Choosing one word for the year brings focus and clarity. No wish lists. No New Year’s resolutions. Just one word.
The simple power of ‘One Word’ is that it brings focus. Our word doesn’t have to be complex or unique; it just has to be relevant to our current life season.
Our one word serves as a guide for the entire year. The simplicity of choosing one word prepares the way for growth. Our intentional focus leads to action to discover the meaning of our word. As we grow in understanding, we gain wisdom, insight, and the ability to embrace our one word.
Our ‘One Word’ provides a focused yet straightforward approach to the next year of our life.
Harvest Focus – My 2021 Word of the Year
Harvest involves both internal and external sowing and reaping. At its core, harvest is seeds. Once the seeds mature and produce fruit, we have a tangible harvest.
Harvest led me to study life and godliness in 2 Peter 1, the garments we wear in Colossians 3, our spiritual armor in Ephesians 6, and the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5. Each, when applied in our lives, becomes a seed that leads to a godly internal and external harvest.
The Holy Spirit produces one kind of fruit, that is, Christlikeness. ~William MacDonald
Intentional Focus–My 2022 Word of the Year
My ‘One Word’ intentional led me to focus on monthly heart pursuits. I chose to intentionally seek the Lord in delight, worship, and prayer. I pursued writing, gardening, and rest. I pursued God’s heart and chose to wait before Him, which led to deeper surrender and a desire to deepen relationships by loving others well. I became intentional in celebrating life—private moments with the Lord and rejoicing with friends and family.
My two scriptures for 2022:
Ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds. To him who knocks it will be opened. ~Matthew 7:7-8 WEB
Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He will do it. ~Psalm 37:3-5 NASB
Leadership Focus – My 2023 Word of the Year
My ‘One Word’ led me to study humility as the foundation for all leadership roles. And I discovered that leadership is sustained through wisdom.
Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. ~Colossians 2:3 NASB
Christ was moved by compassion, and good leaders follow His example. Good leaders refuse to operate in offense and estrangement, choosing instead to walk in a life-giving manner.
Cultivate Focus – My 2024 Word of the Year
My ‘One Word’ cultivate began with cultivating faith, prayer, love, and the fear of the Lord. This led me to study Jesus’ I AMs, and I wrote ‘I AM: Encountering Jesus.’
This led me to seek to cultivate meekness, wisdom, righteousness, and peace. A fruit of this cultivation is hope, which brings resilience and a desire to pray for everyone, including those in authority.
Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. ~Psalm 37:3 NASB
My journey ended with the encouragement to cultivate justice, mercy, and humility.
He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, and to love kindness and mercy, and to humble yourself and walk humbly with your God? ~Micah 6:8 AMPC
I hope you will choose to embark on the ‘One Word’ journey. If you are unsure of how to find your One Word, this article has helpful tips: How to Find Your One Word – Strength with Dignity
You can also join our One Word community, where we encourage one another each month.
References
Blair, Lisa. 12 Leadership Reflections. Published on Strength with Dignity on December 1, 2023, 12 Leadership Reflections – Strength with Dignity
Blair, Lisa. Harvest – One Word 2021. Published on Strength with Dignity on December 21, 2021, Harvest – One Word 2021 – Strength with Dignity
Blair, Lisa. Intentional – Reflections. Published on Strength with Dignity on December 16, 2022, Intentional Reflections – Strength with Dignity
Amplified Bible, Classis Edition (AMPC) Copyright 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation.
I AM: Encountering Jesus. I AM – Encountering Jesus – Strength with Dignity
New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB1995), copyright 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.
World English Bible (WEB) by Public Domain. The name “World English Bible” is trademarked.
Bible Gateway Blogger Grid Member #bgbg2 #BibleGateway
18 thoughts on “How My Word of the Year Brings Focus”
I enjoyed your journey down your WOTY pathway Lisa. I have done similarly over the last few posts.
May 2025 be a year of focused blessing for you.
Blessings,
Jennifer
The WOTY pathway has been a great journey for me the past couple of years, Jennifer. I look forward to hearing of your journey in 2025.
You’ve had some great words over the past years, Lisa! I love how a one-word focus can lead to many other areas and help in our spiritual growth, too. Blessings to you! I’m your neighbor at the #oneword December linkup.
Having a WOTY does bring great focus, and yet, it brings great freedom in exploring new things with the Lord.
You are so right about how a one word brings focus. And how impactful just one little word can be. My 2025 WOTY is Mindful Heritage. I can’t wait to see where your word takes you this year.
Thanks bunches for sharing with Sweet Tea & Friends this month dear friend.
xo
What an awesome WOTY, Paula! Mindful Heritage seems like a deep well, I’m looking forward to your journey with your WOTY in 2025.
Lisa, I so enjoyed reading about your yearly journeys with one word. It always amazes me how one word can become so significant in our lives over the months. Each word impacts our walk with the Lord, bringing us closer in our walks and coming to know and love Him more deeply. May 2025 bring you another blessed year!
It is amazing, Joanne, how the Lord uses our WOTY to lead and guide us, then how each year builds upon the year before – like precept upon precept.
Lisa, it is so amazing to look back and see God’s faithfulness as we choose to focus on One Word in our spiritual journey!
Donna, He has been faithful to use our WOTY to lead us closer to Him.
Lisa, I love this post and all your reference posts on how One Word helps us focus for the year. My One Word Focus for 2025 is the word “trusting” from Romans 8:24-25 Living Bible: “We are saved by trusting. And trusting means looking forward to getting something we don’t yet have—for a man who already has something doesn’t need to hope and trust that he will get it. But if we must keep trusting God for something that hasn’t happened yet, it teaches us to wait patiently and confidently.”
Trusting is a great WOTY, Beth! I look forward to hearing of your journey this year.
I was surprised how effective it was when I first started having a word for the year, but it does provide a helpful focus. It’s always interesting to see which words God leads people to.
I was equally surprised, Lesley, how our WOTY brings clarity and focus throughout the year.
I love seeing how your words permeate so many aspects of your life, Lisa! I appreciate your ability to focus in on your word and spread out with it at the same time. Beautiful! I look forward to following your 2025 word too.
I have been surprised at the clarity our WOTY journey has brought to our lives, Lisa. I look forward to our journey together in 2025.
Hey Lisa, I’m popping back over to let you know I will be featuring your post at my Sweet Tea & Friend’s February Link Up. Which will be open later this evening.
{{Hugs}}
Thank you, Paula!