Today is the first day of January. A shiny new year with a tired old question: What is your New Year’s resolution? Has the tradition grown stale? Maybe it’s time to turn your resolution into a “word of the year.”
Resolutions are often flawed and usually fail. You know the routine. Pick an undesirable habit or behavior, vow to reverse it, and then – forget ALL about it by February. That’s what happens with most resolutions.
Focusing on words is a different kind of New Year’s resolution, and the simplicity appeals to me. I’m ready to drop my typical tradition and try something new. Are you?
Let’s make 2019 different.
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A New Tradition for a New Year
What if you replaced your New Year’s resolution with a word? Just ONE to focus on all year? Something to study and ponder and help you face each day with resolve?
AND what if you chose it based on God’s Word? Something to remind you of His truth, to inspire you to live out your Christian faith every day.
The arrival of a new year is a natural time to start changing yourself, your life, or your perspective. Most of the time, change is good. But it’s not always easy, and it doesn’t happen overnight.
That’s where your one word comes in.
Change Needs Time and Focus
“Change is possible, but it requires focus,” said Michael Ashcraft. He’s the pastor of Port City Community Church in Wilmington, North Carolina.
“When you choose a single word, you have clarity and focus,” he said. You are moving toward the future rather than swearing off the past.”
Are you ready to find YOUR word for 2019? Let’s get started!
Find Your Focus Word
Are you having trouble finding something to focus on? I needed help too, so I turned to the web. My research uncovered four online initiatives. Each has a tool for discovering your word of the year.
Some of these project have Christian roots, but you don’t have to be Christian to join them. In fact, you don’t have to join them at all. Their tools and resources, for the most part, are FREE.
So go online, take your time, and find a word that’s meaningful to YOU.
1. DaySpring
DaySpring is a Christian greeting card company and seller of inspirational gifts. Their online tools can help you replace your New Year’s resolution with a single word based on God’s Word.
What’s the right one for you? Take this quiz to find out. Your answers to seven questions will help you choose the best term for 2019. It’s the tool I used to find my focus. More on that later.
Share: #LiveYourFaith
2. My One Word
My One Word is an “experiment” by Michael Ashcraft (mentioned above) and Rachel Olsen. The two co-authored a book by the same name. The concept is simple:
- Lose the long list of resolutions you want to make this year.
- Pick a word that represents what you hope God will do in you.
- Focus on it throughout the year.
According to Ashcraft and Olsen, the typical New Year’s resolution rarely works. Why? Because it’s about who you’re tired of being, instead of who God wants you to become.
My One Word (the book) has the endorsement of Franklin Graham, among others. Graham commended the authors for helping the reader focus on biblical concepts:
“My One Word is a refreshing approach to New Year’s resolutions, replacing unrealistic goals with the desire to become a more committed disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Share: #MyOneWord
3. One Little Word
One Little Word is the brainchild of Ali Edwards, a designer with a passion for memory keeping. Her project involves using scrapbooks to document your journey through the year.
“A single word can be a powerful thing,” said Edwards. “It can be the ripple in the pond that changes everything.”
Her project centers on a year-long workshop for monthly prompts and inspiration. Enrollment gives you access to a private Facebook group where students share ideas.
Share: #OneLittleWord2019
4. One Word 365
One Word 365 is a little idea with a big impact. A global tribe determined to help each other live with intention and purpose. Here’s how it works:
- Visit the website to sign up by email, Facebook, or Twitter.
- Find your tribe by typing your word in the search box.
- Connect with others who have the same word or live in your area.
This project has a hundred suggestions for “word of the year.” Read the list and exchange your resolution for a term that’s significant to YOU. Then find your tribe and challenge yourselves to live purposeful lives.
Share: #OneWord365
📋 UPDATE – This community is currently on pause, but the founder hopes to resume it again down the road.
My Word of the Year
I used all the resources above to look for my focus word, but it was hard to choose only one. I finally used this quiz to find something that represents God’s will for me.
My word is “delight” – as in Psalm 37:4. “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.”
John Piper used this verse to support the idea of joy as a command. But what does it mean to delight in the Lord, in a practical sense?
According to Piper, it means:
- Seeing God as infinitely admirable.
- Embracing Him as your protector and provider, your Savior and friend.
- Receiving His gifts with thankfulness, praise, worship.
I love my word for 2019, and I’m ready for the new year – a year of delighting in God! I even found a pretty journal to remind me of my chosen word and to collect my thoughts.
Are you ready to find YOUR word of the year? Pick a good one! Then let God use it to help you focus on His will for you this year. ◻️
Related Posts
- 10 Christian Quotes That Will Inspire You in the New Year
- 15 Bible Verses That Will Give You Hope in the New Year
- Resolved: I Will Live for God (A New Year’s Resolution)
Now It’s Your Turn
Thank you for reading my post. Now it’s YOUR turn to chime in. What is term did you choose for 2019? How and why did you choose it?
Let’s fill the comments with friendly conversation. Scroll down to leave a reply, ask a question, or just say hello. And if you liked this post, please give it a share.
Blessings, Annette
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