What do you think?
Rate this book
My One Word: Change Your Life With Just One Word
The concept of My One Word is simple. Lose the long list of resolutions---all your sweeping promises to change---and do something about one thing this year instead of nothing about everything. Choose just one word that represents what you most hope God will do in you, and focus on it for an entire year. This single act will force clarity and concentrate your efforts. As you focus on your word over an extended period of time, you position yourself for God to form your character at a deep, sustainable level. Growth and change will result. Author Mike Ashcraft, who has led his megachurch through this My One Word project for more than five years, and Proverbs 31 Ministries author and speaker Rachel Olsen, who has lived it, are encouraging, insightful, good-humored, yet realistic in this enjoyable read. Their stories of growth and change through My One Word will keep you motivated. Throughout the book you'll also find words and stories of people just like you who have joined the My One Word movement and discovered the power of just one word. Includes discussion questions for use with the corresponding small group video curriculum, My One A DVD Study.
192 pages, Paperback
First published December 18, 2012
254 people are currently reading
628 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
December 30, 2012
What a great read!
No more "New Year's Resolutions" for me - I'll be focusing the entire year {hopefully!} on "My One Word"...and see some lasting, heart changing results.
This book is a must for those who love to start the new year with new plans - new goals - new directions - in hopes of finding a "new you". Focusing on just ONE WORD as your lens for the year can lead to more than just a new number on the scale, but a new perspective on what God has for you.
Highly, highly recommend this book!
No more "New Year's Resolutions" for me - I'll be focusing the entire year {hopefully!} on "My One Word"...and see some lasting, heart changing results.
This book is a must for those who love to start the new year with new plans - new goals - new directions - in hopes of finding a "new you". Focusing on just ONE WORD as your lens for the year can lead to more than just a new number on the scale, but a new perspective on what God has for you.
Highly, highly recommend this book!
January 4, 2013
This small little book has had a large impact on me and those around me in the two weeks that I have been reading it. If you have come within ten feet of me you have probably heard something about it, if not a direct quote read to you from the book itself!
I think we all like to make resolutions because we really do want to be better people. Unfortunately most of us forget about those resolutions shortly after we begin. My One Word is meant to help focus your good intentions. The premise is that you pick one word and focus on it and its meaning for an entire year. For example instead of making a resolution to lose weight, eat better, exercise more, read your Bible daily, etc. you may choose a word like consistency. You would then focus on what being consistent is all about and applying it to your life. Then presumably the other areas would fall into place.
I’ve only been concentrating on my word for about a week now, but already I am amazed at how focused it is making me become. Whenever I run across the word I’ve chosen it makes me stop and contemplate its meaning and context and then I apply it to what I’m learning.
There are a few things that stand out for me in this book. The first is that this is meant to be a process. You aren’t expected to pick your word right away; in fact you are encouraged to spend time in prayer and study before settling on your one word. At the conclusion to each chapter is a section entitled Reflect that gives you areas to think about and journal through during the year. Scattered throughout the book are examples of other people’s one word with explanations on why they picked the word. I enjoyed reading the process that each person went through picking each of their words.
There is a small group video and discussion option that I think would be wonderful to go through with some close friends. Even if you don’t do this study with a group be sure to check out the website and other resources available at www.MyOneWord.org
I think we all like to make resolutions because we really do want to be better people. Unfortunately most of us forget about those resolutions shortly after we begin. My One Word is meant to help focus your good intentions. The premise is that you pick one word and focus on it and its meaning for an entire year. For example instead of making a resolution to lose weight, eat better, exercise more, read your Bible daily, etc. you may choose a word like consistency. You would then focus on what being consistent is all about and applying it to your life. Then presumably the other areas would fall into place.
I’ve only been concentrating on my word for about a week now, but already I am amazed at how focused it is making me become. Whenever I run across the word I’ve chosen it makes me stop and contemplate its meaning and context and then I apply it to what I’m learning.
There are a few things that stand out for me in this book. The first is that this is meant to be a process. You aren’t expected to pick your word right away; in fact you are encouraged to spend time in prayer and study before settling on your one word. At the conclusion to each chapter is a section entitled Reflect that gives you areas to think about and journal through during the year. Scattered throughout the book are examples of other people’s one word with explanations on why they picked the word. I enjoyed reading the process that each person went through picking each of their words.
There is a small group video and discussion option that I think would be wonderful to go through with some close friends. Even if you don’t do this study with a group be sure to check out the website and other resources available at www.MyOneWord.org
January 25, 2013
I strongly recommend this book! This book is insightful, challenging, and has powerful examples of lives changed and spiritual journeys that resulted from the words selected for the year. I hope to improve my FOCUS for 2013 (with productive results and priorities matching those that are in line with God's will for my life.) It is a book I plan to read every January, and one I will refer to many times.
December 28, 2018
I'm afraid this review will alienate most of my friends. (Sorry, in advance)
I came to this book with some cynicism. Focusing on one word you've chosen is good for your spiritual formation? It just sounds so gimmicky, so ... American.
The idea seems to me like saying Facebook is a place to make friends. And it is true, I have "friends" whom I've never met, with whom I interact on Facebook. Friends I pray for and deeply care for. But. When a friend is in crisis, she needs a friend who embodies friendship, who will bring a meal during times of distress, or talk over coffee, or take the kids for the weekend. (We just had this conversation in my home, and I argued that though it is limited, you can extend and receive friendship on an internet platform. And they often convert into IRL friendships.)
On the other hand I've often had a phrase that encapsulated my focus. In 2017 it was making joy and grief roommates in my soul. This year it was becoming an active reader (active describing motion, not reading).
On the other, other hand my sister Margaret lived a lifetime of disability with one word: blessed. Since she died, I have that word in various places in my house to remind me both of her example and the truth. Her one word impacted my life. Even when I would get frustrated, when the inevitable answer "blessed" following the question 'how are you?' seemed like a dodging mechanism.
So I'm going to give this idea a go. But don't expect #myoneword hashtags on my posts. I may come back and change my rating.
I came to this book with some cynicism. Focusing on one word you've chosen is good for your spiritual formation? It just sounds so gimmicky, so ... American.
The idea seems to me like saying Facebook is a place to make friends. And it is true, I have "friends" whom I've never met, with whom I interact on Facebook. Friends I pray for and deeply care for. But. When a friend is in crisis, she needs a friend who embodies friendship, who will bring a meal during times of distress, or talk over coffee, or take the kids for the weekend. (We just had this conversation in my home, and I argued that though it is limited, you can extend and receive friendship on an internet platform. And they often convert into IRL friendships.)
