Creating a Yearly WordSample

How to Choose a Word

There are many ways to go about choosing a word for the year. Generally, the word should relate to something you want to work on—or grow in—throughout the year. You may already know a way in which you’d like to grow this year. There are even online websites that will generate random words. I’ll go over the method I use.

First, pray and ask God to search your heart and show you what He wants you to work on.

Next, complete the following to decide on a word. If you already have a word, skip down to #6.

1. Write 1-3 answers per question:

• If you could change anything this year related to your spirituality, what would it be?
• If you could change anything this year related to your relationships, what would it be?
• If you could change anything this year related to your personal habits, what would it be?

2. Read over your answers and look for common themes. Themes are recurring ideas that come up. For example, maybe you want to grow spiritually by being more consistent in reading the Bible and spending more time with your family; the themes might be prioritizing time, better habits, or growth in Christ.

• Write down 3 themes.

3. For each theme, look for an adjective or word that describes it. Narrow these down to three single words. For example, priorities, habits, or time. Other popular ideas include peace, trust, faith, health, holiness, endurance, forgiveness, wisdom, love, and strength.

4. Choose the word you're leaning toward and do an internet search for what the Bible says about that word/topic.

5. Repeat this for the other two words unless the first one is what you believe God wants you to focus on this year.

6. Choose one Bible verse to be your key verse. For example, if you chose the word peace, your verse might be Philippians 4:6, Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

7. Write down or print your word and verse, then hang it up where you can see it regularly and pray over it.