One Word for the Year

We’re currently mid-January of 2020. Statistically, within the next couple of weeks nearly half of people who made New Year’s Resolutions will have already broken them. Honestly, I haven’t done “official” resolutions for quite some time now, much for that reason. Instead for the past several years, I’ve approached the New Year in a different way. I come up with one word, kind of a theme word, to focus on for the year.

The idea is to come up with a one word vision to focus on for the entire year. I got the idea from a bible devotional that I read on my YouVersion Bible app, called “One Word That Will Change Your Life”. It was a quick, simple 4-day reading plan. “Change your life” was a bit of a dramatic claim. I can’t say I experienced any life-altering evolutions, but subtle changes, yes. I’m a firm believer that lasting change happens little by little anyway. However, it truly did change how I approached the New Year, and my focus truly did last all year as opposed to a fleeting and failing resolution.

How does a person pick their word for the year? Ideally, God will reveal your word to you as opposed to you just randomly picking one. However, I think that even if you struggle with determining if your “one word” is truly divinely inspired (as I did one year) or even if you just pick a word that seems good, I believe that God will work with that to teach, grow, mold, and change you over the year. Try to listen for God to speak to you about your word.

How I came up with my one word each year

I started by looking over my journal notes from the previous year and thinking back over the year to see any patterns or recurring themes. Then, I noted any words that were repeated or any lessons that I felt like God had been teaching me. I spent some time thinking about if God was trying to prepare me for anything in the upcoming year.

Next, I spent some time in prayer. Sometimes this took me several days of asking God to reveal my word to me. The reading plan instructed me to ask God, “What do you want to do in me and through me this year?” Then, I would sit quietly and listen to see if any word or words popped into mind. Over the course of a week or maybe two, I would pay attention to any themes, patterns or repetition in my quiet times or just in normal day-to-day life. I wrote down any of these things that came to mind or anything that seemed to stand out to me.

Once I felt like I had my word, I made a note in my journal and also shared my word with a few other people. The reading plan suggested keeping my word front and center—posting it somewhere I’ll see it often, sharing it with family and accountability partners, writing it my journal and journaling about it as I continued to focus on it throughout the year, and so on. The goal is to stay focused on my word and live it out as God directs me.

Examples of words

Your one word could be in the form of a character trait or attribute, a discipline, a spiritual focus, etc. Some examples listed in the plan included: love, joy, patience, kindness, rest, prayer, health, train, flexible, devotion, intimacy, discipline, commitment, bold, positive, green, inspire, finish, purity, integrity and strong.

Some of examples of my one word have been “power”, “prophesy”, “purpose”, “new”, “prepare”, and this year it’s “way”.

The year that my word was “power”, I learned more that year about how God is my power source. God also empowered me to step outside of my comfort zone significantly that year. Additionally, God showed me that I had power within me to do things I never thought possible. When “prophesy” was my one word, I learned so much that year about both the noun aspect–prophecy (i.e. prophecies in scripture, etc.) and the verb aspect (the ability to predict or foretell).

The year “purpose” was my word, I grew tremendously learning about and cultivating some of my own gifts and talents and discovering how I could use them for God. I learned more about my purpose and calling here on this earth, and I also grew more intentional that year doing things on purpose.

When my word was “new”, I can look back over my journal and see how I developed new attitudes, learned new lessons, did new tasks, and had new struggles. Also that year, Eric got a new job, and I had new roles too.

Last year: Prepare

Last year my word was prepare, and I can see how God was using me to prepare others…my own kids, my students, my youth group, my readers, etc. I did a lot of posts over the year about the process of and how to prepare others to follow Jesus (discipleship). However, at the same time he was also preparing me. I mentioned in several of the posts over the year about how I was struggling and how God was growing my capacity. I believe a lot of that was in order to prepare and equip me for things to come.

Looking back I was also able to recognize how God had prepared me for some health battles that I would face over the year and (unknowingly at the time) provided some ways to overcome them even before I faced them.