On the other hand I've often had a phrase that encapsulated my focus. In 2017 it was making joy and grief roommates in my soul. This year it was becoming an active reader (active describing motion, not reading).
On the other, other hand my sister Margaret lived a lifetime of disability with one word: blessed. Since she died, I have that word in various places in my house to remind me both of her example and the truth. Her one word impacted my life. Even when I would get frustrated, when the inevitable answer "blessed" following the question 'how are you?' seemed like a dodging mechanism.
So I'm going to give this idea a go. But don't expect #myoneword hashtags on my posts. I may come back and change my rating.
October 25, 2013
My one word is one of the most important books to read- it challenges you to dig deep, make a commitment and explore change! I bought 15 books and 15 journals and gave them for Christmas to friends and family. Had to go back for more! I have been doing my one word for three years and find that it does bring about change.
January 5, 2018
I am so excited to put what I took from this book to use! It comes with great insights and examples, which I loved. This seems like a great approach to making a slow but deep change. It was charming and had me chuckling every few pages. Would definitely recommend!
January 20, 2020
Simple premise with a powerful message, basing an entire year on a single word and having your actions revolve around it. I would recommend this book for someone thinking of setting goals for their year, a book I hope to read every January
January 14, 2017
Amazing, biblical, practical focus!
-words encapsulate ideas. They evoke our emotions. They hook into memories. They define our experiences —helping to shape us in the process. There’s power in words. Beauty in words. Grace in words
-Words create movement. They craft nations. They seal a marriage. They cast vision. They make us laugh. They focus our attention. They expand our horizons. They stimulate our creativity. And they script our possibilities.
-To claim we can make ourselves into anything we want is to deny that we are the created, not the Creator. Reality is we are made by God, for his purposes. How much potential can we truly have apart from him?
-We value initiative and effort in others and assume that’s what God values in us too. We qualify ourselves based on how hard we work. We evaluate our character based on how often we go to church, attend Bible studies, volunteer, or check other items off on the standard religious résumé. We carry the subtle belief that God helps those who help themselves.
-The aim is for you to use your one word to get into a focused posture and remain there while you depend on Christ. Change is possible. Focus is required. And should you fall off your one-word wagon at some point, you climb back on. Not with renewed willpower so much as renewed commitment to depend on him.
-So to be clear, change is possible but focus is required. And dependence on God is absolutely foundational.
-Vision, Not Regret
-When we look beneath our behavior we discover what’s driving it —the beliefs and motives that make up our character. The My One Word project is designed for character formation. Not just impulse control.
-For this year with our one word to have the impact we desire, we must start with an accurate view of ourselves. Of our hearts, our tendencies, our motives, and where they are leading us. Then ask God to wash our innermost being in his grace and truth.
-apart from the Word of God, we cannot know who God is and how God is. And apart from it, we don’t readily recognize who or how we truly are either. And we don’t see our potential in Christ.
-Don’t merely read verses; if that is all we do, we run the risk of deceiving ourselves. Don’t just pile up biblical information in your head. Let it soak into your heart. Let it interpret you. And then let it seep out through your actions. As long as we file the truth neatly into a “belief category,” we will remain deceived. Only when we begin to let what we believe affect what we do are we able to embrace the process of formation.
-vision-fueled action is more powerful than regret-based restraint...2 Corinthians 5: 17, which promises, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (ESV). This is another call to look —“Behold, you are now made new.”
-The truth is that God is at work in our innermost being, and he has promised to complete the work he’s begun (Philippians 1: 6). You and I are not yet what we shall be (1 John 3: 4), but being in Christ changes everything.
-three things are required for your formation to happen this year with your one word: 1. An accurate view of Christ 2. An accurate view of yourself 3. An accurate view of yourself in Christ Regularly looking into Scripture will help with all three. So will regularly looking through the lens of your one word.
-Describe an accurate —not rosier and not worse —view of where you are now with regard to your one word. Then think about the choices, habits, and beliefs that got you here. Describe an accurate —if not fully here yet —view of where you are in Christ with reference to your one word. Search the Scriptures to help you answer this! Record God’s promises.
-We don’t just notice the “holes” in our walls; we fixate on them, letting them define us. While they might motivate us to change, they also load us down with a measure of guilt. That’s why, instead of choosing our one word by looking at who we are, we choose our one word with a forward-facing vision of who we want to become in the future. Your task now is to keep your word in front of you daily. Take your eyes off the mistakes, the regrets, the failures —the gap between where you are and where you want to be —and focus on the one thing you want God to do in you this year. Focus on your one word.
-My word stays in front of me, serving as a reminder, urging me to focus and trust the process. Sometimes it alerts me to pay closer attention. Sometimes it calls me to look at things differently. Other times it assures me I’m making progress. Whether life is going well or I’ve recently blown it, the sight of my word rekindles my faith that God will continue to shape and form my character, for my sake and his.
-Aristotle: “To enjoy the things we ought and to hate the things we ought has the greatest bearing on excellence of character.”
- the single most difficult part of this One Word journey is continuing to focus on our word for a full year. To get the most out of this project, it’s imperative that we find ways to regularly pay attention to it.
-Devise multiple ways to keep your word in front of you this year. Perhaps place your word in your home and in your car, on your computer, or at your desk. Are you on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or other social media sites? Make your one word your status update. Add it to your profile descriptions. Make it your profile pic. Announce it to your followers and give them permission to periodically ask you how your one word is going.
-Your word is chosen. You’ve committed to it. You are keeping it in front of you. Now obey from the heart. The apostle Paul writes, “But thanks be to God that though you were slaves to sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed” (Romans 6: 17 NASB).
-Hearing God requires consistency in my walk. The more disconnected I become from God, the harder it is for me to sense his lead. The first thing I look at is how consistent I’ve been lately.
-Hearing God requires clarity on his purpose. God’s directions for me always line up with his purposes. And his purposes always involve forming me into his image. My One Word is a great tool for discerning God’s purposes for us in a given season. You have chosen your word based on what you believe God wants to do in you this year, so consider that his purpose for now. The greater clarity you have regarding his purposes, the easier it will be to understand his voice and follow. Ask yourself, “Does this line up with what I understand of God’s purposes for me?”
-Hearing God requires confirmation in the Word. I study the Scriptures daily with a submissive heart and a willingness to obey what is there, not to just find a verse to back up what I want to do. God will never direct us to do something that contradicts the teaching of the Bible. His Word will speak to you, either to confirm what you are sensing or to redirect you.
-Hearing God requires counsel from wise friends. God’s direction is frequently affirmed by those around me who know and love me.
