My Life in Our Father's World

Choosing Stay as My 2026 Word of the Year

I would like to introduce you to my 2026 word of the year…STAY!

For those who have not been on this journey in the past, I will explain how it works.

Each year since 2020 I have trusted God to partner with me in choosing and working through a journey with a single word (or phrase). Each year seems to flow easily from one to the next, and I have never questioned the choice.

The progression has been:

  • Attitude of Gratitude – 2020
  • Abide – 2021
  • Encouragement – 2022
  • Teach/Learn – 2023
  • Renewal – 2024
  • Flexible – 2025
  • Stay – 2026

As I was considering my first WOTY (Word of the Year) post for 2026, I happily discovered that Rainer Bantau who blogs at The Devotional Guy has also chosen “STAY” for 2026. I made a comment to this effect on his post Word of the Year 2026: Stay and his response was, “What caused you to choose it?”

…Every year, the process is similar. “Throughout the year, I make note of possible words for the next year. Then I came across the word “stay,” and God impressed upon me that I have been a bit all over the place and I need to relearn how to stay in communication with Him.”

Looking back over my earlier words, I realize that “stay” is similar to “abide” (2021) but I have confidence that God has more in store for me this year.

The accompanying scripture will be

“…Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay…” – Ruth 1:16b NIV

I do not know where I will go or what God will ask me to do along the way this year, but I do know that I will be a better person at the end of the year than I am now.

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If you are new to the One Word or WOTY idea, I would love for you to join One Word 2026. It is hosted by Lisa Notes including a monthly challenge to keep us moving forward with our words.

CLICK HERE to sign up for the monthly email and link to the link-up,

OR

CLICK HERE to join the private Facebook Group

17 comments

  7. I am going to chose the word laugh . . . Proverbs 15:13 A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

    It is the medicine I need for the upcoming year!

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