Can I give you a tip for the New Year? Don’t “pick a word” for this year.

We see it every year with people encouraging us to choose a word to claim for our selves and focus on that word and dwell on that word all year long. It’s not necessarily an activity that’s promoted only by Christian audiences either; it’s encouraged by the secular world as well. It’s much like a fad, as are many of the other ideas we find “for a season” in our culture. Those “words” for the year are often chosen hastily and based on temporary emotions and circumstances. They may not even be biblical in nature, but just random words chosen at whim. How many people who choose a “word” in January actually remember that word 8 months later? It seems often forgotten as quickly as it was posted.

Most of the motivation behind choosing a word each year comes from good intentions, but it often seems rooted feelings of discontent. We look at our self or our life and become unhappy so we desire to “fix” some trait of ourselves so we can be “better” people or better Christians. We may not like who we are, how we feel, or what we have/don’t have in life. So in an effort to enhance our life, we attempt to put on or apply one word to our life for the year. That may deserve an “E” for effort; however, I think we’re missing the bigger picture.

Romans 12:2 tells us, “Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…”

“Renewing” implies being completely made new – not just changing one aspect of your life (by applying one word each year). Don’t just pick “peace” or “hope” or “success” in hopes of changing your whole life. There’s only One Word that can change your whole life: Jesus.

Let’s read the rest of Romans 12:2 because it continues on after the familiar opening line that you read above:

“Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Focusing on one word or theme to study in the Bible can be useful; but there are 12 months in a year and 66 chapters full of God’s Word in the Bible. Why limit yourself to one word for the whole year? We should desire to grow abundantly in our knowledge of the Lord and not stunt our spiritual growth. The Holy Spirit has much more for you than just one word for an entire year. Don’t you want the fullness of the Spirit and His fruit, instead of just one little bite?

The whole Word of God is useful, not just one word of it. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man or woman of God may be fully capable, equipped for every good work.” Instead of applying one word for the whole year, let’s attempt to apply every word (the whole counsel of God) to our life.

There is only One Word we ever need: Jesus.

John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

God’s Word is far more superior than any “word” we can pick and pull from our vocabulary.

• His word never changes; it never fades. Isaiah 40:8, “The grass withers, the flower fades: but the word of our God shall stand forever.”

• It is living and active; it is working all the time. Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, even penetrating as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

• It doesn’t change year to year. Malachi 3:6, “For I, the LORD, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.”

• It never passes away. Matthew 24:35, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words shall not pass away.”

• It is always applicable no matter what season you are in. Psalm 33:11, “The plan of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart from generation to generation.”

• His word is complete. Isaiah 55:11, “so My word that proceeds from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please, and it will prosper where I send it.”

• It is sufficient. Psalm 119:89, “Your word, O LORD, is everlasting; it is firmly fixed in the heavens.”

So here’s some advice for the New Year: Don’t pick one word. Instead of being conformed to this world, be different. The world says, “Choose a word for your year.” But God’s Word says, “the world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:17).

This year, do something more radical than just choosing a word: choose Christ. If you have not received salvation, why not start your year with Christ as your Lord and Savior? “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved” (Romans 10:9-10). And if you have already received salvation, then why not start the year with all of God’s Word. Commit daily to reading His Word and ask the Holy Spirit to help you apply it to your life all year long. Put on the whole armor of God “so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand” (Eph. 6:11) and so that you may “be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1 Pet. 3:15).