Do you choose a Word of the Year?
Happy New Year, friends!
As we wrap up the holiday season and step into the fresh possibilities of a new year, I find myself reflecting on a practice that has deeply impacted my spiritual journey—choosing a word for the year. It’s a simple way to set an intention, not just for my personal life, but also in how I walk with God in the coming year.
Choosing a word of the year is like picking a personal theme song that plays in the background of your daily life, guiding your decisions, and reminding you of your focus. It’s not about setting a high-stake resolution that fizzles out by February. Instead, it’s about guiding your heart to embrace a quality or attribute of God that you want to understand and embody more deeply.
Why a Word?
A word can be a beacon that draws us closer to the divine and molds us into who we are meant to be in God’s eyes. It becomes a lens through which we see our actions, our decisions, and our relationships. Imagine starting each day not with a daunting list of tasks, but with a single word that reminds you of who you are in the eyes of your Creator.
How to Choose Your Word
Choosing your word isn’t something to rush. Spend time in prayer and reflection. Think about the areas of your life that need a touch of God’s grace or a nudge of divine inspiration. Consider the parts of your spiritual journey that feel a bit rough or unfinished. Where is God calling you to grow?
For me, this year’s word is "Magnificat." Oh wow, just typing that fills me with inspiration! It reminds me of Mary’s response to God’s call—an expression of joy and submission to God’s will. It encourages me to live each day magnifying God, letting my life song sing of His greatness.
Living Your Word
Once you have your word, invite it into your daily life. You can write it in your journal, post it on your fridge, or even create a piece of art that represents the word (a wonderful project idea for all you creatives!). The key is to keep it visible and let it seep into your daily actions and decisions.
A Word to Share
And as we're in this together, why not share your word with others? Maybe it's with your family, friends, or here in our community. Sharing our words can inspire others and create a beautiful tapestry of intentions that uplift the entire community.
Need Some Ideas?
Here’s a list of words to consider if you’re thinking about choosing one for yourself. Remember, each word has the potential to open a new pathway to God’s heart, inviting you to grow, reflect, and rejoice in His love throughout the year:
Adore • Apostle • Awaken • Beloved • Blessing • Blossom • Celebrate • Charity • Cherish • Compassion • Community • Conversion • Courage • Conversion • Devotion • Disciple • Encourage • Empower • Enrich • Evangelize • Exalt • Faith • Family • Fellowship • Fiat • Flourish • Freedom • Friendship • Glory • Glow • Grace • Guardian • Grow • Harmony • Healing • Heart • Holiness • Hope • Humility • Illuminate • Influence • Inspire • Joy • Journey • Legacy • Light • Love • Majesty • Mercy • Mission • Nurture • Obedience • Patience • Peace • Perseverance • Praise • Prayer • Providence • Purity • Radiate • Redemption • Reflection • Rejoice • Renewal • Resilience • Reverence • Revive • Sacrifice • Salvation • Sanctify • Sanctity • Serenity • Serve • Shepherd • Shine • Solitude • Spirit • Strength • Stewardship • Surrender • Support • Thrive • Triumph • Trust • Truth • Unity • Victory • Vigilance • Virtue • Wisdom • Worship • Witness • Zeal.
Choose a word that resonates with your heart, and let it guide you closer to God this year. Can you believe how much God loves us, that He gives us such powerful tools to draw closer to Him? What a gift!