I am always hesitant to bring up having a “Word of the Year” because it always elicits a plethora of reactions. There’s the positive ones – an instant smile followed by sharing of their own “Word of the Year.” And then there’s the others – a little side eye followed by the dreadful confused and skeptical nod. For some of us, words of the year seem closer to manifesting or magically wishing for a certain outcome for the year than to anything biblical.
But the reality is the Bible calls us to examine ourselves (2 Corinthians 13:5). We are called to keep step with the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:25). Growth is a key part of the Christian life. The goal is not to brag or feel good about ourselves. Even our good works are filthy rags to God (Isaiah 64:6). But it is to work with the power of the Holy Spirit to grow in God (Philippians 2:12-13).
A word of the year then should have this goal: help build “holy habits” by narrowing our focus on needed areas of growth. For me, it looks like an area I am weak in or a topic I would like to study more. A word of the year should be more about intentionally seeking to cultivate your relationship with God. Even if “Word of the Year” is not your vibe, intentionally setting a direction and seeking growth should still be the goal. The tips below are specific for a Word of the Year but applicable to direction setting in general.
Prayer
The first step seems quite simple… possibly because we hear this answer all the time at church. But what has unfortunately become a “pat” answer is the most powerful act we can do. Prayer is vital when considering where to grow. True examination must be done with the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:10-11). The heart is deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9). This means we can either deceive ourselves into thinking we are better than we are or thinking we are worse than we are. Both are harmful and unhelpful. We need to view ourselves rightly (Romans 12:3). This looks like praying for God to search our hearts and our thoughts, namely our whole being (Psalm 139:23-24).
Not only do we ask our Father to help us see ourselves rightly, but we surrender to what He says. We must yield to His will. This is an act of giving up and receiving what He has for us. The age old image of releasing the small piece of chocolate in your hand so He can hand you a massive chocolate bar works well here.
So before you write out all those goals, label all the areas you want to grow, or choose a word for the next year, sit in God’s presence through prayer. Silence distractions, rest in Him, and don’t rush the process. Surrender under His wings and allow His loving rod to guide you (Psalm 23:1-4). Pray for God to speak to and guide you. It can truly be as simple as saying, “Lord, give me direction for my next year. Let me know where you want me to go.”
Reflection
The best way to start this step is by turning to the Bible. If we are trying to examine areas we want to grow in, we must first identify areas of weakness. And how we define those weaknesses is based on the blueprint of how we should live, the Bible. The Word of God helps us to learn more about the heart of God, and the more that we learn about Him the more we are convicted about the areas we fall short. And from this place, God’s works so that our hearts become more and more like His (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Remember it’s about surrender and allowing the Holy Spirit to move.
A word of the year should be rooted or based on Scripture. So think of your time in the Word this year. Have any verses or passages stood out to you? Maybe you aren’t super familiar with the Bible. Maybe you’ve just started reading it and not super consistently at that. There’s no shame in reading new verses in search of a theme to grow in. In fact, though a word should be rooted in Scripture, sometimes it doesn’t start with a particular verse.
If you are having trouble finding a verse, it might be helpful to reflect on the previous year in a different way. What themes have been brought up? Are there any repetitive words or growth areas that have come up this year? I also find that God will use those around me to bring up growth areas. This is why community is vital (Hebrews 10:24-25). Are there any friends who have told you about areas of weakness in your life? What about sermons or Bible studies? Did any themes come up? This can often bring up Biblical themes but not necessarily verses. In that case, I search for a verse after determining a word.
A quick note before we carry on. The reason I start with prayer is because you have to be incredibly careful in reflection. This can quickly become so focused on self that it becomes more about self-improvement than a relationship with the Father. It can become a self beatdown session with all the ways you are “awful” and “horrible” and “need so much growth.” That’s not the heart of the Father (Matthew 11:29). It’s important to remember when these thoughts arise that we are only as far from sin as we are close to God. This doesn’t mean we aren’t close to God when we sin. This means we can only escape sin when we draw close to the Father. We don’t clean our act up and then come to the Father. We come to Him and He cleans us up.
On a very practical note once you either have themes or verses, I would write out all you have come up with. Every theme, every verse that stands out to you, write it down. And then pray some more. Narrow down the list and then pray some more. This then brings us to the third step.
Waiting
This is probably my least favorite part of the process. I like knowing and knowing quickly. Because if I know quickly, then I can begin working on it and can grow quickly. But that’s not God’s goal. The goal of the Father in revealing weaknesses and growth areas is deeper communion with Him, to have a deeper reliance on Him. Waiting is a crucial part of that process.
Having a word of the year might not be a huge or immediate revelation. I often find it isn’t. It often looks like patiently waiting on the Lord and listening for His gentle whisper (1 Kings 19:11-13). He wants us to draw near, not have some self-improvement process. We must patiently wait for Him to reveal how we can grow in relating to Him.
And even if a word of the year is not your cup of tea, He still wants you to draw near to Him through prayer, reflection, and waiting. Thankfully, nowhere in the Bible does it say you can only grow when you have a word of the year. But, as I said before, self-examination is a Biblical principle. Pray for your upcoming year or month or even just the week. Reflect on the ways you feel the Father growing you in. And wait for Him to do the work in you and through you, because He promises to do it (Philippians 2:13).
Resources
- What Does the Bible Say About Self Examination by GotQuestions
- The Goal of Goal Setting and My Word of the Year by Phylicia Masonheimer
- Resolutions (Day by Day) by Chris Renzema
- Not in a Hurry by Will Reagan
Overwhelmed 