What kind of person do you want to become? What is your vision for the new year ahead—what would you like to be more true about you at the end of 2021 than is so now?

Choosing one word to focus on for the entire year could change you in 2021. And your one word might be a word of vision—a word that sets a goal and a vision for you to work toward. For example, from the book My One Word, here is an example of how one woman chose the word integrity, her word of vision for the year. She wrote:

I am a radio personality, a writer, director, and producer. My one word is INTEGRITY. Integrity refers to the quality of a person’s character at the core of their being. Integrity, for me, is one of the hardest words to live by, especially in the entertainment business. Striving for integrity reminds me to live by God’s standards, not the media’s. I want to live every day by my one word.

Living every day by her one word is the vision God gave her as she chose one word for the year. That’s the way this practice of choosing one word for the year can truly make a difference in your life—when you sincerely desire to live every day by that one word.

For example, a visionary word might be purity, where you choose to live every day by God’s standards of purity. That would affect many parts of your life—including purity of speech, purity of lifestyle, purity of motivations.

Psalm 119:9 says, “How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word." Maybe this is an area where you struggle—to have purity of thoughts and lifestyle. If so, can you see how choosing this one word could help you attain your goal of living a pure life in 2021? It can be a life-changing word.

What kind of person do you want to become? What is your vision for the new year ahead—what would you like to be more true about you at the end of 2021 than is so now? Choosing one word to focus on for the entire year could change you in 2021. And your one word […]

Can you remember back to the beginning of 2020? Have you grown spiritually in this past year? Can you identify areas in your life where you have changed for the better? Did you keep your New Year’s resolution in 2020?

One way you can make sure that 2021 is a year of growth in your spiritual formation is to choose one word as your area of intentional growth for this new year. Choosing one word to regularly and consistently meditate on, one word to keep in the forefront of your mind, one word to motivate you to allow God’s Spirit to change you, is a way to ensure that this time next year, you will be able to clearly identify spiritual growth.

I’ve been sharing some stories from the book, My One Word by Mike Ashcraft and Rachel Olsen, which illustrate how impactful this practice of choosing one word for the year can be. Here’s what a woman wrote about her one word:

I am an intensely shy person. I avoid confrontation at all costs. And I only share my faith when it happens into a conversation. The idea of BOLDNESS, of being a truly bold Christian, is seriously out of my comfort zone. But it seems that this is God’s challenge for me this year. I am to actively pursue BOLDNESS and be transformed in the process. So here I go—man, this is intimidating!

This is an example of choosing a word that challenges you in areas that push you out of your comfort zone and teach you to trust God in new ways. God might put this kind of word on your heart—something that even frightens you, but you know God wants to do a new work in you in that area. For example, that word might be boundaries, where you recognize your weakness in setting appropriate boundaries in your life. That often requires some confrontation, but if you recognize your reticence and fear of setting good boundaries, that would be a great word for you in 2021—and by God’s grace, it could truly be life-changing for you.

So, start your search for that one word you will choose for 2021, and see what God wants to do for you in this new year.

Can you remember back to the beginning of 2020? Have you grown spiritually in this past year? Can you identify areas in your life where you have changed for the better? Did you keep your New Year’s resolution in 2020? One way you can make sure that 2021 is a year of growth in your […]

Did you make a New Year’s Resolution for 2021? Those resolutions don’t last very long, as a rule. What I’m suggesting is that you don’t need a resolution, you just need a word—one word that you will focus on all year. One word that says what you want God to do for you this year. One word that indicates an attitude and a commitment you’re willing to take on with God’s help.

From the book, My One Word, here is an example of a word that someone chose:

My word for the year is PAUSE. In my busy life there are so many times I need to pause. Pause to remember these days, for they will fly by so quickly. Pause to say yes. . . and no. Pause to give thanks. Pause before I speak in anger, judgment, or criticism. Pause to say I’m sorry. Pause to dwell on God’s goodness and mercy.

What a great word to choose for 2021. Do you see how many areas of your life could be dramatically affected if you focused on the word pause for one year? To focus on your one word just means that you are going to pray about it regularly—daily—and seek God’s power to effect the changes he wants to make in your life through that word. Then you would do a search in the Bible for passages that relate to your one word.

For example, if pause were your word, some verses you might choose are:

Psalm 46:10: “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Psalm 91:1: “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.”

Psalm 116:7: “Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.”

I would recommend that after you choose your one word, you begin a journal of how God is using that one word in your life. Keep track of all the verses that come to you throughout the year as a reminder of what that one word means for your life. If you seriously commit to focusing on that one word, praying it into your life, and asking God to empower you to make it a reality in your life, you will be amazed at how that one word has truly changed your life.

Did you make a New Year’s Resolution for 2021? Those resolutions don’t last very long, as a rule. What I’m suggesting is that you don’t need a resolution, you just need a word—one word that you will focus on all year. One word that says what you want God to do for you this year. […]

Christmas is over, New Year’s has come and gone, and we’re back to the everyday routine of life—right? As we get started into this New Year, rather than making resolutions which never last very long, I want to once again encourage you to choose “one word” as your theme for 2021.

