New Years is one of my favorite times to pause and reflect on what the Lord is doing in my life. Over the past few years, I’ve learned that remembering is a really important theme in the Bible. Right now, we are studying Exodus, and it’s truly amazing how quickly the Israelites forget what God had done for them. But if we are honest, we lose sight of God’s blessings pretty quickly too! New Years is a built-in reminder to give thanks and ask God what he has for me in this next year of life. 

For me, this time looks like spending time in prayer, reflecting on themes I felt God put on my heart over the past year, and journaling to both write what God has done as well as brainstorm what I feel he is leading me toward in the upcoming months. Really over the entire month of December, my heart is focused on thanksgiving and anticipation. Our family observes advent by reading a daily devotional and praying together for the four weeks leading up to Christmas. This helps to center my mind on the work of the Lord and prepares me to hear God’s voice for my life.  

During this season, I seek God for a word for my life, a verse that I can lean on for the next year, and practical goals I feel led to work towards. These simple ideas given to me by the Holy Spirit help ground me and keep me focused over the many ups and downs we experience over the course of a year. I love going back the following December and seeing how God used those words, verses, and goals to grow me. This past year my verse was Nehemiah 8:10, “the joy of the Lord is my strength.” God has given us so much joy this past year as we’ve found out that our foster son will be our forever son. While the waiting has been challenging, God’s joy has been present in every step of the journey! God is so faithful.  

Here are some ideas for goals you may want to consider for this new year: