After spending some time in prayer, God has impressed upon me that my word for 2025 is to be Thankfulness. The idea solidified for me when I was convicted to begin a thankfulness journal for the New Year. Many times life seems overwhelming, and it is easy to get bogged down in the literal aches and pains of the days. God reminded me that thankfulness is an attitude of the heart and one He desires for me to cultivate in all circumstances.
After choosing my Word, thankfulness, I needed to generate 8-10 related words that come to mind when I think about thankfulness. I came up with: gratitude, heart, appreciative, grace, pleasant, willingness, praise, desired by God, loving.
I then went to the graphic design so I could visualize my word at http://www.wordart.com I played around with different images and colors and found I liked the turkey the best. It made me smile!
I thought it was a perfect visual as I always associate thankfulness with thanksgiving. However, this year I am seeing each day that thankfulness is day by day.
My next task is find the scripture to go with my word. I look forward to the search.
Have you ever thought of having a Word for the year? I started doing this in 2019. I was asked to choose a word for the year and then a Bible verse or verses to support me in that focus. I prayed and asked God to give me a word to focus upon for 2019. He gave me the word Trust. Right then I was going through some things that required that I Trust in Him more than ever and not the world, things or people around me. The verses I chose were Psalm 37:5, “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this” and Nahum 1:7 “The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him,
In 2020, God gave me the word Hope. I did not know a pandemic was coming but God did and it was the perfect word. In 2021 I found myself bogged down by the pandemic, life’s complexities with schooling my grandkids, working on Zoom and continued isolation. I felt I lacked something and the word God gave me was Joy. In 2022, God impressed upon me that I needed to seek Him and focus on Faith. In 2023, my word was Obedience. That word was wonderful and I saw spiritual growth in so many ways. In 2024, my word was Commit. As I recently reflected, God showed His faithfulness in different aspects of my life as I committed to serve Him.
So what about 2025? Actually, the word God has impressed upon me is Thankfulness. Unlike last year when I prayed for several weeks about the word, it came to me quickly and I feel assured this is the word God intends for 2025. In the next few days, I will pray about 8-10 words related to thankfulness that will help to hone and sharpen my thankfulness focus.
Pray about your 1 Word. Ask God to give you direction and focus that can carry and motivate you throughout the year. If you have it, send me a response, I’d love to see it. I’ll blog more about the related words in a few days.
Linda
(After I got started with this, I discovered there is actually a book called One Word that will change your life. It is written by Jon Gordon, Dan Britton and Jimmy Page. It is a short book that explains how they arrived at this discovery and how God has used it in their lives both personally and corporately. I got mine on Amazon.)
We live in uncertain times and do not know what this year will bring. However, as a believer I can know with certainty that I know the one who Holds the Future! As I testified in my reflections for 2024, God is faithful. Here are some scriptures to encourage you as you look into the New Year: (be sure to read the note to self at the bottom)
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God is faithful and His mercies are new each and every morning.Lamentations 3:21-23“But this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: 22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” I can cling to God’s character as I traverse this year being assured of His unending love for me and His faithfulness to those who believe in Him.
God cares for me. Nahum 1:7“The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him,” I can depend upon the goodness of God, His protective nature and His care for me.
God a plan for my life that is good.Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Whatever this year may hold, I can trust in God’s plans for my life as they are good and filled with hope. My future is secure in Him.
God’s salvation plan is secure because of my faith in Jesus. John 10:28“I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.” 2 Corinthians 1:21-22“Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.”
God’s promises are true and He is always with me. 2 Peter 1:4 “Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” I know God has given me His promises so I can live rightly for Him without fear. Deuteronomy 31:6“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” I do not need to live in fear of them- the world, enemies, bad economic downturns and difficult times, because God is always with me. I can depend upon His faithful character.
May you look to the New Year with hope and anticipation of what God will do in and through your life in 2025! The world is constantly changing and often not in a good way. But we can remain steadfast and plugged into God as He is constant and will not change on us. Hebrews 13:8 is a promise to hold onto, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever”. Praise God we have a faithful, immutable God to lead us in 2025!
Fearless Living 