2024

Today is the day, it’s the first day of a brand new year.

I woke up this morning all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, ready to start this year off right. Before going in to get Dove I did a Bible study, shot off a few texts to some Christian women who inspire me, and looked up at the sky, marveling that I am allowed the honor of spending another year here on earth loving on my family.

The lists have already begun today, my infinite to-dos quickly piling up. What household chores do I want to tackle today? What activities do I need to plan for Dove and I this week? What appointments do I need to add into the family calendar so that we can schedule our week properly?

And then there are the more daunting lists… What are my goals for 2024? What Bible Studies do I want to commit to? What will my healthy living plan encompass? What things do I wish for God to enable me to accomplish during 2024?

I’ll admit, I’m a list-maker. I’m a planner at heart and nothing thrills me more than when I get to use a brightly colored highlighter and cross a task list item off as completed.

Facebook is already filled with peoples recaps of 2023 and their prophetic words for 2024. And while don’t get me wrong, I love the whole word thing. I also already find myself, even this morning, putting a lot of internal pressure on what my expectations are for this year. And on what my all-encompassing word for the year ought to be.

And I like to do things big,  so I’ll admit I might have some pretty grandiose expectations: publish another book(or two), get my health under control, add another bundle of joy to our family… the list goes on and on.

But as I sit here, in my white sweatshirt that, yes, already has a fresh coffee stain on it… I am taken aback by my lack of perspective here.

This is not about me. My goals don’t really matter unless they are in alignment with God’s. What does God want from me this year? How can I best be obedient to the Lord with my thoughts, actions, and words?

This past year has taught me that you don’t have to be doing something great for God to be completing a great work in you and through you.

2023 was filled with many ups, but also many downs. It was the year my baby turned one, and all the joy that has come along with my girl transitioning from an infant to a rambunctious toddler. It was the year that I published my first book Become and began public speaking at women’s events and conferences. Yet it was also a year with unexpected hardships, whether that was from an accident, medical mysteries,  or the costly expenses of not one but five (yes FIVE) different MRIs. The year brought on the loss of loved ones, and the grief that came with that. As well as the loss of some unhealthy relationships, and the ripple effect ramifications of implementing healthy boundaries.

I learned a lot in 2023, I was broken down multiple times and built back up again. But the most important lesson that I believe God wants me to carry into 2024 is that it’s not about me.

My successes or my failures don’t really matter to God. What matters most to Him is where my heart place is. Am I staying in constant communication with Him through prayer, worship, and continual learning of His word?

Am I allowing the sorrows of the world and the earthly suffering that I am momentarily experiencing to bring me down, or am I finding joy even in the valley moments?

I don’t think I have a specific word for this year, but instead a mindset. God wants me to be a Humble Servant this 2024.

I want to serve my family faithfully by being a more empathetic wife and present mother. I want to serve my friendships more dutifully by taking the time to invest in their lives and prayerfully walk through any struggle they may encounter. I want to serve my local community, and find more ways to get involved. Because while I may be tithing, I am not putting my boots on the ground as much as I would like to. And it’s so easy to make excuses like, “I have a little one at home so I can’t.” But the reality is that I can and I will do more this year in regards to active service. I want to serve my church in deeper ways. And I want to serve my inner-child more this year by being kind to her and learning more ways that she can continue to heal and grow from the pains of childhood.

2024 is going to be a good year. Not because I’ll win the lottery or become a New York Times bestselling author (although I will admit both would be pretty cool) but because I vow to dedicate this year to my loving Heavenly Father.

Jake and I celebrated the new year by going on a sushi date to our favorite spot and bringing along some sheets of paper. On one of the sheets we listed out everything that we were thankful for that happened in 2023, and then we gratefully prayed to God over those items.

Then we made a list of all the different ways we could be generous in the upcoming year, and then we prayed over those items, asking God to show us where He most wanted us to spend our time, energy, and resources.

This simple activity really helped us to go into this new year from a perspective of gratitude. It helped to shift our heart-place from thinking of self to thinking of others. I highly recommend maybe you take some time today and make a similar list.

I pray this 2024 is a year filled with spiritual growth. I pray that your spirit is strengthened and your heart stays in constant communication with the Lord. God wants to do a wondrous work through you.