Every year I enjoy choosing a word, or focus, for the new year. This year, I found myself drawn to two different words, and, since last year I broke the mold and chose a phrase rather than just one word, I figured this year I would choose two words for this year’s focus: Intentional and Satisfied.
Intentional
After spending five weeks at Ellerslie this summer, the word “intentional” has been on repeat in my brain. I’ve become increasingly aware of the fact that any kind of growth I desire requires intentionality.
I don’t gain muscle and lose fat without being intentional about my diet and workout habits.
I don’t grow as a musician without making time to practice.
I don’t get to know a new friend without spending time with them.
And I don’t grow in my love of Christ without being intentional.
The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage, But everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty. Proverbs 21:5 (NASB95)
My desire for this year is to be intentional in specific areas: spiritual disciplines, relationships, physical disciplines, good stewardship, and rest.
Spiritual Disciplines
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17
The Word of God is what enables us to grow in Christ-likeness. It’s God speaking to us, and therefore it’s important to know, understand, and follow His Word. I desire to be intentional about time with the Lord through His Word, prayer, and worship.
Relationships
Recently I spent some time researching how things like social media impact our connectedness with other people. I’ve also been invited to give a talk at a women’s retreat talking about relationships and coming alongside those who are in different seasons of life than us. Between these two things, I’ve found myself convicted that I can definitely grow in my relational disciplines. I want to be intentional this year about nurturing the family and friend relationships in my life.
Physical Disciplines and Good Stewardship
Caring for my physical and mental health I believe are important parts of being good stewards of what God has given me. Intentionally making time for exercise, healthy eating, and caring for my mental health through activities like reading are all important. (Check out my latest podcast episode here to learn more about how reading impacts brain health!) I also want to be more faithful as a good steward of the things God has given me, such as keeping my spaces well maintained and cared for.
Rest
This is technically a spiritual discipline. From the beginning of creation, the Lord designed us to need rest (Gen. 2:1-3). We see this in the circadian rhythm our bodies follow, requiring us to sleep every night. We also see this in the gift of the Sabbath that the Lord created, and in the way He’s created us to enjoy play. While I’ve grown up in a sabbath-keeping home, I’ve realized that I often don’t rest well. I especially recognized this when I was at Ellerslie and struggled to slow down during our Sunday Selahs or sit quietly when practicing silence and solitude. By the end of my five weeks at Ellerslie, I found those times of rest very refreshing, but when I came home I found that I didn’t easily transfer those new disciplines into my everyday routine. I find myself wanting to either be as productive as possible or veg for far too long on a screen. True rest is something I want to be more intentional about: taking time for a selah, practicing silence and solitude, and doing activities that bring refreshment to my soul, like worshipping by song, and making time for play and enjoyment knowing that God created those gifts for us, too.
Satisfied
As I was praying about what word to focus on in 2026, the word “satisfied” kept showing up. The Lord has convicted me that I need to find my satisfaction in Him alone, regardless of whether my life looks or feels like I expect it to.
You open Your hand And satisfy the desire of every living thing. Psalm 145:16
Throughout the Scriptures we read about how God is the provider who satisfies our needs. After all, every good gift come from Him (James 1:17). But God does more than just provide for our physical needs.
O satisfy us in the morning with Your lovingkindness, That we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. Psalm 90:14
Let them give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness, And for His wonders to the sons of men! For He has satisfied the thirsty soul, And the hungry soul He has filled with what is good. Psalm 107:8-9
God satisfies us on the soul level, not because of anything we’ve done or because of material possessions. God satisfies us with His lovingkindness, His wonders, and His goodness.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Matthew 5:6
Jesus says “blessed are those who hunger,” those who long and desire deep in their gut for righteousness. When you’re truly hungry and thirsty, the thought of food or water becomes all-consuming, your stomach aches, your throat feels scratchy, and your desires and actions are focused on your next meal or drink of water. Jesus is saying blessed are those who have that kind of desire for righteousness, for the holiness of God.
“How does this hunger and thirst for righteousness express itself? A man longs to have a righteous nature. A man wants to be sanctified, to be made more holy. A man longs to continue in God’s righteousness. A man longs to see righteousness promoted in the world (Guzik).”1
The Greek word for satisfied is chortazō, which literally refers to fattening up an animal.2 Think of a Thanksgiving dinner where you eat to the point of being stuffed and you literally cannot eat anything else. This is the type of satisfaction Jesus is talking about in this passage – filled to overflowing.
The satisfaction of the soul that longs for righteousness, the filling up till you’re stuffed, comes from the presence of the Holy One, the One who is Righteousness. The presence of Jesus is a filling that never runs out and never loses its sweetness (John 4:14).
My desire for 2026 is to learn to be satisfied in Jesus. To rejoice in the good gifts that the Father has given me, but to recognize that it’s not the gifts that satisfy the deepest longings of my heart—it’s the Giver. He is my everything, my all-in-all, and I desire that that be even more realized in my life this year as He continues to sanctify me day by day.
So, those are my words for 2026: intentional and satisfied. That this year would be lived intentionally to the glory of the God who satisfies my longing heart with His goodness and lovingkindness. Whatever your focus for 2026, I pray that you will also live it for the glory of the God who loves you with His everlasting love.
With love,
Kelsey
- Guzik, David. “Study Guide for Matthew 5.” Blue Letter Bible. 6/2022. Web. 22 Dec, 2025. <https://www.blueletterbible.org/comm/guzik_david/study-guide/matthew/matthew-5.cfm>. ↩︎
- G5526 – chortazō – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (NASB95).” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 22 Dec, 2025. <https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g5526/nasb95/mgnt/0-1/>. ↩︎
