The Beauty of Words

ByDani Pettrey
16 Comments

Hi friends!

Happy Wednesday. I’m excited to spend a little bit of today with you. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and a joyous New Year.

I know it’s that time of year when many of us make New Year’s resolutions, goals, vision boards, and so much to strive for to make this year the year you get (fill in the blank).

I’m very much the same. I have my list. But I hear God telling me to put it away. I couldn’t figure out why.

Why wouldn’t God want me to make this the year I start exercising regularly and eating healthy? Perhaps your goal is to get organized by planning on keeping your house perfect—everything in its place.

Perhaps your goals are far different and focus more on writing goals. You want to write a book, finish your current manuscript, sign with an agent, or hopefully get published.

These are amazing goals. As a writing coach and mentor, I receive more clients in the first month of the year than throughout the rest of the year. Everyone is ready to take that next step, and I love joining them on their journey. I see my clients win major contests, four sign with agents, and three sign publishing contracts. It brings me the greatest joy to see them take off and fly.

So, why would God tell me to put my lists away (you know, that magical list of brain dumps and then turn them into TO Dos?)? There is so much I want to accomplish this year, but that’s the very point, He whispered.

And, then I got it. There’s so much I want to accomplish. Goals I want to pursue. Changes I want to make. Even if I prayed about these items, I was praying for what I wanted and what I thought was best.

If the last four months since our house flooded from Hurricane Helene, we lost 95% of our belongings, two cars and are still displaced from our home and getting ready to move into our third Airbnb, you’d think if I’d learned anything this year it is God’s great provision. He’s provided through sweet friends who set up GoCare Funds, with whom we wouldn’t have been able to pay for our temporary housing, and people are sending gifts off our Amazon wish list to help refurbish our home. It’s been like sitting in the front seat of a miracle. And I think that’s why God is telling me to stay still. To sit back and watch how He provides for us and the miracles He creates.

This is the year for my goals to take a back seat, watch, and listen to the Lord take the front seat.

Interestingly enough, the one thing I feel impressed on my heart is to still have a word of the year to focus on, and it’s the word God laid on my heart. I thought it would be the word ‘still,’ but God surprised me once again. The word of this year is peace. And I pray for peace for you and all the plans that lie ahead—all the brave goals, courageous moves, healthy changes, and words to dwell on for the rest of the year.

What is one thing that lies ahead for you this year? A dream, a healthy change, a word of the year?

Blessings,

Dani

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Praised by New York Times best-selling author Dee Henderson as "a name to look for in romantic suspense," Dani Pettrey has sold more than half a million copies of her novels to readers eagerly awaiting the next release. Dani combines the page-turning adrenaline of a thriller with the chemistry and happy-ever-after of a romance.

16 Comments

  1. Hi, Dani. My word for 2025 is “Simplify.” I’m still working through what that looks like practically, but I’m tired of always feeling overwhelmed and playing catch up, and I don’t even have a published book yet! I want to enjoy each day and find pockets of rest, not work into the evening and even on the weekends. I’m ready for a change!

    I hope you have an amazing year. And I pray you get back into your home soon! What a whirlwind you’ve been on!

    1. Oh. That’s a great word, Deena! I’m always feeling overwhelmed too.

      Thanks so much. Praying a year of simplicity and rest for you.

  2. I don’t usually ask the Lord for a word for the year, but last year I felt Him nudging me to reconnect with the writing community–I took steps toward that, but He did so much more than I imagined! This year, I’ve felt the nudge of writing–that is, giving it priority over some other good things. Like last year, I know if I move toward obedience in that, He will do with my small effort so much more than I can imagine. So I get the letting go of lists and letting God do what He will do! I pray for deep peace for you this year!

  3. I know there is a big change coming in my life in June. I don’t know how it will all play out but I believe God is in charge of it. I kept thinking of the Bible and the year of Jubilee (for what is to come) and then I took one of those quizzes to find out what your word of the year is, and “abide” was the word and then another author posted her word was “jubilee” so I’m going with both words for this year.

  4. My word of the year is Transformation.

    Last year’s word didn’t match the year we had, so I hope I picked the right one this year.

  5. Dani, you are such an inspiration. Truly, I pray that if I ever face a year like the one you’ve been through that I can do so with such grace and faith and selflessness. Keeping you in my prayers and grateful for your friendship.

  6. Such a good post. I don’t have a word for this year, but I do have a verse: Proverbs 31:25, especially the latter part: “she smiles at the future.” 2024 was a hard year for me as for many others, you included. I have a lot of fears for the future, but I want to be a woman who takes those fears to the Lord and trust Him with them, and as I do that, learn to smile at the future because He is sovereign and He is good, no matter what 2025 brings.

    1. A verse is a wonderful thing to focus on and pray over for the year. Love it. I’m so sorry you had a difficult year. Praying this one is much better and you feel God’s presence.

  7. Great post, Dani. Praying for you and that you’ll be back in your home soon.

    My word for 2025 is ABIDE.
    John 15:4 KJV…Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me.

  8. The last two years have been some of the very worst times in our lives in my family and with friends. There are so many times I have given up and thrown my hands in the air, gone outside on our acreage to scream (it helps), or just quit talking to the world and everyone around me. I have not been easy to live with, either (my poor precious husband). But God… has recently laid on my heart the word HOPE. It is a word you hear a lot, and I am a Hope*Writer member who wrote a collaborative book along with nine other women called “Hope for the Holidays.” So, yes, it is a word I am very familiar with. The thing that is changing slowly is that I am putting my HOPE in God. I thought it was there, but then I gave up on Him, often and angrily. So, I am starting to allow Him to pick me up from the floor to slowly begin my journey back to HOPE… this time in HIM, not in people, organizations, church, the government, or anyone or anything else. I know He’ll get me through the challenges of the past couple years.

  9. As “senior citizens” (I am 80 & husband 86) our years just seem to blend together. Since August 2023, our only child, 63 year old son, has been battling cancer. Started out colon and liver now basically liver. He is doing well thanks be to God. I am basically a caregiver for my husband so my world has become quite limited, especially since Covid. I have always loved to read and books are my way of escaping reality for awhile. I discovered Christian suspense and mystery fiction a few years ago and it is mainly the only thing I read now, with the exception of my Bible and Bible studies. You are one of my favorite authors along with a few more. I have read every one of your books except the latest, One Wrong Move, which I will start soon. Two Seconds too Late is already preordered. I guess I have prefaced your question with all of this to say I really don’t have a word for the year except maybe hope…hope for complete healing for our son. He is married and has step-children but none of his own. They are our only immediate family. Please know, sweet lady, your books bring great joy to me and help get through tough times. I can’t imagine what it is like to lose everything due to storms but am praying your life will be better than ever in your new home with new beginnings. I am still hoping you will consider San Angelo, Texas for your book tour. There are no big book stores any more but they have an awesome library. Have a beautiful and blessed New Year.

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