For the last few months, my parents have been living with us because of flooding in their home. While major renovations happened at their house about 15 minutes away, we savored quality time all together with Nana and Papa for the holidays.
My dad turned 82 this year, and one of his personal challenges in this senior season of life is that he is hard of hearing. We all have learned to adjust the way we communicate with him. We have to speak louder and make eye contact so he knows we are talking to him.
He wears in-the-ear hearing aids most of the time, which are custom-fit for his ears and amplify the sound waves to clarify what he hears. I can always tell when he’s taken out his hearing aids or the batteries are running low because my mom has to raise her voice or touch him to get his attention.
As I’ve watched my daddy struggle with his hearing, I’m filled with compassion. Failing body parts are certainly par for the course for all of us as we age. Even in my 40-something body, I feel new aches and pains, hormone roller coaster rides, and longer recovery periods after workouts or long work days.
As I approach 2025, I don’t want to take my hearing for granted in a physical or spiritual sense. That’s why I’m choosing the word “hear” as my word of the year.
I want to tune my ears to hear God’s voice above the noise and discern His direction for my daily life.
For the past 14 years, I have chosen a word of the year. As I follow that one word, I find myself on a treasure hunt of sorts. I dig through Scripture to see how that word is used and where it’s repeated. This provides a framework for me when I study the Bible and as I talk with the Holy Spirit throughout the day.
My word themes have connected year after year like bright bulbs on a string of twinkly lights. One year’s lessons flow into the next year and spark another set of lessons. God has taught me so much through these words: Joy, Grace, Mercy, Glory, Redeem, Flourish, Behold, Wonder, Abundance, Soar, Rejoice, Hesed (the Hebrew word which translates to lovingkindness), and this past year the word See. These words have shaped my life, my writing, and even my focus.
In 2024, I learned to see God in new ways. I journeyed with Hagar through Genesis 16 and learned about how she named God El Roi, meaning “the God who sees.” I learned to open my eyes to see how God might be at work in the world, through my family, and in my circles of influence.
Studies show that our technology is actually reshaping our brains so it’s harder to concentrate on one thing. I feel this in a deep way. I am so easily distracted by social media notifications, shiny new projects, and too many options in the grocery store. I’m often drooping with decision fatigue by the end of the day. This is the main reason I want to continue this spiritual practice of choosing one word to focus on each year and why I’m being intentional to hear Him this year.
In the Bible, the words “listen” and “hear” are often translated as “obey” or “to give heed to.” Listen and obey also have the same root in Greek, which shows they are inextricably tied together. Listening or intentional hearing is not just allowing something to go in one ear and out the other. I’m learning that hearing my Heavenly Father is about listening and obeying Him.
In his book, The Listening Life, Adam McHugh writes, “In a sense, the Scriptures are a tuning fork for adjusting our ears to the tone of God’s voice.”
This year I want to soak more in the Scriptures. Daily time in God’s Word can be about learning and gaining knowledge, but it’s also one of the clearest ways we hear God’s voice personally. It’s like stepping into a quiet pasture, away from the chaos, where we can hear Him calling us by name.
Jesus illustrates this so beautifully when He describes Himself as the Good Shepherd in John 10. He says:
“The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.”
John 10:1-4 ESV
I love this image: the Shepherd who calls out and the sheep who respond. The voice of Jesus leads us — if we are willing to listen and follow.
I want to make more space to hear the Holy Spirit’s voice in my life in 2025. I believe He has specific assignments for you and me, but we need to dig into His word, pray and listen regularly, and enlist trusted mentors to help discern those assignments. These practices are like my daddy’s hearing aids: they amplify God’s voice in our lives so we can hear Him clearly and obey.
And here’s the beautiful truth: our Good Shepherd hears us, too. He cares about our hurts and hang-ups, our heartaches and harvests. He laid down His life for us. We can trust Him to lead us to green pastures and still waters.
Friend, it’s not too late to choose a word of the year! What’s one word you can follow into 2025 that will help you tune into Jesus, the Word who became flesh? (Need some help? Take this short Word of the Year quiz from our friends at DaySpring!)
I actually have 2 words this year. Breathe was from the quiz I took and the other is present which came from an activity my pastor led on Sunday with our congregation. In the past, if I’m honest, I have not followed through with my word of the year. This year it feels different and am more confident I will focus. And yes, so many distractions out there. But I am trying.
