Finding My 2026 Word of the Year

It started in November.

I had been working on marketing the Plans to Prosper planner, which meant I was spending a lot of time in the planner - working through it myself, even though it wasn’t 2026 yet. I don’t typically find my Word of the Year this early. Usually, I begin praying and thinking about it in December and choose a word by the end of January. 

But one early morning during my bible study time, I was reading through the Proverbs 31 “Wife of Noble Character” passage (verses 10-31). When I came to verse 16, something came to my attention:

“She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.” 

In the reference column beside it was a cross-reference to Romans 12:11. I was curious why those verses were connected, so I turned to it and read:

“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.”

Wow.

 

Never Be Lacking in Zeal

That is a powerful verse with such clear direction: "Never be lacking in zeal."

I had heard the word zeal before — we even studied it for a season at church — but I looked it up again to be sure I fully understood it.

What does 

Zeal means fervor for a person, cause or object; eager desire or endeavor; enthusiastic diligence; ardor

That definition stirred something in me. Honestly, anytime I read the word diligence, I get excited. I always want to be diligent in everything I do. I fail often, but I am always striving for it. I’m a Type A personality — I love having a plan and getting my ducks in a row. But we all know that in real life, things don’t always go according to plan.

Now I was officially down a rabbit hole and I needed to know what Fervor meant.

 

What Does Fervor Really Mean?

Fervor means great warmth and earnestness of feeling; intense heat

I understood the general meaning, but I sensed there might be something deeper biblically. So I searched for the biblical meaning of fervor and discovered even more richness.

Biblical fervor carries the idea of an intense, glowing zeal for God — a spiritual warmth marked by earnestness and passionate commitment. It comes from the Greek word zeo, meaning “to boil” or “to burn.”

Again I thought, Yes. That is what I want. An earnest, passionate commitment to God.

As I kept studying, several things stood out:

It went on to give more information about Fervor and the things that stood out to me where:

• Fervor is not just emotional. It's a wholehearted expression of faith rooted in a deep, personal relationship with God.
• It's an energetic and enthusiastic passion for Him - being “fervent in spirit.”
• Scripture connects fervor to earnest prayer. James 5:16 reminds us that the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective, highlighting the intensity and sincerity of a fervent payer life.
• Fervor is not passive. It is expressed through active service to God and others.
• Fervor is closely linked to love. In 1 Peter 4:8 we are told to “love one another deeply” - and “deeply” is sometimes translated as fervently.
• True spiritual fervor means loving God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:30)

That last one sealed it for me.

I want to love God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength.

My Word of the Year for 2026 would be Fervor.

 

Seeing It in Every Translation

Once that settled in my heart, I began journaling everything. I love spending time researching my word — studying its meaning, finding where it appears in Scripture, and asking God what He wants to show me through it.

One of my favorite practices is reading key verses in multiple Bible translations. So I wrote out Romans 12:11 in several versions:

NIV: “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord”

NLT: “Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.” 

NKJV: “Not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.”

KJV: “Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.”

AMP: “Never be lagging behind in diligence; aglow in the spirit, enthusiastically serving the Lord.”

Then I decided to look at The Message translation. I don’t read it often, but I was curious. And it felt like a coach hyping up his team:

MSG: (Romans 12: 11-13) “Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and a flame. Be alert servants of the master, cheerfully expectant. Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.”

If you’re not familiar with The Message, it often groups verses together in thought paragraphs. In the NIV, Romans 12:11–13 reads:

“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”

After going through all of those versions of the verses, I took a break. It was a lot to take in. For the next week or so, I slowly reread my notes and the Scriptures about fervor. I thought about them throughout the day. I prayed over them. I wanted to be sure this wasn’t just a word that sounded good — I wanted to know this was the word the Lord was truly placing on my heart.

 

When I Knew

As the days went on, the excitement didn’t fade — it grew. The more I sat with it, the more it stirred something deeper in me. This wasn’t just about emotion or intensity. It was about wholehearted devotion. It was about diligence with fire. It was about serving the Lord with passion, consistency, and love.

And I knew.

Fervor would be my word for 2026.

 

Planning with Fervor

Now, as I move forward into planning my goals for the year, I’m doing it differently. I’m not just asking, What do I want to accomplish? I’m asking:

How can I pursue this goal with spiritual fervor?

How can I serve the Lord through this?

How can I stay diligent and aglow in the Spirit while working toward this?

Fervor is shaping not just what I plan, but how I plan.

It’s reminding me that my goals are not just personal ambitions — they are opportunities to serve God wholeheartedly. It’s challenging me to pray fervently, love deeply, serve joyfully, and remain patient in hard seasons. It’s calling me to stay spiritually fueled instead of burning out.

 

More Than Just a Word

And maybe that’s the real gift of a Word of the Year.

It’s not just a theme. It’s an invitation.

An invitation to grow.
An invitation to align your heart with God’s heart.
An invitation to live intentionally — with purpose and passion.

 

A Prayer for 2026

As 2026 approaches, my prayer is simple:

Lord, let me not be lacking in zeal.
Keep me fervent in spirit.
Teach me to serve You with my whole heart.

 

An Invitation for You:

If you’re still praying about your Word of the Year, you don’t have to rush the process.

The Plans to Prosper planner was created to help you slow down, seek the Lord first, and align your goals with what He’s speaking over your life. It gives you space to discover your word, study it in Scripture, and plan with intention.

Because planning isn’t just about productivity — it’s about partnership with God.

If you’re ready to step into 2026 with clarity and spiritual fervor, I’d love for you to explore it.