What's Your 2026 Word?

Did you make any New Year’s Resolutions this year? I did, and, yes, I’ve already stopped doing some of my resolutions. But this year I did something a little different than I usually do. I decided to choose one word that will reflect what I hope for in 2026.

My word for the year is Freedom. I took this from Galatians 5:1, “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.”

Is it really possible that we can be under a yoke of slavery even though we are Christians? Well, Paul is writing to Christians so I guess we can be enslaved. So what am I enslaved to?

• Work.

• Busyness.

• Data- my phone, YouTube, Instagram.

• Thinking that I have to be the one to take care of everything and everyone around me.

• Getting my “to do” list accomplished every day.

I’m reading a book called You’re Only Human. The first chapter hit me hard. The author said that for some reason, we think we are infinite so we think we should be able to do all the stuff the world expects us to do.

But we are finite. That’s how God created us.

Only God is infinite.

It took my breath away. All these years I have been trying to live up to my extraordinarily high, impossible standards (and expecting those around me to do the same), but I don’t have to be enslaved to that anymore.

I can be free. It was for freedom that Christ set me free.

• I don’t have to get that "to do" list completely done.

• I can give myself permission to relax and enjoy life with my family and friends.

• I can take a nap in the middle of the day, and that’s okay with God.

What might your word be for 2026? I would love to know. Email me at carol@astorpublishingsolutions.com with what you come up with and feel free to let me know why you chose it.

Blessings,
Carol