I’ve been doing this for the past few years—choosing one word to focus on all year—one word to think about and pray about and remember. I first got started in this practice after I read the book, My One Word by Mike Ashcraft and Rachel Olsen, and I highly recommend the book to you. The subtitle for the book is “Change your life with just one word.”

You may be thinking, “How can one word change my life?” I admit it sounds like a bit of an overstatement, but words have power. When you look at the 29 times that words are referred to in Proverbs, you will see that words can be perverse and seductive, they can ensnare you and pierce you like a sword. Or, on the other hand, words can be wise and insightful, they can be just and pure, they can bring healing and comfort, they can be gracious and sweet. Words have the power of life and death.

So, choosing a word—the right word—to focus on for an entire year can indeed effect personal change and spiritual formation in your life. It’s not a self-help program; it’s a way to change your thought life—to see things through God’s eyes. And when you and I become truly focused on changing our attitudes and our thought patterns, then we open ourselves to wonderful changes by the power of God’s Spirit.

How do you choose your one word for 2021? Well, first think about some things you would like to change about yourself. For example, patience might be an area where you know you need improvement. Or discernment; that was one of my words in the past, as I recognized that I am not naturally a discerning person.

Or you might choose a word that exemplifies areas where you want to grow, such as wisdom or thankfulness. As you think and pray about what your one word will be for 2021, you will be amazed at how that process will lead you to the right word for you.

Christmas is over, New Year’s has come and gone, and we’re back to the everyday routine of life—right? As we get started into this New Year, rather than making resolutions which never last very long, I want to once again encourage you to choose “one word” as your theme for 2021. I’ve been doing this […]

I originally began this New Year’s ritual after reading a book called My One Word, By Mike Ashcraft and Rachel Olsen. And the subtitle for the book is “Change your life with just one word.” You may be thinking How can one word change my life? I admit it sounds like a bit of an overstatement, but words have power. When you look at the 29 times that words are referred to in Proverbs, you will see that words can be perverse and seductive, they can ensnare you and pierce you like a sword. Or, on the other hand, words can be wise and insightful, they can be just and pure, they can bring healing and comfort, they can be gracious and sweet. Words have the power of life and death.

So, choosing a word—the right word—to focus on for an entire year can indeed effect personal change and spiritual formation in your life. It’s not a self-help program; it’s a way to change your thought life—to see things through God’s eyes. And when you and I become truly focused on changing our attitudes and our thought patterns, then we open ourselves to wonderful changes by the power of God’s Spirit.

How do you choose your one word for 2021? Well, first think about some things you would like to change about yourself. For example, patience might be an area where you know you need improvement. Or discernment; that was one of my words in the past, as I recognized that I am not naturally a discerning person.

Or you might choose a word that exemplifies areas where you want to grow, such as wisdom or thankfulness. As you think and pray about what your one word will be for 2021, you will be amazed at how that process will lead you to the right word for you.

Here is an example from the book of a word that someone chose:

My word for the year is PAUSE. In my busy life there are so many times I need to pause. Pause to remember these days, for they will fly by so quickly. Pause to say yes. . . and no. Pause to give thanks. Pause before I speak in anger, judgment, or criticism. Pause to say I’m sorry. Pause to dwell on God’s goodness and mercy.

What a great word to choose. Do you see how many areas of your life could be dramatically affected if you focused on the word pause for one year? To focus on your one word just means that you are going to pray about it regularly—daily—and seek God’s power to make the changes he wants to make in your life through that word. Then you would do a search in the Bible for passages that relate to your one word.

For example, if pause were your word, some verses you might choose are:

Psalm 46:10: “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Psalm 91:1: “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.”

Psalm 116:7: “Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.”

I would recommend that after you choose your one word, you begin a journal of how God is using that one word in your life. Keep track of all the verses that come to you throughout the year as a reminder of what that one word means for your life. If you seriously commit to focusing on that one word, praying it into your life, and asking God to empower you to make it a reality in your life, you will be amazed at how that one word has truly changed your life.

Here’s what another woman wrote about her one word:

I am an intensely shy person. I avoid confrontation at all costs. And I only share my faith when it happens into a conversation. The idea of BOLDNESS, of being a truly bold Christian, is seriously out of my comfort zone. But it seems that this is God’s challenge for me this year. I am to actively pursue BOLDNESS and be transformed in the process. So here I go—man, this is intimidating!

This is an example of choosing a word that challenges you—areas that push you out of your comfort zone and teach you to tr...

I originally began this New Year’s ritual after reading a book called My One Word, By Mike Ashcraft and Rachel Olsen. And the subtitle for the book is “Change your life with just one word.” You may be thinking How can one word change my life? I admit it sounds like a bit of an […]