-We make our plans, but ultimately the Lord directs our steps. That truth is laid out in Proverbs 16: 9. Your one word will help you remain submissive. Making plans is prudent. Preparation is critical, and vision is vital. But all of our carefully crafted strategies and well-meaning intentions must be surrendered to God’s purposes. We allow him to direct our steps. And our word will morph in the direction he leads.
-When I pick a word that challenges me —maybe it reminds me of my incompetency in some area —it simultaneously keeps me humble and hopeful for change in Christ. That’s a great position to stay in! Once it’s chosen, allow your word to morph. Allow God to transform it into something you didn’t expect. Let it take on shades of meaning you didn’t readily see. Permit it to become about something you didn’t anticipate. Let it move beyond the initial reason for which you chose it. Let God establish your steps as he leads you with your one word.
-our word becomes the lens through which we examine all aspects of our lives.
-Begin to think creatively about your word. Let it spread out and branch out. Think in new directions. Pray and ask God to expand your vision for your word. Record his response. Consider what else your one word could encompass. Return to Scripture and read more about your one word or the concept it encapsulates. Memorize additional verses about your word.
-So a quarter of the way through my year with FINISH I applied it to my home life too. My word allowed me to see that my day had a conclusion beyond the end of the work day. At that point FINISH moved from a goal to a lens for me.
-Had I not peered through the lens of this word, my days would have come to one rolling stop after another, time endured rather than time redeemed. My one word managed to redeem my view of, and attitude toward, all my daily obligations.
-Henri Nouwen once said our inner life —the life of the mind —is like a banana tree full of jumping monkeys.
-If we fail to realize we’re in a war, we’ll fail to fight.
-John Piper writes, “Until you believe that life is war —that the stakes are your soul —you will probably just play at Christianity
-Philippians 4: 8 says, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable —if anything is excellent or praiseworthy —think about such things.” I am commanded to think. I am given a list of things to think about. I can purposely bring such thoughts onto the scene to tranquilize the monkeys as long as I create the space in time to do it. I call this practice “blowing up the moment.”
-Paul essentially instructs us to “blow up the moment” in 2 Corinthians 10: 3–5: “For though we live as human beings, we do not wage war according to human standards, for the weapons of our warfare are not human weapons, but are made powerful by God for tearing down strongholds. We tear down arguments and every arrogant obstacle that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to make it obey Christ” (NET).
-The key is to isolate and examine the specific thought or belief that’s driving your desire in that moment. Take it captive; identify it. Then stack it up against the knowledge of God.
-Remember those verses you looked up when choosing your word? Bring that verse on the scene. Call it to your mind. Your mind is where the process of spiritual formation is centered. That’s why the battle in your mind is so critical to the condition of your heart.
-Renewal in the head is essential to renewal in the heart. Read this familiar passage in Paul’s letter to the Romans: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God —this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12: 1–2). Discernment requires you to test what is happening in your head. Test your thoughts; they drive your actions and reactions. Test them against what God says is good. Test them against what you know about him and about his ways. Discern the truth and choose accordingly.
-Sir Francis Bacon wrote, “Reading maketh a full man … writing an exact man.”
-That’s an interesting thing about language. When you give words to something, you not only label it; you discover its essence and define its meaning as well. It’s not just a recording of what you know but a discovery of what you didn’t yet see.
-But the judges were what caught my attention when I first began watching. They take a bite of each dish, contemplate it, and then describe what they experienced in great detail. They talk about layers of flavors and textures. I’d never heard such descriptions of how a food tasted. Assertive, timid, delicate, calming, vibrant, earthy, velvety. They make statements like, “The flavor profile you achieved here —bright citrus enhancing the smoky-sweet depth —provides an unexpected assertiveness to this dish.” Aware of their own taste buds, they find nuanced words to describe what they are experiencing. It makes me think they savor their food more than I do. Feed me a gourmet dinner and ask me how it was, I’m likely to say, “It was good,” or perhaps “very good.”...This is so often true of us when it comes to God’s work in our lives.
-You remember the feeling and the feeling was good. But because feeling good is often good enough, you didn’t make any record of what it was that God said or did to cause the feeling. You didn’t preserve it to learn from it again and again. You might remember the moment, but not the details.
-If God writes, and he tells his people to write, if he wants us to have a written record of his deeds, I, too, want to write. I want to articulate my walk with God.
-Writing my thoughts convinces my mind that I am serious about slowing down. My mind races in a million directions. It needs a harness, something to rein in its restless wandering. Something to focus my sight on my heart and God’s. I have found that a pen does this for me. I cannot write as fast as I can think, so my pen forces my mind to slow down. It’s amazing what you notice, what you realize, what you remember when you take the time to. As I write, I force my mind to think about each word, each phrase, and each sentence. I do not rush it. This is as much about slowing down as it is about keeping a record.
-Writing my thoughts allows me to see what I am thinking so I am not blinded by what I am feeling. Emotions can blind us. Anger, sadness, hurt, confusion, as well as the exciting feelings on the other side of the emotional spectrum, can make clear thinking difficult. I am an emotional guy, so the pen and paper help me see what I am feeling and the thinking that’s causing those feelings. Writing through my emotions clears the way for me to think straight. Clear thinking helps me to process the truth and blow up the moments. I can identify the things I can do something about, as well as the things I can’t. I can decide, rather than react.
-Writing my thoughts down gives me a chance to see and submit them to God’s truth. My first thoughts are not always the same as his first thoughts. Writing down what I think and what I feel serves as a confession of sorts. I just say to God, “Here I am!” Writing helps me enter the arduous process of submission. The act of submission is one that I take very seriously. I write my thoughts and then bring the truth of God’s Word to bear on them. It goes without saying this requires that I be a student of the Scriptures. I will often write, “God, here is how I am prone to think, or here is what I would do if I were you, but I am not you, and my ways are not yours, so I surrender them.” Then I pray the prayer of Christ in the garden, “Lord, not my will but yours be done.”
-Writing my thoughts helps me to see that I am being transformed. Surrender breaks my stubborn pride. Chronicling my encounters with God has allowed me to see myself in the light of who he is and what is true. As I read back through my journals, I can see how God has protected me from my own ways, as well as guided me in his. My journal is such a source of encouragement, especially during a season of difficulty. When I am frustrated with myself and want to give up, I can look back and see the story of God’s faithfulness in my life written with my own hand. I can see that I am not the same person I used to be. This is such a gift!
-So what do I write about? I write what I see. I write what I see in my heart, what I see in the world around me, and what I see in the Scriptures. I write what I feel. I write my thoughts and feelings and doubts and fears. I write what I think. I write what I think about God and my circumstances. I write what I love. I write what I love about my wife, my kids, my work, and my life. I write what I believe. I write what I believe about God, hope, and desire. I profess my belief in the promises of God. Sometimes this confession flows freely from a place of great joy, and other times I confess it to remind myself that I really do believe it. I just write.