This year: Way

This year my word is “way”, and honestly I didn’t even do my normal “routine” mentioned above to get my one word. I just noticed I kept writing in my journal, and I started to circle it every time I would write it. Finally I just had the revelation, “That’s my word this year.” A favorite verse of mine (and kind of one of my “life verses” for the past ten years) kept coming up in bible reading and devotions:

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. 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 43:18-19 (NIV)

I had starting writing phrases that stood out or that were coming to mind…

God has been preparing me for a new way

He is going to make a way, where there seems to be no way

God is the Way Maker (a recent favorite praise song)

A new way of doing things

Jesus is the Way (John 14:6)

His ways are higher than my ways (Isaiah 55:8-9)

The Lord is going ahead of me to prepare the way (Deuteronomy 31:6)

I’m positive that as the year progresses (especially since I’m only 2 weeks in) that I’ll continue to see different ways 😉 that God uses this word, “way”!

Additional resources

The writers of that 4 day plan actually have a whole website (GetOneWord.com) and a book focused on choosing your one word and developing an action plan for your word. I’m sure these would be excellent resources, especially if you need the extra help with focus and accountability.

I also ran across another “one word” resource that looks pretty cool which a couple of my friends had posted on Instagram. I’m not an affiliate or an endorser, but it does seem like a helpful and fun resource. They participate in “One Little Word” projects where they can take part in year round workshops, be involved in an idea-sharing community, put together a One Little Word book (like a scrapbook focusing on all things around their one word), and they can even order customizable products with their one word.

Honestly though, I personally haven’t spent any money on my one word for the year endeavors; although I do love some of the ideas out there. I didn’t buy the book, purchase an action plan or word kit, or join a workshop. I just went through the reading plan for free (no purchase necessary), discovered my word, and I ran with it (writing it out, sharing it with others, and focusing on it throughout the year, journaling as I did). Then, I do this same thing again every January (or end of December) to pick a new word for the year.

Does one word sound like a good alternative to resolutions for you?

If your resolutions have already fallen by the way side, maybe go try out the One Word reading plan, or take some thoughtful time in prayer to come up with a word to focus on this year. You’ve still got plenty of year left! No need to throw in the towel!

“Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the LORD.” Lamentations 3:40 (NIV)

“So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do.” 2 Thessalonians 1:11 (NLT)

Take Some Practical Steps to Get One Word for the Year:

• Go check out the 4-day devotional reading plan on the YouVersion Bible app, called “One Word That Will Change Your Life”.

It will give you more in-depth instructions on choosing your word and/or asking God to reveal it to you.

• Reflect on the previous year—look back over journals, think about lessons God taught you, consider ways God may have been preparing you for this upcoming year.

Write down any recurring themes or patterns or anything you feel might be relevant.

• Then, spend some time in prayer about your word.

Ask God, ““What do you want to do in me and through me this year?” and “Lord, please reveal your one word for me this year.” Then, sit quietly and listen to see if any word or words pop into mind. Write it/them down and continue praying about it for a few days to confirm your word.

• Once you have your word write it down, make it visible, and share it with others.

Keep it in view so you can continue to focus on it throughout the year. Here are a few ways you can do this…

• Write it on a card–Put it on your mirror, nightstand, light switch, car console, or refrigerator
• Make a free poster printout at GetOneWord.com
• Write it on the front cover or front page of your quiet time journal
• Add it to a screensaver on your computer or as a background image on your computer or phone
• Get a stamped bracelet or necklace with your word
• Get a custom cutout of your word
• Make a bookmark
• …There are endless ideas of ways to keep your word front and center. I’m sure you could look on Pinterest. You crafty people out there probably have a whole slew of ideas!! (Share some of your ideas with us….comment below)

• Finally, when you have your word and keep it front and center, start living it out.

Make note of anytime your word is relevant. Look for ways to learn more about your one word, to grow in your word, or to hear from God about your word.

Do you use one word for the year? What ideas can you share about fun and creative ways to keep your word front and center? Tell us about it by leaving a comment below.

Please note: I reserve the right to delete comments that are rude, disrespectful, sarcastic, offensive, or off-topic.  By posting on this site you agree to my Comment Policy.

P.S.  If you liked this post, you might enjoy receiving new posts delivered right to your inbox each week!  Sign up here. 

If you know anyone that could benefit from this, please pay it forward!  Share this post via the sharing links below.  “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV) 

**Updated: original post 2/6/2018