose. A Word of the Year shifts your attention inward, allowing your life to be guided by God’s direction rather than your own striving.

This word acts as a spiritual compass—a simple yet profound way to filter your decisions, prayers, and reflections throughout the year. It’s a reminder that growth happens not in frantic effort but in quiet faithfulness.

How to Choose Your Word of the Year

The process of discovering your word is deeply personal and prayerful. Here’s a brief guide to help you get started:

1. Reflect on the Past Year
   Consider what you’ve learned, how you’ve grown, and where God showed up in your life. Are there recurring themes or areas where you felt stretched?

2. Pray for Guidance
   Ask God to reveal Their plans for you in the year ahead. Be open and listen for the Spirit’s gentle nudges—whether through Scripture, prayer, or moments of stillness.

3. Pay Attention to Resonance
   As you pray and reflect, notice if a word or phrase begins to surface. It could be something like peace, courage, abundance, restoration, mindfulness, health, or trust & surrender.

4. Confirm Your Word
   Once you sense clarity, seek confirmation through Scripture, prayer, or even conversations with trusted friends or mentors.

Living Your Word Throughout the Year

Choosing the word is only the beginning. Make it a part of your daily life:

• Write it in your journal or on a sticky note where you’ll see it regularly.

• Reflect on it in your prayers or meditations.

• Look for Scripture that reinforces its meaning.

• Revisit it as the year unfolds, noticing how God uses it to shape and guide your journey.

An Invitation to Trust & Surrender

Forget the pressure of resolutions this year and lean into the simplicity of a Word of the Year. As you release the striving and place your trust in God’s promises, you create space for the Holy Spirit to move in your life. Your word becomes a quiet companion, reminding you of YHWH’s promises and helping you live intentionally, one day at a time.

So, what will your Word of the Year be? Take a moment to listen, reflect, and trust. God may be whispering something beautiful just for you.

Looking ahead to what the new year has in store for you? Join us on January 11th, 2025 for our winter envisioning digital vision board workshop.