-“Waiting is active. Go back to what you are already doing, and do it to the best of your ability. But while you are doing it, don’t focus on where you think God wants you to be, just focus on him. It is not about his direction, but his presence. Wait for him to lead.
-We often race ahead of God when we get impatient. Or when we sense that we know where he wants us to be and we think we know how to get there. But our impatience derails us. Then we resort to praying, “God, be with me,” while missing his presence entirely. In what areas of your life do you find yourself impatient and rushing ahead, refusing to wait? A relationship? A career opportunity? A move? A major purchase? Do a gut check and root out the motive for your hurry.
-For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. —2 CORINTHIANS 4: 17–18 NASB
-It is easy to overlook these critical moments in the process. We’re so busy assuming that if we can just get to where we want to be, things will get better and we will be different. I refer to this as destination thinking. Destination thinking is our belief that our lives will be full, manageable, or happy once we get to where we think we need to be. When I graduate from college. When I get married. When I have kids. When my kids are out of the house. When I get a new job, bigger house, different spouse. While we’re focused on this future point, our lives roll by day after day. We long to savor the moments, enjoy our lives, and connect our hearts to eternal matters, but we feel we can’t, because we can’t quite get a handle on the here and now. We are not yet where we need to be, and there is much to do to get there.
-We try to live our lives from destination to destination, but the condition of our heart is measured in the moments in between. Your one word can help you pay attention to the condition of your heart and the moments that form it.
-Your one word can also keep you aware of the heart-forming process and remind you that each day has purpose. No matter your age or condition, each day does have great purpose.
-words encapsulate ideas. They evoke our emotions. They hook into memories. They define our experiences —helping to shape us in the process. There’s power in words. Beauty in words. Grace in words
-Words create movement. They craft nations. They seal a marriage. They cast vision. They make us laugh. They focus our attention. They expand our horizons. They stimulate our creativity. And they script our possibilities.
-To claim we can make ourselves into anything we want is to deny that we are the created, not the Creator. Reality is we are made by God, for his purposes. How much potential can we truly have apart from him?
-We value initiative and effort in others and assume that’s what God values in us too. We qualify ourselves based on how hard we work. We evaluate our character based on how often we go to church, attend Bible studies, volunteer, or check other items off on the standard religious résumé. We carry the subtle belief that God helps those who help themselves.
-The aim is for you to use your one word to get into a focused posture and remain there while you depend on Christ. Change is possible. Focus is required. And should you fall off your one-word wagon at some point, you climb back on. Not with renewed willpower so much as renewed commitment to depend on him.
-So to be clear, change is possible but focus is required. And dependence on God is absolutely foundational.
-Vision, Not Regret
-When we look beneath our behavior we discover what’s driving it —the beliefs and motives that make up our character. The My One Word project is designed for character formation. Not just impulse control.
-For this year with our one word to have the impact we desire, we must start with an accurate view of ourselves. Of our hearts, our tendencies, our motives, and where they are leading us. Then ask God to wash our innermost being in his grace and truth.
-apart from the Word of God, we cannot know who God is and how God is. And apart from it, we don’t readily recognize who or how we truly are either. And we don’t see our potential in Christ.
-Don’t merely read verses; if that is all we do, we run the risk of deceiving ourselves. Don’t just pile up biblical information in your head. Let it soak into your heart. Let it interpret you. And then let it seep out through your actions. As long as we file the truth neatly into a “belief category,” we will remain deceived. Only when we begin to let what we believe affect what we do are we able to embrace the process of formation.
-vision-fueled action is more powerful than regret-based restraint...2 Corinthians 5: 17, which promises, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (ESV). This is another call to look —“Behold, you are now made new.”
-The truth is that God is at work in our innermost being, and he has promised to complete the work he’s begun (Philippians 1: 6). You and I are not yet what we shall be (1 John 3: 4), but being in Christ changes everything.
-three things are required for your formation to happen this year with your one word: 1. An accurate view of Christ 2. An accurate view of yourself 3. An accurate view of yourself in Christ Regularly looking into Scripture will help with all three. So will regularly looking through the lens of your one word.
-Describe an accurate —not rosier and not worse —view of where you are now with regard to your one word. Then think about the choices, habits, and beliefs that got you here. Describe an accurate —if not fully here yet —view of where you are in Christ with reference to your one word. Search the Scriptures to help you answer this! Record God’s promises.
-We don’t just notice the “holes” in our walls; we fixate on them, letting them define us. While they might motivate us to change, they also load us down with a measure of guilt. That’s why, instead of choosing our one word by looking at who we are, we choose our one word with a forward-facing vision of who we want to become in the future. Your task now is to keep your word in front of you daily. Take your eyes off the mistakes, the regrets, the failures —the gap between where you are and where you want to be —and focus on the one thing you want God to do in you this year. Focus on your one word.
-My word stays in front of me, serving as a reminder, urging me to focus and trust the process. Sometimes it alerts me to pay closer attention. Sometimes it calls me to look at things differently. Other times it assures me I’m making progress. Whether life is going well or I’ve recently blown it, the sight of my word rekindles my faith that God will continue to shape and form my character, for my sake and his.
-Aristotle: “To enjoy the things we ought and to hate the things we ought has the greatest bearing on excellence of character.”
- the single most difficult part of this One Word journey is continuing to focus on our word for a full year. To get the most out of this project, it’s imperative that we find ways to regularly pay attention to it.
-Devise multiple ways to keep your word in front of you this year. Perhaps place your word in your home and in your car, on your computer, or at your desk. Are you on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or other social media sites? Make your one word your status update. Add it to your profile descriptions. Make it your profile pic. Announce it to your followers and give them permission to periodically ask you how your one word is going.
-Your word is chosen. You’ve committed to it. You are keeping it in front of you. Now obey from the heart. The apostle Paul writes, “But thanks be to God that though you were slaves to sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed” (Romans 6: 17 NASB).
-Hearing God requires consistency in my walk. The more disconnected I become from God, the harder it is for me to sense his lead. The first thing I look at is how consistent I’ve been lately.
-Hearing God requires clarity on his purpose. God’s directions for me always line up with his purposes. And his purposes always involve forming me into his image. My One Word is a great tool for discerning God’s purposes for us in a given season. You have chosen your word based on what you believe God wants to do in you this year, so consider that his purpose for now. The greater clarity you have regarding his purposes, the easier it will be to understand his voice and follow. Ask yourself, “Does this line up with what I understand of God’s purposes for me?”
