Reading Time: 9 minutes

Commit to the LORD whatever you do,
and He will establish your plans.
Proverbs 16:3 ❤ (Verse on Bible Hub)

What is your Guiding Word for 2020?

Happy New Year everyone! Are you excited for the year ahead? For some of us, we may be feeling a little weariness wash over our souls when we think of picking ourselves back up again. To stand at the proverbial starting line … one more time!

At least that has been my experience with my health goals the past few years.

If you are like me and feel a little disheartened because you have made resolutions in the past that didn’t turn out like you had hoped, please don’t be discouraged. I am right there with you, girlfriend.

Let’s encourage each other to take a deep breath and position ourselves at the starting line again. I am hugging you in my prayers and cheering you on!

As I sought God’s heart the past few months about what guiding word He would like for me this year, words like “Healthy” and “Stronger” kept crossing my mind. But the word “Blessed” kept dropping down deep into my heart.

So as I write this today, I believe “Blessed” is my word for this year.

God wanted me to step back from self-driving words like ‘fearless’ or ‘intentional’ and posture myself to just receive from Him in 2020. Less of me, more of Jesus.

My focused Bible Verse will be Jeremiah 17:7 which I personalized here:“Blessed is Donna, who trusts in the LORD and has made the LORD her hope and confidence.”

Sweet Sister, what has God been speaking into YOUR heart?

Several friends and I have shared our words and goals with each other, but just as many other ladies aren’t sure just yet what their word will be this year. After much prayer, the Lord helped me to put this post together which I hope will guide and encourage you today.

What will be your Guiding Word for 2020?

1. First and foremost, seek God’s heart in prayer. 

Ask Him for your personal word. Prayerfully consider where He wants you to be by the end of 2020. Don’t come up with a word in your own strength. You will need the Holy Spirit to be the wind beneath your wings in 2020!

“Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
and He will establish your plans.”
Proverbs 16:3 (Verse on Bible Hub)

2. Journal the vision God gives you.

I love using those colorful “Gelly Roll Pens.” Have fun getting creative with your journal! I’m in a “Paint, Praise and Prayer” Small Group at Church and we have a blast creating journals (and journal pages) with mod podge, colorful scrapbook paper, acrylic paint, stickers, gel pens, washi tape, you name it!

“Write the vision; make it plain on tablets,
so she may run who reads it.” 
Habakkuk 2:2 (Verse on Bible Hub) 

3. Find Scriptures and encouraging quotes.

Write them all down or paste them in your journal. Stick them on your mirror, cabinet or computer. 

“My daughter, keep My Words and store up My commands
within you. Keep My commands and you will live; guard
my teachings as the apple of your eye. Bind them on
your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.”
Proverbs 7:1-3 NIV (Passage on Bible Gateway)

4. Share your word with a trusted friend.

Verbally grant her/him permission to hold you accountable. To get ‘unstuck’ and move forward, accountability is key for our spiritual growth. It is dangerous and counterproductive to be left alone to our own devices. No more remaining stuck in the pit with ‘me, myself, and I’ in 2020! The Lord created us to thrive in community with other Christians.

“As iron sharpens iron so a friend sharpens a friend.” Proverbs 27:17

The following are 10 scenarios my girlfriends and I (and maybe you, too?) are finding ourselves in at this moment of time. Along with the goals, you will find a short prayer, list of possible guiding words, and a Bible Verse to encourage you. 

---

GOAL:

“I am in a difficult season of waiting …!”

PRAYER:

Lord, this waiting is hard. Make me to lie down and rest in Your “green pastures” and trust that You are working on my behalf even if I can’t see what You’re doing. Remind me not to run ahead of You and set anything in motion that should not be. Draw me closer to You and help me to wait well in this season. I give you permission to do whatever work necessary on my heart as I wait. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

POSSIBLE GUIDING WORDS:

Believe, Bloom, Calm, Contentment, Faith, Flourish, Hope, Patience, Planted, Perseverence, Release, Resilience, Steady, Steadfast, Surrender, Thrive, Trust

BIBLE VERSE:

For I Am about to do something new. See, I have already begun!
Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness.
I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.
Isaiah 43:19 (Verse on Bible Hub)

---

GOAL:

“I want to cultivate a heart like Jesus …”

PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, I want my heart to be like Yours. Take away my heart of stone and give me a heart of flesh. One that is soft and pliable to You. A teachable heart is a fertile heart. Help me to see others through Your eyes. Help me to hear with your ears and feel with Your heart. Break my heart for You! In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.

