A New Word for a New Year
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”
Happy New Year!
On this episode, Cara and I talk about choosing a word of the year—something I thought I’d never do.
Honestly, when I first heard about choosing a word for the year, I thought it was the craziest thing. I’d hear people say, “This is my word for the year.” And I’d think, “Why?! Did God just give you a word?”
But as usual, I had to eat my words.
I didn’t expect a word for the year to make such an impact, but here I am, doing it again, because I know God is working through it. I’ve come to see how God can use this practice to shape our hearts and prepare us for what’s ahead.
Reflecting on the Past Year
Last year, my word was “rest.” I thought that meant naps, peace, and an easygoing year.
But oh, was I wrong.
2024 was one of the busiest, craziest years I’ve had. I spent months downsizing and decluttering after decades of accumulation—it was exhausting!
I remember lying awake at night, tired but unable to sleep, and thinking, “God, did I get the wrong word?” But the more I wrestled with it, the more I realized something.
The rest God had in mind wasn’t about slowing down or physical rest. It was about learning to stop striving in my own strength. I remember praying, “Lord, how are we doing this?”
The answer was clear: I was resting in Him. Trusting Him. Resting wasn’t about inactivity; it was about surrender.
God knew what was ahead of me, even though I didn’t. And He was teaching me to rest in Him. There was no way I could have done what I did without God.
That’s what God wanted to teach me. The word itself wasn’t as important as what God was showing me through it. And that’s the heart of this practice—not just picking a word, but letting God use it to reveal more of Himself.
A New Year, A New Word
I feel like my word for 2025 is a direct offspring of last year’s word, rest.
Resting meant trusting God, not relying on my own strength, understanding, or plans. But now, God is pressing me to take it a step further. Do you believe Me?
So, my word for this year is “believe.”
I believe that God is taking everything He taught me last year—learning to rest in Him—and moving me forward. It’s one thing to trust God, but do I truly believe in Him? Do I believe what He says is true? Do I believe He will do what He has promised?
I don’t know what 2025 holds. But I know this: I believe that Jesus is the Messiah. I believe that He is my Savior. I believe that He is working all things together for good.
And now, God is asking me to live like I believe it.
Faith and Belief
We’ve talked a lot about faith, and I think faith and belief go hand in hand. Belief is knowing something is true, but faith is putting that belief into action. I think sometimes we try to act on something we don’t fully believe yet. But God is calling me to go deeper—to truly believe before I act.
I’ve also been thinking a lot about prayer. I pray all the time, and I don’t struggle with asking God for things. But why pray if you don’t believe? If I truly believe, then my prayers will reflect that.
They won’t just be hopeful wishes—I’ll pray with expectation, knowing God hears and answers.
What’s Your Word?
I know God doesn’t just give us a word to expand our vocabulary. He’s always working, drawing us closer to Him.
If you’re wondering what your word might be for 2025, I encourage you to ask Him. You might pray, “God, is there something You want me to hold on to this year?”
Pay attention—maybe a theme or a word keeps coming to mind. Write it down. Pray over it. And as the year unfolds, you might begin to see how God is using it in your life.
Looking back, I see how rest shaped my 2024. I didn’t always recognize it at the moment, but God was teaching me all along.
And now, stepping into 2025, I know He will use believe to stretch me and draw me even closer to Him.
One of the greatest truths we have is that Jesus Himself is the Word. And He is the most important thing.
As you begin this year, may you find your word, but more importantly, may you find Him in it. And I’d love to hear—what’s your word for 2025?
For Jesus Always,
Dot