Our Word for 2025: Growth
January 1, 2025
Do you have a word for the year? While I didn’t have one last year, I’ve often embraced the practice of selecting a word or theme to guide me through the year ahead.
On New Year’s Eve, my wife and I were out for a walk, reflecting on some of the goals we’ve set for 2025. As we talked, she noticed a common thread running through them—a focus on growth. Without even realizing it, I had stumbled upon our word for the year: growth.
We’ve outlined some specific goals that reflect this theme, but we know the journey won’t be confined to what we’ve planned. Life has a way of surprising us, and we’re curious about the unexpected ways we’ll be called to grow over the next 12 months.
While working out recently, I caught a snippet of Andy Miller’s final 2024 episode of the More to the Story podcast. He shared a powerful idea: taking his word for the year and weaving it into John Wesley’s Covenant Prayer. I found the concept both inspiring and deeply personal. In fact, we had prayed this prayer as a congregation during our final Sunday morning service of 2024, making it an especially meaningful connection.
Here’s how I incorporated our theme of growth into Wesley’s famous prayer:
“I am no longer my own, but Yours.
Put me to what you will for my growth, rank me with whom You will.
Put me to doing for my growth, put me to suffering for my growth and holiness.
Let me be employed by You or laid aside for You for Your Glory and my growth,
exalted for You or brought low for You.
Let me be full, let me be empty in ways which help me grow closer to you.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things
to Your pleasure and disposal even my own desire to grow if it gets in the way.
And now, O glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
You are mine, and I am Yours. So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.”
As I was writing this prayer out I got a sense my growth goals, while not bad, may be a little different to God’s goals of growth in me. I am looking forward to exploring this concept in 2025.
Do you have a word or driving value for your 2025?
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About David Wesley Donnan
I write online about Methodism, devotional insights, and personal reflections. My primary goal is to organize my thoughts and explore meaningful topics. Along the way, I hope my writing inspires and encourages others on their journey.
David Donnan 