My One Word for 2018 + my favorite planning resource
Here’s my one word for 2018.
For the past few years I’ve chosen a word for the year. The idea behind this is that you pick a word to encompass all that you hope your year will be about. Last year’s word was cultivate. I really feel like that word fit for 2017.
I spent the year working to cultivate some important goals. As usual, not everything turned out as I had planned, and I didn’t accomplish all of my goals, but I did make progress.
This is a page from my 2017 PowerSheets Intentional Goal Planner:
My One Word for 2018
But this year, I found myself pondering a different sort of word. Over and over again in my mind I kept hearing these verses from 2 Peter 1:5-8:
Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The word that stood out to me every time I thought of this passage was persevere.
For some reason I had the NIV version in my mind. The ESV, which is what I usually read, translates the word “perseverance” as “steadfastness.”
The definition for steadfast is: resolutely or dutifully firm and unwavering.
The synonyms for steadfast are: firm, determined, resolute, relentless, implacable, single-minded, unchanging, unwavering, unhesitating, unfaltering, unswerving, unyielding, unflinching, uncompromising.
Here’s the definition of persevere:
persevere
verb
Continue in a course of action even in the face of difficulty or with little or no prospect of success.
synonyms:
Persist, continue, carry on, go on, keep going, struggle on, be persistent, be determined, keep at it, stand fast, stand firm, hold on, go the distance, stay the course, stop at nothing.
Both steadfast and persevere are great words with very similar meanings, but I related a little bit more to persevere. When I read the definition and synonyms for my word, I just knew it was the right one for 2018.
My one word for 2018 is persevere.
Challenges and Perseverance
You see, this year promises to hold quite a few challenges for me and for our family. Pretty much every year does, but this year I’m feeling it more acutely. 2018 is going to require an extreme level of perseverance.
In fact, if I let myself look only at the circumstances, I feel a bit of trepidation. But with God’s grace and help, I know I can persevere.
In all my years of goal-setting and planning, I’ve realized something. No matter how hard I work, I can’t control the outcome. I can only control my own actions, and I can be faithful.
If I come to the end of 2018 and I haven’t accomplished all of my goals (which is likely), I only hope I can look back and see that I’ve been faithful to the vision the Lord has laid out before me.
My goal is to work hard, be focused, and be faithful. And to persevere.
Do you pick a word for the year? If so, I’d love to hear yours!
Recommended Resources
This is my second year to use The PowerSheets Intentional Goal Planner, and I feel like it really helps me stay focused on my goals and priorities.
My husband and I are also using the Goal Guide for Couples. We had fun filling it out together during one of our date nights.
I’ve also got Lara’s new book, Cultivate on my 2018 Book list (coming soon!).
Related Posts:
Grace-Filled Goal Setting for Busy Moms
How to Pick Your Perfect Planner
Disclosure: This post includes affiliate links. Read my full disclosure here. Sharing here.
I really like your word for the year! Perserverance is so important in our marriages and parenting and Christian walk. Good choice! Mine is “encourage”. I realized that encouragement is an area that I am weak in and I’m going to take the year to try to improve on it.
I enjoy your blog.
Thank you, Kris! Encourage is a great choice! And thanks for your kind words about my blog. 🙂
Persevere!! A great word for 2018. I agree, with God’s grace and help, you and I can persevere. My word is Hope, not just for me personally, but Hope for others. We all need hope. In Christ, hope is found.
Hope is a great word, Lureta!
Great word choice and thanks for linking up at #bestoftheweekend !
Thanks, Katherine!
I love your word… persevere. My word for this year – and I don’t always pick one – is Grow or Growth. Believe it or not… I too, have found a planner (well, I earned it, with my little side job – which I love by the way) to go along side of me and help me to do just that. Grow – my business, myself personally, and help to grow (encourage) those around me. I’m looking forward to it!!
Great word choice, Bevy! I hope 2018 is filled with growth for you and your business!
What a great word, Joy! My word for this year is “Fearless” – God wants to free me of a few things. Thanks for sharing on Grace and Truth.
Fearless is a great word! Thanks for sharing, Aimee!
I love this idea – really setting the tone for the new year! Thanks for sharing on Homestead Blog Hop!
Thanks for hosting! 🙂
My word for 2018 is “focus”
Love your word, Betty!
I love your word for 2018 Joy and I must be honest I haven’t decided on what mine will be yet. At this stage it’s a toss up between magical and thrive. Wishing you a very happy New Year full of beautiful moments
Sometimes it’s hard to pick just one word—sometimes I’m tempted to pick two! 🙂 Hope you have a wonderful New Year, Michelle!
I’ve seriously thought about changing my word to this. Life is hard for us right now. But I don’t do one word, I do a phrase, and this year my phrase is “Point to Jesus.” No matter what life throws my way, I’m going to keep pointing to Him.
I love that, Heather. Thanks so much for sharing your phrase—very encouraging!
Love your word for the year! I had to have three: Peace, Courage, Trust…
Blessings to you in 2018. Linked up with you at Missional Women!
Love your words, Amy! Thanks so much for stopping by!
Great word! I finally decided upon the word “meaningful” carry through the year. I’m hopeful that it will bring about special moments to unfold into deeper meaning.
That’s a great word! Thanks for sharing!
Love your word and planner. My word is love this year.
Thank you, Debbie! And I love your word!
I love this… I have often thought about this. What is that one Word for the year?? and never really done much with it until this year… a word has come (out of the blue) and I’m pondering what it could mean. ?? Maybe, I’ll write about it, too. 🙂
Hope you and yours have a blessed New Year!
If you decide on a word I hope you’ll write about it, Bevy! 🙂
My word is similar in nature. I have spent 2 years plodding through the mud of grief, anxiety, depression, major life changes and am ended 2017 slugging away at the battle that is finding myself again. I end this year feeling depleted, sad, disoriented and quite frankly “out-of-whack” with a slight case of “whackadoodle”.
As I sat and pondered, and prayed, about next year and what it is I want, the words I wrote down started pulling along a similar thread and so my word is EMPOWER. And the verse for 2018 is 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
So sorry to hear you’ve had a difficult couple of years, Karla. Thanks so much for sharing your word with me, and I hope 2018 turns out to be filled with God’s love and blessing!