-Hearing God requires confirmation in the Word. I study the Scriptures daily with a submissive heart and a willingness to obey what is there, not to just find a verse to back up what I want to do. God will never direct us to do something that contradicts the teaching of the Bible. His Word will speak to you, either to confirm what you are sensing or to redirect you.
-Hearing God requires counsel from wise friends. God’s direction is frequently affirmed by those around me who know and love me.
-We make our plans, but ultimately the Lord directs our steps. That truth is laid out in Proverbs 16: 9. Your one word will help you remain submissive. Making plans is prudent. Preparation is critical, and vision is vital. But all of our carefully crafted strategies and well-meaning intentions must be surrendered to God’s purposes. We allow him to direct our steps. And our word will morph in the direction he leads.
-When I pick a word that challenges me —maybe it reminds me of my incompetency in some area —it simultaneously keeps me humble and hopeful for change in Christ. That’s a great position to stay in! Once it’s chosen, allow your word to morph. Allow God to transform it into something you didn’t expect. Let it take on shades of meaning you didn’t readily see. Permit it to become about something you didn’t anticipate. Let it move beyond the initial reason for which you chose it. Let God establish your steps as he leads you with your one word.
-our word becomes the lens through which we examine all aspects of our lives.
-Begin to think creatively about your word. Let it spread out and branch out. Think in new directions. Pray and ask God to expand your vision for your word. Record his response. Consider what else your one word could encompass. Return to Scripture and read more about your one word or the concept it encapsulates. Memorize additional verses about your word.
-So a quarter of the way through my year with FINISH I applied it to my home life too. My word allowed me to see that my day had a conclusion beyond the end of the work day. At that point FINISH moved from a goal to a lens for me.
-Had I not peered through the lens of this word, my days would have come to one rolling stop after another, time endured rather than time redeemed. My one word managed to redeem my view of, and attitude toward, all my daily obligations.
-Henri Nouwen once said our inner life —the life of the mind —is like a banana tree full of jumping monkeys.
-If we fail to realize we’re in a war, we’ll fail to fight.
-John Piper writes, “Until you believe that life is war —that the stakes are your soul —you will probably just play at Christianity
-Philippians 4: 8 says, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable —if anything is excellent or praiseworthy —think about such things.” I am commanded to think. I am given a list of things to think about. I can purposely bring such thoughts onto the scene to tranquilize the monkeys as long as I create the space in time to do it. I call this practice “blowing up the moment.”
-Paul essentially instructs us to “blow up the moment” in 2 Corinthians 10: 3–5: “For though we live as human beings, we do not wage war according to human standards, for the weapons of our warfare are not human weapons, but are made powerful by God for tearing down strongholds. We tear down arguments and every arrogant obstacle that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to make it obey Christ” (NET).
-The key is to isolate and examine the specific thought or belief that’s driving your desire in that moment. Take it captive; identify it. Then stack it up against the knowledge of God.
-Remember those verses you looked up when choosing your word? Bring that verse on the scene. Call it to your mind. Your mind is where the process of spiritual formation is centered. That’s why the battle in your mind is so critical to the condition of your heart.
-Renewal in the head is essential to renewal in the heart. Read this familiar passage in Paul’s letter to the Romans: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God —this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12: 1–2). Discernment requires you to test what is happening in your head. Test your thoughts; they drive your actions and reactions. Test them against what God says is good. Test them against what you know about him and about his ways. Discern the truth and choose accordingly.
-Sir Francis Bacon wrote, “Reading maketh a full man … writing an exact man.”
-That’s an interesting thing about language. When you give words to something, you not only label it; you discover its essence and define its meaning as well. It’s not just a recording of what you know but a discovery of what you didn’t yet see.
-But the judges were what caught my attention when I first began watching. They take a bite of each dish, contemplate it, and then describe what they experienced in great detail. They talk about layers of flavors and textures. I’d never heard such descriptions of how a food tasted. Assertive, timid, delicate, calming, vibrant, earthy, velvety. They make statements like, “The flavor profile you achieved here —bright citrus enhancing the smoky-sweet depth —provides an unexpected assertiveness to this dish.” Aware of their own taste buds, they find nuanced words to describe what they are experiencing. It makes me think they savor their food more than I do. Feed me a gourmet dinner and ask me how it was, I’m likely to say, “It was good,” or perhaps “very good.”...This is so often true of us when it comes to God’s work in our lives.
-You remember the feeling and the feeling was good. But because feeling good is often good enough, you didn’t make any record of what it was that God said or did to cause the feeling. You didn’t preserve it to learn from it again and again. You might remember the moment, but not the details.
-If God writes, and he tells his people to write, if he wants us to have a written record of his deeds, I, too, want to write. I want to articulate my walk with God.
-Writing my thoughts convinces my mind that I am serious about slowing down. My mind races in a million directions. It needs a harness, something to rein in its restless wandering. Something to focus my sight on my heart and God’s. I have found that a pen does this for me. I cannot write as fast as I can think, so my pen forces my mind to slow down. It’s amazing what you notice, what you realize, what you remember when you take the time to. As I write, I force my mind to think about each word, each phrase, and each sentence. I do not rush it. This is as much about slowing down as it is about keeping a record.
-Writing my thoughts allows me to see what I am thinking so I am not blinded by what I am feeling. Emotions can blind us. Anger, sadness, hurt, confusion, as well as the exciting feelings on the other side of the emotional spectrum, can make clear thinking difficult. I am an emotional guy, so the pen and paper help me see what I am feeling and the thinking that’s causing those feelings. Writing through my emotions clears the way for me to think straight. Clear thinking helps me to process the truth and blow up the moments. I can identify the things I can do something about, as well as the things I can’t. I can decide, rather than react.
-Writing my thoughts down gives me a chance to see and submit them to God’s truth. My first thoughts are not always the same as his first thoughts. Writing down what I think and what I feel serves as a confession of sorts. I just say to God, “Here I am!” Writing helps me enter the arduous process of submission. The act of submission is one that I take very seriously. I write my thoughts and then bring the truth of God’s Word to bear on them. It goes without saying this requires that I be a student of the Scriptures. I will often write, “God, here is how I am prone to think, or here is what I would do if I were you, but I am not you, and my ways are not yours, so I surrender them.” Then I pray the prayer of Christ in the garden, “Lord, not my will but yours be done.”
