The Power of Words

Faith, Love and Choosing a Word for the Year

As I write today, I find myself reflecting on the quiet yet powerful influence words have in our lives. The Bible reminds us that words carry great weight — they can bring life or harm, encouragement or discouragement, healing or hurt. At UCB Radio we aim to share words that uplift, offer hope, and gently open hearts. Let’s take a closer look at how the written word shows up in scripture and in our everyday lives.

A Mother’s Words: How Written Memories Shape Faith and Legacy

Some time ago, I bought a journal for my mom — a rather unusual gift perhaps?  It’s a soft creamy pink colour with delicate leaves softly printed on the cover and the words “My MOM in Her Own Words” stamped in gold foil.

Sprinkled throughout the pages there are quotes about family, memories and moments in time as well as questions asking her about her childhood, holiday traditions, being a mother, moments of laughter, lasting wishes for her family and more.

“We do not remember days, we remember moments.” Cesare Pavese

It took my mom over a year to answer many of the questions. Some she left blank—and that felt perfectly okay. She must have had her reasons. Last Christmas, she gave the journal back to me, and it quickly became one of the most meaningful gifts I’ve ever received. Through her written words, I now have a glimpse into her heart—something I’ll treasure always. Her words filled me with love and gratitude and reminded me just how deeply written memories can shape faith, love, and legacy. Words truly matter, often more than we realize.

Choosing A Word For the Year

As the holidays came to a close and a new year began, UCB Radio’s Garrett Michaels shared a gentle, biblical way to approach the year ahead—choosing a word for the year instead of making a traditional resolution.

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!” Isaiah 43:18-19

Instead of asking, “What should I do better?” this practice encourages a different kind of question: “Who is God inviting me to become?” A word for the year isn’t something to achieve or check off, but a theme to gently live into.

For example, my word for the year is "heart". I took some quiet time to ask God, “What would you like to grow in me this year?” and the word that surfaced was heart. From the heart flows love, and so this year I’m choosing to live with that intention—allowing love to shape how I show up, one day at a time.

“This isn’t about doing more for God. It’s about noticing what God is already doing in you.”

A Word for the Year is a  thoughtful practice that invites curiosity: Where did this idea come from? And how can it fit into daily life in a way that feels grace-filled, sustainable, and free from pressure?

Biblical Roots: What Scripture Teaches about Words

Throughout scripture, we see that God works in seasons not checklists. Ecclesiastes 3 reminds us that life unfolds in rhythms, while Habakkuk 2:2 encourages us to notice and write what God is revealing. Jesus consistently focused on heart transformation, not rule keeping. What a great reminder that growth is often gentle and ongoing.

Releasing Pressure: Why a Word for the Year Brings Spiritual Freedom

In recent years, Christian leaders and voices on the radio — like Garrett mentioned on UCB Radio — have encouraged this practice as a way to release pressure and gently refocus our hearts. Choosing a word for the year can help us:

• invite God into the year ahead
• stay spiritually anchored through uncertainty.

As the saying goes, “A word is often discovered, not decided”.

Choose your Word For The Year

How to Live Out Your Word for the Year in Everyday Life

This is where the word becomes a part of daily living. Keep it simple! You don’t need new habits - just a little more awareness.

Try one of these:

• Say your word during morning prayer.
• Ask “how can I live this word today?

• Reflect at night: “Where did I notice my word?”

   

Let it Flex:

Some months your word will feel present and strong. Other months it may feel quieter. Both are okay. A word for the year isn’t something you complete, it’s something you carry with you.

Grace for the Whole Year: Why You Can’t Fail at Choosing a Word

One of the most comforting parts of this practice is that you can’t fail. There will be busy days, hard lessons, and unexpected turns. Your word is not a test - it’s an invitation.

• When you forget it, simply return.
• When you struggle with it, ask God for help.
• When you notice it, give thanks.

You truly can’t fail.

Download your FREE Copy of A Word for the Year

The Importance of God’s Word: Staying Spiritually Grounded Through Scripture

The Word For You Today talks about God’s Word in its pages. It says that “in the Bible, you discover God’s priorities for your life. When you fail to read it, study it, and meditate on its precepts, you end up focusing on your own interests and neglecting God’s priorities.”

It also reminds us that “anything you put ahead of God is an ‘idol’. Sometimes an idol is a sinful practice you know to be wrong. But an idol can also be a legitimate thing like a job or a relationship or a particular interest that consumes so much of your time and energy that your relationship with God gets shortchanged or totally neglected.”

We all experience this at times. Life gets busy and its easy to drift. But if we truly want to know God better and grow closer to Him, choosing to spend time in His Word each day can gently realign our hearts.

For me, The Word For You Today helps make Scripture accessible through clear, everyday language. Those written words help me draw closer to God—one day at a time.

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Staying Connected to God’s Voice Throughout the Year

As the year unfolds, stay connected with UCB Radio. Sometimes God confirms our word through a song, a message or a moment we didn’t expect. This journey isn’t about becoming someone new. It’s about becoming more rooted in who God created you to be. Blessings!