Dorina, this is so helpful. I have been choosing a word for several years now, but sadly have not been this intentional about following through with it throughout the year. Usually it’s been forgotten like resolutions as the year progressed.
This year I have chosen a 2-word: Contented Delight. I had chosen “Contentment,” then the Dayspring quiz led me to “Delight.” I think they work well together. The last few years have been difficult for my husband and me, mostly due to health issues, and I have found myself feeling discontent over how our life has changed and our dreams are dying. This year I want to focus on being content with where we are, looking for and delighting in the beauty, being grateful, chasing God’s glory .
Dorina thank you for your devotional. What you wrote so true. There is only one shepherd that cares for us his sheep. That is our Lord Jesus Christ. When are injured or need help for someone or something. We can go our Lord any time of the day. He is there with his arms stretched out to help us. All we need to do is go him in prayer and stand on the promises of his word and say them over our lives and believe them as we say them. As God does what his word says. Then we have to be quiet and wait for God answer to know what to do. With the thing we went to him and prayed to him about. Even though we might not like God’s answer. But in the end we have to believe even at the time when God’s answers us. We might not like his answer. But when we look about in time gone by we see God and his answer was best for us in our situation at that time. As God knows us better than anyone in our lives. As he formed us in our mother’s womb. God knew us before the world began. God knew when we were born. In Psalm 139 it says things like that if we read it and believe it over our lives. Sometimes like a person with bad hearing like me and your Dad. We can get we take out hearing aids out. Because we don’t like or want people telling us what to do. Even if they know best. We think by taking our hearing aids out we will not hear them. So that means we will not have to listen to what that they are telling us. If it important what they want to tell us they will speck louder so we heard them. They will do anything to get our attention. God will do the same. Through a scripture verse that comes into our head. Or Family member or good friend. Telling them to say this to us. It is up to us if we listen or not. But God will not let it go until we have heard what he wants us to say to us. God will even use a reading we read every day. Or church sermon. We know by all these things God is speaking to us we be best to listen. Like the song Psalm 23. “The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want. Yeah though I walk through the valley of death I will fear no evil. You are with me my strength and comfort.” How true that is. I have to obey and listen to God when he speaks. I don’t know exactly were it is in the Bible God talks about the shepherd that had so many sheep and one got lost. He left the 99 and went looking for the missing one until he found it. God will do that with us if stay and get lost. Until we come back to him again. Thank you Dorina for todays reading it has really spoke to me. Love Dawn Ferguson-Little Enniskillen Co.Fermanagh N.Ireland xx
Doriana,
I love your word for the year. My word for the year is encourage. God is already encouraging me on a personal level. And I so enjoy being an encouragement to others. I’m excited to see how that word shapes my spiritual walk in 2025.
Thank you for your devotion. I’ve shared it.
Sending you new year joy,
Lisa Wilt
Dorina,
I appreciate your devotional, as there is so much to reread, savor, and reflect in these fresh thoughts for this New Year! I look forward to reading more of your inspiration in the future.
Blessings,
Kathleen
Thanks for sharing Dorina. I too have chosen a Word of the Year for a few years now. Last year my Word was Walk. I set a goal of 5000 steps daily and the Spiritual emphasis was Walk in Love. Just wanted you to know that I used your book Walk, Run, Soar for inspiration along with Max Lucado’s book They Walked with God. I find it amazing how God uses a Word each year to draw me closer to Him and challenge me in growing in my relationship with Him and others. My enthusiasm for Word of the year has come from the women of the (in)Courage community.
I actually have two words this year: patience and gentleness. It’s easier for me to extend that to others, yet I need to learn to extend to myself as well.
Having a WORD since 1975 when my daughter was born ( a precious gift from God, )each year has definitely helped me draw closer to our Lord Jesus.
Last year was Expect and Samuel 12:16
I must say I didn’t expect so many trials But I did Expect God’s help and He DID walk with me and guide me thru .
This year the word ANCHOR and I always choose a verse too – so Hebrews 6:29 is it for 2025. I put the Word I chose on wee tabs around the suite to keep me grounded in Him thru the year . ⚓️
Since I love the SEA it is the perfect word for me too .
Blessings to you