The subtitle for the book, My One Word, is “Change your life with just one word.” You may be thinking, “How can one word change my life?” I admit, it sounds like a bit of an overstatement, but words have power. When you look at the 29 times words are referred to in Proverbs, you will see words can be perverse and seductive; they can ensnare you and pierce you like a sword. Or, on the other hand, words can be wise and insightful. They can be just and pure. They can bring healing and comfort; they can be gracious and sweet. Words have the power of life and death.

So, choosing a word—the right word—to focus on for an entire year can indeed bring personal change and spiritual formation in your life. It’s not a self-help program; it’s a way to change your thought life—to see things through God’s eyes. And when you and I become truly focused on changing our attitudes and our thought patterns, we open ourselves to wonderful changes by the power of God’s Spirit.

How do you choose your one word for 2025? Well, first think about some things you would like to change about yourself. For example, patience might be an area you know you need improvement. Or discernment; that was one of my words in the past, as I recognized I am not naturally a discerning person.

Or you might choose a word that exemplifies areas where you want to grow, such as wisdom or thankfulness. As you think and pray about what your one word will be for 2025, you will be amazed at how that process will lead you to the right word for you.

Here is an example from the book of a word that someone chose:

My word for the year is PAUSE. In my busy life there are so many times I need to pause. Pause to remember these days, for they will fly by so quickly. Pause to say yes...and no. Pause to give thanks. Pause before I speak in anger, judgment, or criticism. Pause to say I’m sorry. Pause to dwell on God’s goodness and mercy.[1]

What a great word to choose for 2025. Do you see how many areas of your life could be dramatically affected if you focused on the word pause for one year? To focus on your one word just means you will pray about it regularly—daily—and seek God’s power to effect the changes he wants to make in your life through that word. Then you would do a search in the Bible for passages relating to your one word.

For example, if pause were your word, some verses you might choose are:

Psalm 46:10: “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Psalm 91:1: Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

Psalm 116:7: Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.

I would recommend that after you choose your one word, you begin a journal of how God is using this one word in your life. Keep track of all the verses that come to you throughout the year as a reminder of what this one word means for your life. If you seriously commit to focusing on that one word, praying it into your life, and asking God to empower you to make it a reality in your life, you will be amazed at how your one word has truly changed your life.

Here’s what another woman wrote about her one word:

I am an intensely shy person. I avoid confrontation at all costs. And I only share my faith when it happens into a conversation. The idea of BOLDNESS, of being a truly bold Christian, is seriously out of my comfort zone. But it seems that this is God’s challenge for me this year. I am to actively pursue BOLDNESS and be transformed in the process. So here I go—man, this is intimidating![2]

This is an example of choosing a word that pushes you out of your comfort zone and teaches you to trust God in new ways. God might put this kind of word on your heart—something that even frightens you, but you know God wants to do a new work in you in that area. For example, that word might be boundaries, where you recognize your weakness in setting appropriate boundar...