-Writing my thoughts helps me to see that I am being transformed. Surrender breaks my stubborn pride. Chronicling my encounters with God has allowed me to see myself in the light of who he is and what is true. As I read back through my journals, I can see how God has protected me from my own ways, as well as guided me in his. My journal is such a source of encouragement, especially during a season of difficulty. When I am frustrated with myself and want to give up, I can look back and see the story of God’s faithfulness in my life written with my own hand. I can see that I am not the same person I used to be. This is such a gift!
-So what do I write about? I write what I see. I write what I see in my heart, what I see in the world around me, and what I see in the Scriptures. I write what I feel. I write my thoughts and feelings and doubts and fears. I write what I think. I write what I think about God and my circumstances. I write what I love. I write what I love about my wife, my kids, my work, and my life. I write what I believe. I write what I believe about God, hope, and desire. I profess my belief in the promises of God. Sometimes this confession flows freely from a place of great joy, and other times I confess it to remind myself that I really do believe it. I just write.
-“Waiting is active. Go back to what you are already doing, and do it to the best of your ability. But while you are doing it, don’t focus on where you think God wants you to be, just focus on him. It is not about his direction, but his presence. Wait for him to lead.
-We often race ahead of God when we get impatient. Or when we sense that we know where he wants us to be and we think we know how to get there. But our impatience derails us. Then we resort to praying, “God, be with me,” while missing his presence entirely. In what areas of your life do you find yourself impatient and rushing ahead, refusing to wait? A relationship? A career opportunity? A move? A major purchase? Do a gut check and root out the motive for your hurry.
-For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. —2 CORINTHIANS 4: 17–18 NASB
-It is easy to overlook these critical moments in the process. We’re so busy assuming that if we can just get to where we want to be, things will get better and we will be different. I refer to this as destination thinking. Destination thinking is our belief that our lives will be full, manageable, or happy once we get to where we think we need to be. When I graduate from college. When I get married. When I have kids. When my kids are out of the house. When I get a new job, bigger house, different spouse. While we’re focused on this future point, our lives roll by day after day. We long to savor the moments, enjoy our lives, and connect our hearts to eternal matters, but we feel we can’t, because we can’t quite get a handle on the here and now. We are not yet where we need to be, and there is much to do to get there.
-We try to live our lives from destination to destination, but the condition of our heart is measured in the moments in between. Your one word can help you pay attention to the condition of your heart and the moments that form it.
-Your one word can also keep you aware of the heart-forming process and remind you that each day has purpose. No matter your age or condition, each day does have great purpose.
January 4, 2018
Motivational and inspirational Truth
I've done 'my one word' for three years now. I think it's way better than doing new year's resolutions which are usually quickly forgotten or broken. This book carefully goes through the process of picking and living with your word to draw closer to God. Many good examples are included. Ashcraft does a good job of mixing in the right amount of personal experience with Bible verses and community experience. The book has a 'we're doing this together tone,' rather than a 'preachy' one. He really advocates openness and waiting, something our culture is not very good at.
So far, my words have been LISTEN, GRACE and this year, WELCOME. I wanted to pick listen again, because I still have more to learn about listening to others and God, but as the author says, the word (with Holy Spirit help) picks you. So WELCOME 2018.
Not too wordy. Just right! Highly recommended!!!!!
I've done 'my one word' for three years now. I think it's way better than doing new year's resolutions which are usually quickly forgotten or broken. This book carefully goes through the process of picking and living with your word to draw closer to God. Many good examples are included. Ashcraft does a good job of mixing in the right amount of personal experience with Bible verses and community experience. The book has a 'we're doing this together tone,' rather than a 'preachy' one. He really advocates openness and waiting, something our culture is not very good at.
So far, my words have been LISTEN, GRACE and this year, WELCOME. I wanted to pick listen again, because I still have more to learn about listening to others and God, but as the author says, the word (with Holy Spirit help) picks you. So WELCOME 2018.
Not too wordy. Just right! Highly recommended!!!!!
December 31, 2024
Second reading:
I didn't realize I've been choosing a word for the year (to become the lens through which to examine my heart and life, pg 24) for so many years, but it was nice to revisit this book as I'm looking back over 2024 and forward to 2025.
Something that stood out to me this reading was how we can use our "one word" as a lens for various views:
1) looking at God and seeing where our grace and help comes from,
2) looking at others, realizing our gifts and talents, entrusted to us by God, are needed in this world, and
3) looking at the events of our lives and realizing they come to us sifted through the hands of a trustworthy God (114).
I want to apply "my one word" intentionally in all three of these areas next year.
I also appreciated his discussion of "destination thinking"--believing our lives will be full, manageable, or happy once we get to where we think we need to be (169). I'm not 100% settled on my word for 2025, but I think it's going to be "THRIVE" which is relevant in contrast to destination thinking.
FIRST READING:
I've heard of the idea of choosing a word for the year instead of making New Year's resolutions, and when I saw a blog post that recommended this book, I decided to get and read it as 2015 ended and 2016 began.
The author says "We're so busy with the surface-level things of life that we forget to number our days and tend to our hearts." In an effort to live intentionally, he chooses a word for each year that he focuses on and tries to seek the Lord about how he can grow in that area. "Each year, that's my goal for my one word. I want to train my eyes to look at my world--all of it--through the lens of my one word. I need to lean to see differently, if I am going to live differently."
To sum up the process he outlines in his book, which I tried to follow, I first spent a few days brainstorming words in areas I thought I needed to grow in. I did the exercise of listing words to describe WHO and HOW I want to be. I prayed about the words, looked up exact definitions for several of them, and looked in a concordance and my Bible reading verses that addressed several of those words. Then I narrowed my list down to three words and journaled about them in my Bible journal, writing the definitions, how they would apply to my life, and copying several Bible verses that relate to them. Finally, I settled on my "ONE WORD" for 2016. It's not the one I thought I would choose as I started the exercise, but it's the one that's resonating with me. (In case you're wondering, my word is "savor".)
Continuing through the process he outlines in his book, I still need to find ways to post this word around me to remind me to think about it and be on the lookout for ways I can learn and grow in this area. He also strongly encourages people to journal throughout the year about what the Lord is teaching them in relation to their word and how they are growing. "It is grievous to have a fresh insight from God, neglect to write it down, lose it forever, only to recall that it is good." "I am convinced that our struggle to see God at work in our lives is not a result of his lack of work, but rather of our lack of attention to it."
I like many of the ideas in this book, and I like the way he ends each chapter with questions for reflection and assignments. I also like the way he shares stories and examples of words other people have chosen and how it helped shape their perspectives of the experiences they had in that year. On the other hand, I must admit I got tired of reading the book and I got tired of the author's voice, but I do think I got some good ideas from reading it and I look forward to seeing how this exercise affects my year.
