This is part of a devotion at Proverbs 31 Ministries that I will be sharing at our staff planning time today. Rachel Olsen on using one word to focus your life.

I’ve found a new way to do New Year’s Resolutions that keeps me properly focused. Instead of making my long list of ways I plan to improve, I prayerfully choose just one word to be my focus for the entire year. Just one word that represents what I most hope Christ will do in or through me that year. One word to give me direction.

It’s not a regret-based word but a vision-driven word centering on the kind of person I want to become. It keeps me looking forward and upward.

I pray that word, meditate on it, memorize verses with it, and use it to remind me to keep my eyes on Christ, trusting Him for transformation in that area of my life.

On my walk this morning (in the cemetery!) my word for the year came to me. Joy. I shall focus this year on the joy Christ seeks to bring me, a joy deeper and richer than circumstances. “I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.” (John 15:11)