POSSIBLE GUIDING WORDS:

Becoming, Disciple, Forgiveness, Freedom, Forgiveness, Grace, Generosity, Gentle, Honesty, Humility, Joy, Kindness, Listen, Love, Mercy, Patience, Teachable, Sonship or Daughtership

BIBLE VERSE:

“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ
has become a new person. The old life is gone;
a new life has begun!”
2 Corinthians 5:17 (Verse on Bible Hub)

---

GOAL:

“I have a really strong desire to follow God’s calling on my life but I’m afraid to step out of my comfort zone …”

PRAYER:

Lord I am so tired of being afraid. In the Name of Jesus, I denounce the spirit of fear. Help me to make 2020 the year I finally step out of the boat and do the thing You’ve been asking me to do. I want to trust You more and take You at Your Word so I can more quickly step out when You ask me to. Help me to keep my eyes on You and not on the crashing waves. With You, I can walk on water. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.

POSSIBLE GUIDING WORDS:

Able, Anointed, Believe, Bold, Brave, Confidence, Courage, Covered, Dream, Empowered, Faith, Fearless, Intentional, Lean, Prayer, Purpose, Rely, Reset, Trustworthy

BIBLE VERSE:

“Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed,
you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it
will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
Matthew 17:20 (Verse on Bible Hub)

---

GOAL:

“I want to be free of my ‘barely surviving’ mindset …”

PRAYER:

Father God, I have such a rich inheritance in You. Your Word promises me that You will never hold anything good back from me. I declare that I am overflowing with Your blessings, goodness and favor. In You, I have all that I will ever need. I don’t need to live like I’ve been robbed or given the short end of the stick anymore. In Christ, I will more than survive … I will thrive! I denounce the orphan spirit because I am the beloved adopted Daughter of the Most High King. You will never leave me nor forsake me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

POSSIBLE GUIDING WORDS:

Abundance, Blessed, Capable, Complete, Dream, Endurance, Fruitful, Fullness, Freedom, Hope, Renew, Restored, Fulfilled, Generosity, Potential, Thrive, Trustworthy, Victorious

BIBLE VERSE:

“For I can do everything through
Christ, Who gives me strength.”
Philippians 4:13 (Verse on Bible Hub)

---

GOAL:

“2019 was painful, filled with loss and devastation. I feel discouraged and tired …”

PRAYER:

Father God, I feel beat up, like I’ve literally been run over by a huge dump truck. I just feel a deep sadness right now. I’m kind of overwhelmed with everything going on and isolated myself and I need help to jump back into life and learn how to embrace my new ‘normal’. Please help me to re-center myself in You and regain my strength again. I need You to fill my cup back up, Lord, because I feel tired and empty. Jesus, replenish my hope and my joy! Revive and restore me to overflowing. In Christ, I will live to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.

POSSIBLE GUIDING WORDS:

Abide, Breathe, Blessed, Brave, Build, Cherished, Energized, Freedom, Fresh, Healing, Held, Hope, Jesus, Life, Live, Loved, New, Passion, Prayer, Receive, Refresh, Refreshing, Renew, Restore, Resurect, Revive, Stronger

BIBLE VERSE:

“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
Psalm 34:18 (Verse on Bible Hub)

---

GOAL:

“I need breathing room, God! My life, my brain, my schedule, and my soul feels so cluttered. I crave stillness and quiet …”

PRAYER:

Lord, please help me to create healthy white space (margin) in my life and empower me to resist the urge to fill every free moment with activity. Please give me wisdom to prioritize You first and to balance work, ministry, and time with my family. Help me to be able to speak the word ‘no’ to other people when needed without feeling guilty. Help me to create healthy boundaries in my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

POSSIBLE GUIDING WORDS:

Balance, Boundaries, Breathe, Calm, Clarity, Exhale, Margin, Peace, Quiet, Release, Reflection, Refuge, Rest, Sabbath, Simple, Simplicity, Space, Still, Tranquility

