Tag: word of the year

My Word of the Year: Refresh

Posted on by Staci Mauney

“I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.” (Jeremiah 31:25)

Each year, I choose a word for the year. For over a decade, instead of creating resolutions that I know I won’t keep, I’ve chosen a word to focus on throughout the year. The only time I haven’t chosen a word was last year. I was never able to settle on one that seemed right, and before I knew it, the year had moved along, and it seemed like it was too late to choose one.

That’s not the case this year. This year, my word came to me just as the calendar turned to 2025. That word is refresh. According to the online dictionary, refresh means “give new strength or energy to.” Continue reading “My Word of the Year: Refresh” →

Flourish: My Word for 2023

Posted on by Staci Mauney

Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. (Prov. 19:21)

Many years ago now, I learned about the word of the year challenge through a radio program. I looked into it and decided I wanted to try for myself and see if choosing a word to focus on would help me grow closer to God. It did. Continue reading “Flourish: My Word for 2023” →

Purpose: My Word for 2022

Posted on by Staci Mauney

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (1 Peter 2:9)

Instead of making New Year’s resolutions, I choose a word for the year. I use this word to focus on an area of my life where I believe the Lord wants to make changes or have me grow. In the past, I’ve chosen words such as trust, focus, compassion, bold, and renew. Last year, my word was create.

For the last two years, God has revealed my word to me more slowly than before. I often have my word for the year in November or the first week of January at the latest. I wrote a blog post about my struggle to find the right word. We were almost halfway through January this year before I felt comfortable with the word that kept coming to mind: purpose. Continue reading “Purpose: My Word for 2022” →

Create: My Word for 2021

Posted on by Staci Mauney

“He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them skilled workers and designers” (Ex 35:35).

I haven’t made New Year’s resolutions in a long time. Instead, I choose a word for the year. I use this word to focus on an area of my life where I believe the Lord wants to make changes or have me grow. I’ve chosen words such as “trust,” “focus,” “compassion,” and “bold.” Last year, my word was “renew.” As 2020 began, I felt burned out. I had no idea how much I would need renewal as the year (and the pandemic) wore on.

This year, God revealed my word to me more slowly than usual. I often have my word for the year in November, or the first week of January at the latest. We were halfway through January before I felt comfortable with the word that kept coming to mind: “create.” Continue reading “Create: My Word for 2021” →

Renew: My Word of the Year

Posted on by Staci Mauney

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Mt 11:28-30 NIV).

It’s been many years since I created New Year’s resolutions. Instead, through much prayer and research, I choose a word for the year. Over the years, I’ve chosen words such as “trust,” “focus,” and “compassion.” For the last two years, my word was “bold.” I kept a journal of instances where I could see God moving boldly in my life. Throughout it all, he used the word to push me out of my comfort zone so that I depended more on him and less on others. Continue reading “Renew: My Word of the Year” →