Word of the Year

Do you make New Year Resolutions? I don’t. I think I used to try to make them, but I never tended to stick to them. What I have done over many years, is to seek God for a Word for the Year. I’ve had some great words over the years: Awake, Grow, Closer, Confidence, and Delight, being just a few.

Having a word for the year gives me focus, and it’s an anchor point I can keep returning to.

How I discover my Word for the Year is firstly by asking God what he wants me to focus on in the following year. As I read the Bible, I look out for words that jump out at me, and I particularly take notice when I see words or phrases repeated. This might happen as I read the Bible, listen to podcasts or preaches, as I listen to worship music, or even as I am talking with people.

My Word of the Year for 2025 is:

Strength

This word has been rolling round and round my head for almost two months.

I feel like God is redeeming the word ‘strength’ and ‘strong’ for me. I always felt like I had to be the ‘strong’ one, and I could be, and have been, for so long. It felt, at times, a burden I had to carry, particularly in the months and years following my mum’s death. And there were times when I really snapped and broke, under the weight of responsibility it brought with it.

But there’s been a shift over the past few years. I have come to know that I do not carry the load alone. That it is the Lord’s strength in me that enables me. It’s an abiding strength, that has certainly carried me through an extremely tough year recovering from two knee replacements. It’s a resourcing strength that I can draw from when I feel lacking. It’s a growing strength that I can feel within me.

I am reclaiming my baptism promise verse:

Here are some of the other Bible verses that spoke to me as I came to find the word ‘strength’:

 “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” – Philippians 4:13

“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” – Ephesians 3:16-17

“My flesh and my heart may fail,
    but God is the strength of my heart
    and my portion for ever.” – Psalm 73:26

“Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” – Nehemiah 8:10

“Seek the Lord and his strength;
    seek His presence continually.” – 1 Chronicles 16:11

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.” – Ephesians 6:10

“The LORD is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation;
He is my God, and I will praise Him;
My father’s God, and I will exalt Him.” – Exodus 15:2

Do you have a Word for the Year yet? If so, how do you choose your word? How does it help you to focus your attention throughout the year? Do share in the comments!