Don’t look now, but the end of 2017 is right around the corner. I’m talking just hours away by now. I, for one, am glad to see it go. I’m already preparing for 2018 with a phrase of the year.
2017 had a list of firsts for me (like starting this blog!). There were lots of happy moments. And quite a few of trying times, too.
Maybe I’m too much of an optimistic, but every New Year I get just a little extra hopeful about the possibilities the New Year will bring.
It’s new. It’s exciting. And it’s the perfect opportunity to make plans and dream a little. Amiright?
Word of the Year
This year, I’ve heard quite a bit of talk about a concept called the “word of the year” (Kelly explains it a lot better than I do, y’all).
Has anyone else heard of this?
I hadn’t. Not until I was chatting with some of my blogging buddies and reading their posts.
Basically, a word of the year comes about in one of two ways:
- Praying and asking God what the focus of the year should be.
- Choosing a word to describe the goals you want to accomplish in the New Year.
A word of the year is meant to define how the year will look for the individual. For Shannon over at Faith, Flour, and Sawdust, her word of the year is hope. Hope for a brighter day. Hope for improving health. For Crystal Storms (who does an excellent job outlining how God gives her a word for the year, by the way), her word is brave. Bravery to go forth with the call from God. And being brave enough to be still and wait for answers.
Phrase of the Year

Like I said earlier, the idea of having a word define my year (other than yucky or awesome, those don’t count, y’all) is new to me.
Confession: I wasn’t planning on sitting down and praying for a defining word, either. I was just gong to walk straight on into the New Year with my plans and goals in hand and just hope for the best.
But, the other day as I was absolutely struggling to wrap a simple Christmas present and complaining about it as I fought with the paper, I half jokingly said to my sister (and to myself), “Oh, well. Just try your best and let God do the rest.”
That phrase, dear friend, has been ringing in my mind ever since then. And it’s the perfect phrase to describe 2018 for me.
Try Your Best and Let God Do the Rest
Kind of a simple thought, though, isn’t it?
But, think about it. How many times have we determined in our heart to do something and either didn’t try our best or commit those plans to the Lord? And how many times have we been disappointed by the outcome?
I’ve been there a time or two.
As I think about that phrase in relation to everything that is going on in my life (and every goal I’m setting for 2018), I keep coming back to Proverbs 16:3.
Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established. Proverbs 16:3
Basically, friend, what it comes down to is this: commit your plans to the Lord (especially those things He is pushing you do to), show up, do the work, and watch Him use you.
Just try your best in whatever it is that you do.
Blogging about your faith? Pray about your posts, learn all you can about blogging, do the work, and watch God use you.
Witnessing to a friend or family member? Pray about it, try your best, and watch God use the words that you spoke (or didn’t speak) to change a heart.
Preaching a message to a congregation? Pray about it, preach your heart out, and let God touch hearts with your message.
Teaching a Sunday school class? Pray about, prepare your lesson, teach it, and watch God water seeds that you’ve planted.
Remember the phrase of the year: just try your best and let God do the rest.

P.S. Don’t forget to subscribe and download your free January scripture reading plan right here!

I love your phrase, Cassie! A mindset we all could benefit from adopting. And thanks for linking to me. Happy new year!
Thanks, Kelly! Happy New Year to you, too! 🙂
I love the “phrase of the year “ that you have chosen . Do our part and the Lord will absolutely do the rest. Much blessings for this new year , my blogger friend 🙂
Happy New Year ,Cassie !!
Thank you, Diana! And yes, do our part and He will pick up the rest and bless it! Thanks for stopping by!
I love this so much!! My word this year is faithful. I want to remain faithful to God’s plans for me, who I am in Christ, and my goals, as well as just remembering that God is faithful. Pinned!
Yes, Allison, He is very faithful! That’s a great word!
Beautiful post! I love that you have a phrase of the year in addition to your word of the year
Thanks, Victoria!!
Yes!! I’ve asked the Lord for a word the past several years and I have been blown away by how true they have been for me. I’m excited to see what God has next in this year of “greater things.”
Hannah, I’m so excited about 2018. I think it’s going to be a good year for all of us!
I’m so excited about 2018! I cannot wait to see what in store for ALL of us! 🙂
I love the phrase of the year!! It’s so easy to get wrapped up trying to make things happen through our own efforts that we leave out God. Let go and let God!!! This was great!! Thanks for sharing!!!
Tangela, to be quite honest, that’s why I wasn’t planning to do a word of the year. I didn’t want to focus too much on trying to make things happen to fit the word. If that makes any sense? But the phrase fits. Pretty sure it’s going to be my life’s motto now.
This 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽 This is what life is about in a nutshell. When I ask for direction, I get caught up in all the details and forget that God’s got it. He’s got it all under control – the big things, the small things, and everything in between.
Yes, you’ve hit the nail on the head! Big, small, and everything in between!!