I didn't realize I've been choosing a word for the year (to become the lens through which to examine my heart and life, pg 24) for so many years, but it was nice to revisit this book as I'm looking back over 2024 and forward to 2025.
Something that stood out to me this reading was how we can use our "one word" as a lens for various views:
1) looking at God and seeing where our grace and help comes from,
2) looking at others, realizing our gifts and talents, entrusted to us by God, are needed in this world, and
3) looking at the events of our lives and realizing they come to us sifted through the hands of a trustworthy God (114).
I want to apply "my one word" intentionally in all three of these areas next year.
I also appreciated his discussion of "destination thinking"--believing our lives will be full, manageable, or happy once we get to where we think we need to be (169). I'm not 100% settled on my word for 2025, but I think it's going to be "THRIVE" which is relevant in contrast to destination thinking.
FIRST READING:
I've heard of the idea of choosing a word for the year instead of making New Year's resolutions, and when I saw a blog post that recommended this book, I decided to get and read it as 2015 ended and 2016 began.
The author says "We're so busy with the surface-level things of life that we forget to number our days and tend to our hearts." In an effort to live intentionally, he chooses a word for each year that he focuses on and tries to seek the Lord about how he can grow in that area. "Each year, that's my goal for my one word. I want to train my eyes to look at my world--all of it--through the lens of my one word. I need to lean to see differently, if I am going to live differently."
To sum up the process he outlines in his book, which I tried to follow, I first spent a few days brainstorming words in areas I thought I needed to grow in. I did the exercise of listing words to describe WHO and HOW I want to be. I prayed about the words, looked up exact definitions for several of them, and looked in a concordance and my Bible reading verses that addressed several of those words. Then I narrowed my list down to three words and journaled about them in my Bible journal, writing the definitions, how they would apply to my life, and copying several Bible verses that relate to them. Finally, I settled on my "ONE WORD" for 2016. It's not the one I thought I would choose as I started the exercise, but it's the one that's resonating with me. (In case you're wondering, my word is "savor".)
Continuing through the process he outlines in his book, I still need to find ways to post this word around me to remind me to think about it and be on the lookout for ways I can learn and grow in this area. He also strongly encourages people to journal throughout the year about what the Lord is teaching them in relation to their word and how they are growing. "It is grievous to have a fresh insight from God, neglect to write it down, lose it forever, only to recall that it is good." "I am convinced that our struggle to see God at work in our lives is not a result of his lack of work, but rather of our lack of attention to it."
I like many of the ideas in this book, and I like the way he ends each chapter with questions for reflection and assignments. I also like the way he shares stories and examples of words other people have chosen and how it helped shape their perspectives of the experiences they had in that year. On the other hand, I must admit I got tired of reading the book and I got tired of the author's voice, but I do think I got some good ideas from reading it and I look forward to seeing how this exercise affects my year.
January 20, 2018
I found this book (and "movement") researching New Years resolutions blog posts and ideas for a speech I'm giving at my church's MOPS group. I had heard of people choosing a word for the year. And I wanted to know more about that process. I finally found the website www.myoneword.org and thus the book. I wasn't sure how helpful it would be. The idea seemed pretty straight-forward: choose a word to live by for a year, focus on it, apply it in different ways. I had already decided my word for 2017 was going to be INTENTIONAL. But I thought I should read the book before I incorporated a truncated version of the idea in my MOPS speech.
I'm so glad I read it. This is not a long book. I listened to the audiobook which was just under 4.5 hrs (SUPER SHORT to this audiobook junkie). But it packs a lot in. The meaningful (dare I say intentional?) process of selecting a word is something I hadn't really done before choosing mine. But a lot of thought and even some research goes into choosing your one word. It's something I'm looking forward to. I also loved that this was a Christian book, written by a pastor (and his friend) that brought a serious, deep spiritual aspect to this process. I hadn't know that it was, but I like it so much better understanding how it helps to foster spiritual growth throughout the year. Anchoring my word to Scripture was not something I was planning to do, and now I know I need to.
The book also provides encouragement and motivation to keep focusing on this chosen word even when later in the year, you may have wandered from it or no longer feel connected to it. He offers examples of how someone's one word can morph in understanding throughout the year and to keep pursuing growth in that word even when it feels dead. The real life examples of how a chosen word affected and changed lives brought tears to my eyes (made me weep at the end actually).
But ultimately this is a simple method. As someone who has done resolutions year after year with no success, I'm thrilled to be doing this and talking to others about it because already I see myself thinking differently and making positive changes in my life all because of ONE WORD. I think I'll read this every January to remind myself of the power of one word spoken in and over and through a life over the course of a year (or more, whatever).
I highly recommend this book--to believers and nonbelievers alike.
I'm so glad I read it. This is not a long book. I listened to the audiobook which was just under 4.5 hrs (SUPER SHORT to this audiobook junkie). But it packs a lot in. The meaningful (dare I say intentional?) process of selecting a word is something I hadn't really done before choosing mine. But a lot of thought and even some research goes into choosing your one word. It's something I'm looking forward to. I also loved that this was a Christian book, written by a pastor (and his friend) that brought a serious, deep spiritual aspect to this process. I hadn't know that it was, but I like it so much better understanding how it helps to foster spiritual growth throughout the year. Anchoring my word to Scripture was not something I was planning to do, and now I know I need to.
The book also provides encouragement and motivation to keep focusing on this chosen word even when later in the year, you may have wandered from it or no longer feel connected to it. He offers examples of how someone's one word can morph in understanding throughout the year and to keep pursuing growth in that word even when it feels dead. The real life examples of how a chosen word affected and changed lives brought tears to my eyes (made me weep at the end actually).
But ultimately this is a simple method. As someone who has done resolutions year after year with no success, I'm thrilled to be doing this and talking to others about it because already I see myself thinking differently and making positive changes in my life all because of ONE WORD. I think I'll read this every January to remind myself of the power of one word spoken in and over and through a life over the course of a year (or more, whatever).
I highly recommend this book--to believers and nonbelievers alike.
January 11, 2013
Great idea. Provides a simple tool that I believe if properly applied will be very effective for self reflection and motivational change. This one year program can be repeated year after year with the goal of new change and growth in perspective every year. I'm still deciding on my one word for this year, but I am looking forward to the experience and discoveries I'll make over the next year. I have the Kindle e-book version.
October 13, 2013
I was following the practice of choosing a word before reading this book, but I learned so much more once I read Mike Ashcraft's experiences and recommendations on how choosing a word can teach you so much. In some places it seemed a bit repetitive (thus the 4 stars) but that's a minor complaint, and I recommend this as an alternative to New Year's resolutions, which everyone seems to break anyway.
