Inside this post, I share my “Word of the Year” — what it means to me and why I think it’s important to choose a word of the year.
This week, I did something I’ve never done before: I picked a “Word of the Year.”
I’ve seen a lot of people sharing in the last few weeks about the word they’ve chosen for themselves for the new year and thought it was an intriguing idea.
What is a Word of the Year?
In case you don’t already know, the idea behind picking a Word of the Year is to choose a single word that encompasses everything you hope for, for the new year.
It’s the main theme for that entire year, and rather than a list of strict resolutions, it’s more of a gentle focus to help keep you on track.
Keeping your word at the forefront of your brain throughout the year will help guide your decisions to make sure they align with what’s most important to you.
Choosing My Word of the Year
Last year was a really tough year for my family:
- I suffered through a 4-month long illness at the beginning of the year that really took the wind out of my sails. My recovery was slow and frustrating, and it wasn’t until late spring, almost summer, that I felt like I could get back on my feet again.
- We lost three loved ones last year, one after another, from the summer to the fall.
- My husband left his job of 13 years last fall for a new position at a different company, which turned out to be quite a stressful transition for our family.
That’s just the tip of the iceberg regarding our struggles and hardships last year, but I will spare you all the details.
We felt knocked down and defeated, but that only drove us all the more to our knees in prayer.
But God’s love and faithfulness are so good!
By the very end of the year, God had strengthened and restored us. I am so thankful for the way He always keeps us, even through turbulent, uncertain times.
I’ve prayed a lot over this new year already.
I prayed for healing over the emotional and physical pain and suffering that I went through with my sickness last year and pleaded with the Lord to keep me healthy this year. I asked him to restore me and make me new again.
I prayed for comfort and peace for our losses and for those who were also affected by the loss of these loved ones.
I prayed for direction and for God’s will over our lives. That He would reveal to us our purpose in His kingdom.
And in my prayers, I found my word….
Renew
I need God to renew me, and I need Him to constantly continue a renewal within me this year. After a year like we had last year, a divine refreshing from the Lord is what I knew I needed most.
I took this word to several dictionaries and found the following definitions:
- To make like new
- Restore to freshness
- To become new, fresh, or strong again
- To make new spiritually (regenerate)
- To restore to existence (revive)
- To make extensive changes (rebuild)
- To begin again (resume)
- To put in a fresh supply (replenish)
Yes!
These are the things my life needs in the new year! I knew this was the perfect word to summarize up my goals, intentions, hopes, and prayers for the new year.
And so, it was decided: RENEW would be my official Word of the Year.
Renewal Found In God’s Word
With my Word of the Year chosen, I went right to the Bible and found these scriptures that speak about renewal:
Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10 NKJV)
But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31 NKJV)
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:2 NKJV)
Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. (2 Corinthians 4:16 NKJV)
I am fully committed to submitting to the Lord’s will for my life this year – more so than ever before. And in my submission and obedience to His word and to His will, I know He will do a wondrous work of renewal in me.
It’s time.
It’s a new year.
And I’m ready to be renewed.
Your Word of the Year
So, what about you? Have you picked a word for this year? Or are you struggling to find the right word?
Share below in the comments what word you’ve picked and what it means to you!
