Why Choosing a Word of the Year Can Transform Your 2025 + A Free Guide to Get Started!

Do you start the year off with strong intentions to put God first and pursue His purpose for you life, only to forget soon after?

Or maybe you start the year with big goals but don't know how to get to the finish line, so the process feels too overwhelming to be doable.

That’s where the idea of choosing a Word of the Year comes in—it’s a simple yet powerful way to stay aligned with God’s direction for your life.

In this post, I’ll walk you through how this practice works, why it’s impactful, and how you can prayerfully choose a word that sets the tone for your next season and keeps you focused on God's plans and purposes for your life. PLUS, I’ve created a free guide to help you go deeper and confidently choose the perfect word for your year ahead.

What is a Word of the Year?

A Word of the Year is a personal theme or focus you carry with you throughout the year. Unlike resolutions or long lists of goals, this word helps you focus on one central idea that serves as a guiding light for your decisions, habits, and prayers.

Instead of spreading your energy across a bunch of tasks, a word like “Rest,” “Courage,” or “Growth” acts as a simple touchstone you can return to, especially in moments of uncertainty.

Why Choose a Word of the Year?

Here are three reasons why this practice can make a real impact on your spiritual and personal life:

1. Clarity and Focus

When life gets overwhelming, having a guiding word brings clarity. It simplifies decisions by acting as a filter—“Does this align with my word for the year?” It is short and sweet, able to accompany you everywhere as you walk through life making decisions.

2. Spiritual Growth

Your word can become part of your prayer life. As you seek God’s guidance, the word serves as a way to tune in to what He’s speaking over your life. This can help build your confidence in hearing His voice.

It is also a way of digging more deeply into your time in the Bible. God is endless - we will never be able to learn everything about Him, grasp everything about who He is, but in spending a whole year exploring one topic with Him, you are able to experience an aspect of His character in a deeper way.

3. Intentional Living

A single word offers more flexibility than rigid goals. Whether you're in a season of change, rest, or growth, the word can evolve with you, keeping you focused on what matters most.

You may find over time that a particular goal action step stops fitting with your season in life, but with the heart of your intention resting in your word of the year, you're able to pivot and find other action steps that will take you towards the heart of your goal in a way that works for you.

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How to Choose Your Word of the Year

While the process can be simple, it’s helpful to set aside intentional time to reflect, pray, and listen to God. That’s why I’ve put together a FREE guide just for you!

In my free guide, “How to Choose Your Word of the Year: A Step-by-Step Guide,” you’ll find:

• Reflection questions to uncover what God is speaking over your life.
• A prayer template to invite the Holy Spirit into the process.
• A list of word ideas to spark inspiration.
• Printable pages to capture your thoughts and keep your word visible throughout the year.

Ready to Discover Your Word?

Choosing a word isn’t about perfection—it’s about aligning with God and creating space to grow intentionally. Whether you’ve done this before or you’re trying it for the first time, this guide will make the process smooth, meaningful, and fun.

Grab your free guide today and start the journey toward a more intentional 2024.

👉 [Click here to download the free guide!]

Final Thoughts

A Word of the Year is more than just a trendy idea—it’s a powerful tool for living with focus, intention, and faith. As you reflect on the past year and look toward the next, my hope is that this practice helps you stay aligned with God’s direction and experience His peace and purpose in every season. I can promise you that tuning into His voice and vision for your life will bring about the fruit you're longing for in 2025.

To support you on this journey, I’ve also created guided journal, called Name Your Year: A Prayerful Word of the Year Companion Journal. It’s designed to help you not only choose your word but reflect on it throughout the year, track your progress, and stay connected to God’s voice in every season. If the free guide inspires you, the journal will take things even deeper!

What word do you think might fit your 2025? Let me know in the comments, and don’t forget to grab your free guide to get started!