Hello and long time no see! I can’t believe it’s been EIGHT months since I last posted on this beloved space of mine. I wish I had a good excuse for my absence, but honestly, life has just been packed full and my time and attention has been diverted on other things. Since “for everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1), I’m giving myself grace and letting myself start fresh here in the new year.
Speaking of the new year, that’s exactly why I’m hopping on here today. 2019 has arrived and with it, a new “word of the year” AND refreshed goals to guide the next 12 months! So, with that, I’m here to share what God’s put on my heart for the days, weeks, and months ahead!
This year I sense God calling me to a new place and I feel Him doing a new thing in and around me. I started feeling it toward the end of 2018 and since day one of this year, the evidence of God pruning things and making a new path through various areas of my life has been evident. And so, for this reason, my “one little word” for 2019 is RENEWAL.
By definition, “renewal” means the following:
- to make like new; restore to freshness, vigor, or perfection.
- to make new spiritually; to regenerate.
- to revive.
- to rebuild.
- to do again.
- to believe again.
- to replenish.
In spiritual terms, “renewal” refers to God touching the heart of a single person. This differs from “revival” (God’s touch on a community of faith) and “awakening” (God’s touch on the wider society). The more I processed and prayed about the coming year, the more I realized this is exactly what I want – God to personally touch my heart in a way that changes me forever and leads me into the deeper, abundant, and mission-filled life He has for me. After years of seeing God come through in mighty ways and bringing my dreams to life, I’m choosing this year to let go and let God have this year – to renew my heart, my mind, my spirit, my body, my passions, and devotions – and fully surrender to His plans and purposes for my life.
So, what does renewal look like for me this year? Here are the goals I’ve chosen to focus on in the time to come:
- To grow and increase my faith.
- To have a refreshed, loving, and healthy marriage.
- To cultivate health and wellness on all levels (emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual).
- To grow in my relationships with others.
- To achieve financial peace.
- To use my gifts and develop more in my current career, but also seek God for where He wants me to be professionally in the future.
- To have our home be a place of beauty, light, refreshment, and sanctuary.
- To continue on the path of creativity and use these interests to tell my story and glorify God.
- To plan adventures and travel, near and far.
- To participate in personal and professional development (read books, take classes, attend conferences and events) throughout the year.
Within each of those goals are specific things I have in mind to do (some I have already put into practice) and plan to share more about in coming posts. I’d like to make a point this year of documenting the things that are working well for me and helping me achieve my goals. These things might resonate and speak to you too, and they’ll serve as a good reminder for me when life gets crazy and busy (because it has a way of doing that) and I need to get myself back on track.
I don’t know where life finds you almost one month into 2019. I don’t know if you’re a visionary, goal-setter, and planner like me. Whether you are or not, I hope the start of this new year finds you excited about the possibilities that exist in the time ahead and that you feel a sense of renewed energy and inspiration to go after what matters most to you this year. I hope and pray that God meets you right in the thick of it and that you, too, let Him take you on an amazing journey in the days, weeks, and months to come.
I look forward to posting more on here this year – I’ve even been considering some “rebranding” as I pray about the future and hear Him speaking to me about the place He has for me in the future. But, first things first – getting back to regular writing and sharing my heart, mind, and things I’m learning in this space! If you’re new here – welcome! And if you’ve been following along with me for awhile and still are (after some time away) – THANK YOU!
Blessings, friends! And Happy New Year!