BIBLE VERSE:

“Come with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”Mark 6:31 (Verse on Bible Hub)

---

GOAL:

“I need to care for my whole self (my spirit, soul and body) …”

PRAYER:

Lord, please help me to be conscious to take good care of my whole person and not let any one area suffer neglect. I need discipline to eat healthy and exercise regularly. Help me to cultivate a deeper prayer life and have quiet time with You. Give me wisdom for what I need to pick up and what I need to lay down. Help me to find balance and take care of me in a healthy, godly way so I can better care for others. Fill me with more of You and heal every broken place within me. I pray this in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

POSSIBLE GUIDING WORDS:

Balance, Blessed, Boundaries, Breathe, Center, Core, Flourish, Fruitful, Growth, Healed, Healthy, Heart, Nourish, Regenerate, Renew, Reset, Rest, Revive, Stronger, Thrive, Wellness, Wholeness

BIBLE VERSE:

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the
Holy Spirit, Who is in you, whom you have received
from God? You are not your own; you were bought at
a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NIV (Passage on Bible Gateway)

---

GOAL:

“I want to grow closer to Jesus …”

PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, I want to be closer to You. Please help me to remove all distractions and focus in on Your beautiful voice and face. You are my audience of One, Lord! May I seek Your nod in my direction more than the approval of other people. You alone are my strength and my song. You are my shield and my exceedingly great reward. In Jesus’ Name I pray this. Amen.

POSSIBLE GUIDING WORDS:

Abide, Adopted, Anchor, Cherished, Commit, Daughter, Deeper, Delight, Discernment, Disciple, Embraced, Grace, Grounded, Heart, Held, Intimacy, Known, Loved, Obedience, Praise, Prayer, Presence, Refine, Reverence, Rhythm, Trust, Yield, Word, Worship

BIBLE VERSE:

“Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash
your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your
loyalty is divided between God and the world.”
James 4:8 (Verse on Bible Hub)

---

GOAL:

“I want to grow stronger in my faith …”

PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, help my faith to grow in You. I want to come to the end of myself this year and shake off any self confidence I may have. I desire to grow in God confidence. Give me a teachable heart and spirit, Lord. In You, ALL things are possible. Help me to look for what You are doing all around me each day. In Jesus’ Name I pray this. Amen.

POSSIBLE GUIDING WORDS:

Accountable, Audacity, Armor, Become, Believe, Bold, Brave, Character, Dedicated, Determined, Disciple, Empowered, Faith, Genuine, Grit, Growth, Integrity, Intentional, Passion, Persevere, Persistence, Prayer, Priorities, Stewardship, Teachable, Thrive, Trustworthy, Vision

BIBLE VERSE:

“But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run
and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.”
Isaiah 40:31 (Verse on Biblehub)

---

GOAL:

“I want (and need) healthy godly relationships in my life …”

PRAYER:

Father God, I need wisdom in my relationships. Please help me to be planted in a good Holy Spirit led Church where I can find support and accountability to grow in my faith. I need to learn how to steward well the ‘God appointed’ relationships You bring into my life. Please give me discernment and guidance to build healthy boundaries with people who are filled with anger, bitterness and strife. Thank You Lord. I pray this in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

POSSIBLE GUIDING WORDS:

Authentic, Available, Boundaries, Bridge, Build, Commitment, Community, Compassion, Connection, Cultivate, Empathy, Faithful, Friendship, Gather, Genuine, Healthy, Honor, Hospitality, Kindness, Love, Nourish, Respect, Sisters, Unity, Wisdom

BIBLE VERSE:

“Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward
love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as
some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another
and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Hebrews 10:24 (Verse on Bible Hub)

---

So my friend, what will be your Word for 2020?

I will be praying over every response we receive. May this year be blessed for you!

Blessings …

What is Your Guiding Word for 2020? @freshgracefortoday.com

Are you ready to receive Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior?
Please CLICK HERE and we will be honored to pray with you.

About Us

Photo Credit: Canva

 Related Posts:

Choosing a Guiding Word for 2020 by Fleda Bennie

How to Choose a Word of the Year in 4 Easy Steps  by Miranda Rejoice New