What a Delightful Difference One Word Makes

I’ve been practicing “One Word” now for thirteen years and oh what a delightful difference it’s made in my life. Heading into the New Year I will embrace One Word #14!

If the idea of One Word is new to you, I encourage you to read this blog on how to practically get started with your own One Word practice.

Over the years, I’ve selected a wide range of words including…

2013 PROACTIVE

2014 FAITH-FULL – I know it is not a word, but it is the one God gave me!

2015 RELEASE

2016 RECEIVE (Find out what I learned here)

2017 REFRESH

2018 ACCEPT

2019 ABIDE

2020 ENCOURAGE

2021 HOPE

2022 INVEST (Find out what I learned here)

2023 SURRENDER (Find out what I learned here)

2024 EDIT (Find out what I learned here)

2025 INTEGRATE

Here’s a quick summary of my take-a-ways.

I glance back over this list of words with fondness. Each word feels like a close friend – the kind of friend that has seen you through the hardships and victories of life and remained a steady companion through it all.

It was challenging to land on a word for 2025 that fully encapsulated the idea that God had planted in my heart – a single word that expressed making Him truly the center of all aspects of my life. I wanted a word that expressed my desire to rely on Him more fully in my work, to cultivate a deeper relationship with Him, and to live from Him in a more courageous way.

In addition, I wanted the word to reflect the idea of stewarding my gifts, abilities, and talents in a fresh and greater way.

After much wrestling, I landed on the One Word INTEGRATE. While not a word that rolls off the tongue, it has initiated some exciting changes in my life and I’m eager to share those changes with you!

Change #1: The LAB

While on vacation in Mexico in 2018, God gave me a vision for The LAB. The heart behind it was to serve people who…

1. 1. 1. Didn’t have the funds for one-on-one coaching, but were eager to learn and grow.
      2. Preferred to work at their own pace and on their own time.
      3. Enjoy a community element to learn, growing, and developing themselves.

Once home from vacation, I obediently set out to explore what was needed to launch The LAB. A few months later I took a big step of faith and The LAB was officially launched.

There were some really good things about the original LAB, however, the platform was ridiculously expensive and even though some happy successes were had among the participants, it just didn’t make sense to continue it from a financial standpoint.

I confess shutting The LAB down felt like a failure. I doubted what I’d heard from God. But I didn’t let go of the idea. I continued to pray, imagine, and pray some more.

Earlier this year,

I felt the nudge to step out and try again. I put out a random offer in one of my weekly newsletters inviting others to join me in an adventure that I really didn’t know what form it would take on, but that would serve the people who chose to be a part. It was a vague offer and honestly, I didn’t expect anyone to take me up on it, but to my surprise, seven brave souls were willing to venture into the unknown with me!

My One Word was contributed significantly to my revisiting The LAB. I literally followed His lead each step of the way allowing Him to guide me, inspire me, and to work in the lives of The LAB members. It felt risky, but I was determined to “INTEGRATE” – to be unified with Him in the adventure.

While The LAB is still evolving, I’m so thankful for the rich experience it’s been for me and the meaningful support it’s been for those participating. The Live LABS that take place each month are something we all look forward to!

If you are curious about The LAB, you can learn more here and jump in and join us!

Change #2: Learning To Accept & Trust In Greater Ways

If God is truly going to be an integral part of my life minute-by-minute, then it makes sense to accept the twists and turns of life as a part of His plan, right?

However, I am a big planner! I like to be in control. Letting go and accepting what is – that’s not something that comes naturally or easily to me.

This year has been full of twists and turns! There have been plenty of opportunities to practice letting go.

There have been big twists, like adding The LAB which was an added responsibility that I hadn’t factored in, the passing of my mother-in-law, or having jury duty in December.

And there have been little twists that are sometimes even more challenging to accept – the surprises that spring up in a day, the interruptions, the disappointments, etc.

I still have plenty of room to grow in the area of accepting and trusting. I anticipate it being a lifelong journey where progress is inch-by-inch, or perhaps millimeter by millimeter might be more accurate.

The good news is…

that little by little I am growing, letting go, and accepting what is and watching with great eagerness to see how God works out the details of what truly needs to get done.

In some instances, God has shown up and worked out what was before me in some wild ways that have been beautiful reminders of how faithfully He loves me.

In other instances, God has reminded me of my limitations. Sometimes He simply points out gently that, once again, my expectations are far too high! And too often what I deem highly important is not and what I deem not so essential actually is! He cares far more about how I show up than what I accomplish.

God’s given me a greater appreciation for my humanness, and urged me to be more compassionate with myself. Rather than depending on myself, He longs for me to be utterly reliant on Him. I know this in my head, now it is slowly transforming my heart and integrating into how I do life!

Change #3: Leaning In

If you have followed me for any length of time, you know that I am all about a morning routine that includes time with God. It is something I have faithfully done for as long as I can remember.

This year God urged me to pursue Him in a new way and it has been incredibly life changing. Yes, He invited me to study the word LIFE in scripture and connect with Him in a deeper way, not as a part of my morning time with Him, but as a part of my work. For the last several weeks, I’ve carved time out of my work week to dig in and see what it is that God has for me as I explore the word LIFE in scripture. So far, I have barely scratched the surface and it is already rocking my world!

I randomly began the study in John 10:10 where in the New Century Version it says, “but I came to give life — life in all its fullness.” Some translations, like the Amplified Bible, use the word abundance for fullness. The Message says “a more and better life than they ever dreamed of”.

Oh friend…

that kind of LIFE is only possible when you are rooted in Him!

God lead me to two passages that illustrate what that kind of “LIFE” looks like: Psalm 23 and Jeremiah 17:5-8 where it talks about the tree planted by the river.

There’s so much more that God’s been showing me! What’s fascinating is that that full, abundant, rich life is only found in Him which means you have to be surrendered and connected to Him…INTEGRATED with Him!

I’m so very thankful for the experience I’ve had with my One Word this year! And I can’t wait to see what God has in store for me next year as I embrace GENTLE as my 2026 One Word.

What’s your experience been with your One Word this year? How has it changed you?

What will your One Word be for the coming year?