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A New Word for a New Year

Welcome to 2021. Most of us are heaving sighs of relief because last year lasted about 39 months and wreaked havoc on what had been a pretty cozy normal life.

Let’s hope this year is better in the realms of physical safety and emotional stability.

Regardless of what the world does, I’m pressing on. No, I didn’t choose this verse as my verse of the year, but I considered it.

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:14


After all, Philippians is my favorite book of the Bible.

In 2021, I’m going to persist. More specifically, I will continue steadfastly in writing women’s fiction and find a traditional publisher to publish at least the first three books of my new series. I will pursue this course of action in spite of opposition.

I considered some other words before settling on persist. Words like: perseverance, determination, endurance, moxie, tenacity, dedication, grit and spunk.

Do you see a common thread?

So did I. That’s when I decided that on the back side of a year of rest, I needed a year of action. Time to narrow the list down to verbs only. On the short list: endure, persevere and pursue. And persist.

Because without persistence, a girl isn’t going to get anywhere. And I’ve got big plans for this year.

Plans like:

  • Launching a freelance coaching business
  • Finishing my first women’s fiction novel
  • Landing an agent
  • Meeting my writing peeps at the AFCW conference in the fall
  • Making enough money with my writing/coaching to fund my IRA

And I can tell you, discouragement nips at my heels. Winter is full of short days and not enough sunlight for this sun-loving girl.
But those things won’t stop a lady who is set on persisting.

And to help me get there, I chose a Bible verse for the year. It was between three: Philippians 3:14 (shared above), James 5:11a, and 2 Timothy 2:3.
In the end, it came down to what I wanted to focus on: mindset or outcome. You tell me which I chose based on the verse.

Not that I think “happiness” in a realistic outcome, but the word means “blessed and highly favored.” I think of it more as contentment, and I will be content at the end of this year if I persisted in writing, coaching, querying, mentoring and living out the purpose for which I was created.

Do you have a word for the year? A theme verse? I’d love to hear them and what led you to choose them.

2 thoughts on “A New Word for a New Year”

  1. Every year my husband and I start by praying through what we will/could/might/should do this year. Repeated again and again this time were the words “persevere” and “do not be anxious”. So 2021 will be for me the Year of Peace and Perseverance.
    I hadn’t thought of choosing a verse, but now I’m pondering it.

    1. Deborah- I considered perseverance, but I decided I wanted an active verb. And persist seemed more accurate than either persevere or endure.
      If you come up with a verse, share it. I like having a scripture as part of my compass for each year.

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