December 18, 2013
Was handed this book as I joined the MOPS Leadership team. I had never heard of it or the author, but was immediately taken with the idea of turning a New Year's Resolution into something different. I've recommended the book to several others and my mom even finished reading it before I did after I recommended it to her. Definitely a good read to kick off the approaching new year...one you can re-read and keep applying over and over again.
January 26, 2014
MY ONE WORD is an interesting little book. Pastor Mike Ashcroft suggests that instead of making many resolutions for improvement, we choose One word. Each chapter ends with ideas for reflection and scriptures scatter through the book. Choosing only one word needs be a thoughtful endeavor. The word is about how you want to show yourself, how you want to BE, and how this affects your spirituality. You hold your word in thought throughout a year. I like the concept !
February 26, 2017
A wonderful book about choosing one word to follow in your walk with the Lord over the course of a year. For 2016 I've chosen the word AWAKE. I want to have physical energy to get things done, embrace my adult responsibilities and be aware of what God wants me to learn and do.
2017 is my year to LISTEN.
2017 is my year to LISTEN.
January 3, 2025
Did a partial re-read of this book. Found the journaling challenge to be a great focus this time around & enjoyed reading the ways to live it out and remember your word throughout the year.
I gave it four stars because I kind of wish he didn’t tell as many stories to get the point across but overall it is a good read :)
I gave it four stars because I kind of wish he didn’t tell as many stories to get the point across but overall it is a good read :)
September 30, 2013
Great book. Thoroughly recommend it.
So much more in-depth than the (now I realise) superficial way of choosing a word the whole blogosphere's been doing.
If done this way, the word will definitely have longer-lasting and more sustainable change.
So much more in-depth than the (now I realise) superficial way of choosing a word the whole blogosphere's been doing.
If done this way, the word will definitely have longer-lasting and more sustainable change.
January 28, 2013
Very cool concept - I am implementing now and have already found striking results... check it out.
February 7, 2013
Good book with a great opening illustration....
January 2, 2014
Choosing one word for the new year, rather than a list of resolutions, is a powerful spiritual practice, and this is a clear and thoughtful book to guide that practice.
January 21, 2014
A simple tool for developing focus and for spiritual formation over the course of a year...
December 31, 2014
A wonderful way to start the New Year. A great concept to help focus one's life. I highly recommend it.
August 12, 2015
amazing concept, will be choosing one word every year from now on.. heart-changing
August 21, 2016
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found it to be practical for how to make spiritual growth a priority. I love the idea of picking one word and dwelling on it for a year.
January 5, 2025
This is a must read for everyone who wants more than to exist in life.
February 6, 2022
The one word concept is really powerful and has changed the way I've lived the past few years of my life. Now, rather than starting with lots of varied (and disconnected) goals and aspirations, I take time to discover my one word for that year. It becomes the lens through which every area of life is viewed.
This book will be a helpful guide in how to go through this process well, allowing yourself to be guided by God, and to stay reminded of your word throughout the year. I really appreciated in this book the space the authors give to this second part. I've previously spent lots of time reflecting and praying to discern my word, but once I have it, if I'm not intentional it can slip out of mind.
I also particularly enjoyed chapter 10 which is all about the benefits of journaling and some ideas for how richer started.
Something I've come to learn after 4 years of having one word for the year is that each word continues to live on and speak into my life.
Highly highly recommend giving this a read, and giving one word a shot.
P.s. Happy to lend out my copy.
This book will be a helpful guide in how to go through this process well, allowing yourself to be guided by God, and to stay reminded of your word throughout the year. I really appreciated in this book the space the authors give to this second part. I've previously spent lots of time reflecting and praying to discern my word, but once I have it, if I'm not intentional it can slip out of mind.
I also particularly enjoyed chapter 10 which is all about the benefits of journaling and some ideas for how richer started.
Something I've come to learn after 4 years of having one word for the year is that each word continues to live on and speak into my life.
Highly highly recommend giving this a read, and giving one word a shot.
P.s. Happy to lend out my copy.
January 25, 2019
Small in stature but big in content! What a great read.....and at the risk of being an oxymoron, it was subtly profound. We all try to do better, making lists in our head, by our nightstands, during prayers, especially after the start of a new year. Why is that? We can start “new” anytime our personal clock tells us to. So here we are, rounding out the end of January, and I have spent the last two weeks not letting this book go. Thinking it to be another gimmick approach to being mindful. But the word “mercy” kept popping up in my head. I have realized that is my “one word” for the year. Mercy, me. Mercy, you. Let’s see where this goes. “Because judgement without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgement” James 2:13.
April 1, 2020
"Change is possible, but focus is required."
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 Four years ago, I chose my very first One Word in lieu of a New Year's resolution. That year and every year since, God has used my word to help me grow, to speak to my heart, to guide my steps, and to draw me to Him.
I chose to read My One Word this year because I wanted to know the story behind the movement. I suppose I expected information but what I got was so much more. God had a message for me right now that I dont believe I would have received the same way had I read this book when my One Word journey began in 2017.
Guys, this quarantine is an incredible opportunity. We have all the time in the world to sit at our Father's feet and let Him love us. And maybe, just maybe, He'll only need one word to do it.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 Four years ago, I chose my very first One Word in lieu of a New Year's resolution. That year and every year since, God has used my word to help me grow, to speak to my heart, to guide my steps, and to draw me to Him.
I chose to read My One Word this year because I wanted to know the story behind the movement. I suppose I expected information but what I got was so much more. God had a message for me right now that I dont believe I would have received the same way had I read this book when my One Word journey began in 2017.
Guys, this quarantine is an incredible opportunity. We have all the time in the world to sit at our Father's feet and let Him love us. And maybe, just maybe, He'll only need one word to do it.
February 20, 2024
For someone who defines themselves as more spiritual than religious, I wasn't aware going in that this was a faith based book (I read it as a sort of work assignment, and didn't read any blurb or synopsis before starting). That being said, I tried to review this from a writing standpoint and not from a difference in beliefs.
"Only when we begin to let what we believe affect what we do are we able to embrace the process of formation." This was the one quote I took away from the book. Other than that, the rest unfortunately didn't feel like anything new or groundbreaking. It also felt like a very long sermon (the author is a pastor), which unfortunately is not a structure I easily follow or enjoy reading.
"Only when we begin to let what we believe affect what we do are we able to embrace the process of formation." This was the one quote I took away from the book. Other than that, the rest unfortunately didn't feel like anything new or groundbreaking. It also felt like a very long sermon (the author is a pastor), which unfortunately is not a structure I easily follow or enjoy reading.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews