2025 Word of the Year - No, it's not too late

Every January, I chose a “word of the year'“ to try to focus on throughout the upcoming year. I pore over Scripture passages, seek the Lord’s wisdom, and lean into truths He’s been teaching me through other people, books, or the local church. It’s an exciting time for me to look back at the past year at all the Lord has done through my life, my family, and my church and anticipate what He will do through us in the New Year. The New Year is brimming with hope and possibilities as the Christmas season comes to a close, and I hunker down with my old journal, new journal, and Bible. 

I realize it’s June now, but I forgot to share my word for 2025! Truthfully, forgetting to share it has also been paired with forgetting to focus on it at all. As I was skimming my 2025 prayer journal, I came across my notes for the word I had chosen. 

My Word for 2025: URGENCY

My prayer and goal is to be urgent about Kingdom-work.

What will this look like in my life?

  • Daily intentionality: Do NOT neglect time in the Word and in prayer. This is a non-negotiable. Jesus said that his “food” was to do God’s will. Is this my perspective?… (The snooze button has been my worst enemy. I need more discipline in the morning!) 

  • Remove distractions: Phone, tv, time wasters, snooze button (again), what else?

  • Spiritual awareness: How can I view all situations, people, tasks, etc. with a Kingdom focus so that I become more aware of how to steward these things for God’s glory? 

  • Opportunities galore: Don’t complain about the roles God has given me and the tasks that are attached to them. Rather, notice how my daily, necessary God-given roles/tasks (pastor’s wife, girl mom of 3, kindergarten lead teacher, ladies group leader, etc.) have SO. MANY. OPPORTUNITIES. for Kingdom impact. 

  • Discipleship: How can I encourage other believers to be closer to God? How can I be a mentor? How can I invite others into my life so that I can encourage others to be urgent about advancing the Gospel? How can I disciple and encourage the precious people living under my roof?

  • Evangelism: How can I be more intentional and bold about using every opportunity to share the Good News? How can I practically view the lost with the same heart that the Father does so that I can’t bear to miss an opportunity?

  • Personal discipline: How can I stay focused on these goals this year? (Well, I’ve already admitted some failure in this year, but my word of the year is going to begin now, this summer, 6 months after the New Year!) What practical steps can I take to ensure that I don’t lose focus, become distracted, and stay too busy for the work God has called me to do?

  • Accountability: Who’s with me? Who can hold me accountable to stay focused in the daily ins and outs of obedience. 

Scriptures related to URGENCY

  • Romans 12:11 - “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” 

  • Matthews 9:37-38 - “Then, He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field.” 

  • Matthew 24:44 - “So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him.” 

  • Mark 13:32-37 - “But about that day or hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when your time will come. It’s like a man going away: he leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch. Therefore, keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back - whether in the evening or at midnight or when the rooster crows or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let Him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone, "Watch!” 

  • Acts 20:24 - “However I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me - the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” 

  • Matthew 28:19-20 - “Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” 

Reflections on my life and Implications for obedience

  • I know that I want to be obedient, but I am often distracted, discouraged, or just plain disobedient. He will come like a thief in the night. Will he find me hitting snooze instead of waking up to be with Him? Scrolling? Eating ice cream in front of the TV? Busy with too many things that I think will give me worth? 

  • What is my hang up about verbalizing the Gospel message? Am I ashamed? Am I unprepared? Am I selfish? Am I too shy? Am I too busy? Do I even notice the lost souls around me? Ultimately, do I care enough to tell them the only thing they need to hear?

  • Why do I lack zeal? Am I preaching the Gospel to myself daily so that I don’t lose focus? Am I zealous about the wrong things? Am I forgetting God’s grace to me by glossing over my own sins?

Lord, sustain me and give me the discipline, wisdom, obedience, and tender heart to follow you in this calling! 

I’d love to hear your word of the year and your reason behind choosing it! 

How do you stay focused? How to you press on? How do you obey the next thing God is calling you to do with regard to your word? 


Random thought: I switched platforms to posting on Substack, so you can find me there if you're there! 

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