The new year has arrived, and with it, many people have already made resolutions. These are basically promises one makes to oneself regarding the next twelve months. Often starting with the words “I will,” resolutions deal with improving one’s health, finances, relationships, and abilities. While these are all worthy goals, studies have shown that some 23% of people break their resolutions within the first week, 43% by the end of January, and as many as 88% by the end of February. In fact, only 8-9% successfully achieve their New Year’s resolutions and maintain them long term. For Christians who take Ecclesiastes 5:5 seriously, there is a much safer alternative to making and possibly breaking vows. It’s a “One Word” theme for the year. Instead of a “to-do” list that sets us up for a few big failures, it’s a personal focus word that gets us ready for lots of little successes throughout the year.
“Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.”
Ecclesiastes 5:5
What Is the Point of a One Word for the Year?
The idea is to choose a word that will guide your focus and decisions. It then becomes something of a compass, pointing you in the direction you want to go. The best part is that if you just move forward aligned with your word, you’re guaranteed to make progress, achieving some measure of growth throughout the year.
This word can help you work on your:
- Character (who you want to be)
- Actions (how you want to move through life)
- State of being (how you want to feel and function)
- Faith (how you want to walk with God).
How Do You Choose Your Word?
The most beneficial One Word for the Year will challenge you gently but persistently. That means that you don’t want to pick a word that’s too vague (like “good”) or easy (something you already do).
Start with prayer. Ask the Lord what He would have you to focus on this year, and then:
- Reflect: What challenged me last year? What issues kept coming up? Where do I feel resistance or longing? What do I need more of? What am I avoiding that matters? What would make this year more meaningful, even if it’s hard?
- Brainstorm: Look at some examples. Take a few minutes to list words that seem to speak to your reflections and/or would move you closer to your goals.
- Meditate: Pray, read scripture slowly, and notice words and ideas that seem to repeat. Go back to your list and see which word seems to stand out to you.
- Pick and pair: Choose the word that won’t let you go and pair it with a Bible verse.
What Do You Do with It After You Pick It?
One Word for the Year is a standard you can hold up to your choices, habits, and heart to see if they align with your ultimate goals. Here are some ways to keep it relevant throughout the year.
- Create a graphic that illustrates your word.
- Make it (or just your word) your phone lock screen or a picture on your mirror.
- Memorize your scripture anchor and/or keep it with your word picture.
- Use it as a weekly or monthly journal prompt or just keep a list of times that you saw your One Word in action (moments, decisions, answered prayers).
- Tie it to prayer times. Ask God to help you reflect on how your choices aligned with your word on a given day.
- Pray it over others. Use it as a lens for intercession, so that others around you will begin to cultivate the same quality or habit.
Can I See Some Examples?
Here are the three that I have done personally.
I wrote a whole blog on this one in 2021 and kept the same word for four years. At the time, I wrote, “We must assume that no matter what comes at us or against us, God has a plan for it. He has ‘foreseen’ it, will ‘attend to’ it, and ‘provide’ for it.” The verse I paired with that was Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
Last year, I wanted to encourage myself to stop settling and reach for things that are at a higher level than “comfortable.” It was about giving my full effort to the things of God. The verse I paired with that was Proverbs 15:24: “The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath.”
This year, apparently, God wasn’t done with that kind of theme because my word is “reach.”
I chose the word “reach” to remind myself to reach for (spend effort on) the things that I want to achieve and not to waste my effort and energy on things that aren’t important to me and don’t ultimately align with my life’s goals. I paired the verses from Philippians 3:13-14. “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
What Kind of Word Will You Pick?
To ring in the new year, here’s a word-cloud bell that I made with some words that others have used in the past.
Notice that there is a mix of:
- nouns (like balance, courage, and patience)
- adjectives (like brave, relentless, and confident)
- verbs (like forgive, seek, and obey)
These words deal with a variety of goals involving character, actions, feelings, and faith.
Simplicity and Progress
The Bible is clear that we aren’t to make vows that we can’t keep. This year, instead of making resolutions – or doing nothing at all – try a One Word theme for the year. Remember that it’s not a spiritual to-do list or another chance to fail. It’s a process. It’s also okay if it takes longer than a year for the word to do its work. (Remember that it took me four years to really internalize faith in “providence,” and the Lord is still working on aligning my behavior with my priorities with the words “higher” and “reach.”)
Your One Word for the Year doesn’t have to be what everyone else is doing, and it doesn’t have to be completely original either. Whatever word you choose, it’s between you and God. Just be aware that you can expect it to be tested, as the Lord will most assuredly give you opportunities to practice. For example, if you choose “peace,” you might expect some opportunities for chaos. If you choose “trust,” you may find some situations that require you to loosen your grip of control. Think about what that will look like ahead of time so you will be prepared for it.
Ultimately, your word should motivate you toward reflection, self-awareness, and growth. These are all things the Bible encourages us to do as Christians. So, take some time for prayer, reflection, meditation, and more prayer. See what word jumps out and offers you its hand — and take it. Then make it part of your walk with God throughout your year.
If you like new beginnings, try Lamentations 3:22-23, God’s Mercy Is New Every Morning or God Can Restore the Years of the Locusts. Please sign up to receive my blog in your email inbox. You can find that at the upper right of your screen (or at the bottom on a phone). Also, check out my YouTube Channel, where I read the blogs out loud. I also have a playlist of hymns from my church.
