2018 Here We Go!
We never thought we'd make it here... well, at least I didn't.
Another year under our belts (that are fitting a bit more snug these days). Another year to look back on, memories, triumphs, heartbreaks, struggles, and life. Because as they say, life goes on.
Reflecting on my 2017, my word was Restore. God told me that after a little while of suffering, He would restore me. My thinking was, He would give me back all that was lost, but that's not QUITE what He did. He brought me to a place where I could start over. Sometimes God has to bring us down to ground level so we can rebuild stronger than ever before. Of course the destruction that goes along with that is practically unbearable at times, but here we are to tell the tale. God has brought me through things I could never have survived on my own. 2017 was a good year. It was the first year in a while that I wasn't ready to say good riddance and kick the dust off my heels. I have learned so much in 2017, about myself, and about the God who made me, called me, and sustains me to this day. I truly believe that we can never know ourselves until we know the One who created us.
So, jumping right in to 2018, I have a stronger sense of who I am. I have begun to create boundaries for myself and for my time specifically. God has brought the word Simplify into my quiet times in the past month, and I know that will be my theme for 2018. It sounds wonderful, yet I head into it with excitement mixed with fear. If you know me, you know I am a planner. I have plans for everything, but when you lay things down and give them into God's hands, my plans are out the window. I fear what I may have to give up in 2018. I fear what trials God will bring in my life, because through those trials is the best way He gets to me, so that I can really learn what I need to grow and achieve more. I fear change, I fear the unknown, I fear loss. But the Bible says perfect love casts out fear. Fear, in my life, is sin. Fear is hanging on to what I think is best and not allowing God to truly be the King. So, as I take these baby steps into letting go in 2018, I believe I will find how freeing it will be. To fully depend on God for provision in every aspect of life. I fool myself in thinking I'm already doing that, I'm not. (Control issues, haha). but with prayer and study and encouragement and accountability, I will let go. I will not give excuses. I will not put others before my God. What He says goes, and right now He is telling me to simplify.
What does that look like in practical terms? Simplify my stuff. I am going through each room in my house and getting rid of all the STUFF. Pinterest has been a great encourager for me. Quotes and scripture about living with what you need and things that bring you joy and peace. Not to mention this is the perfect season of HYGGE. If you don't know what that is, get on Pinterest, type it in the search bar, and be ready to fall in love with the idea. Simplify also means choosing better things to spend our money on. Less eating out, less buying stuff, more family time. Trips, activities, memories. Those are the things that last. More dinners around the kitchen table, talking with no screens to grab our attention. More jokes and riddles, more stores and discussions. More face time (not FaceTime). Simplify means saying no. Which is beyond hard for me. I want to help out with everything I can get my hands on. I love being needed. I love that I am a hard worker and when I say something will get done, I'm getting it done. I believe strongly in completing responsibilities that you sign up for. Which is why I must learn to say no. Even though an opportunity may be a good thing, its not always the best thing for me. I am not supposed to do everything. I am not needed to do everything There are plenty of people that are beyond capable, even more than I would be, to complete the tasks. So before I write anything on my calendar or my schedule in 2018, I will ask God if its a yes or a no. I don't want to waste my time doing things I'm not called to. I want to dive in the things God has for me this year. I don't want to take the blessing away from someone who God has called to do the very things I am doing half heartedly. So I am learning to say no. However, Simplify in 2018 also means saying yes. Saying yes to things I would never say yes to before. I have seen hints of what some of those things might be, and its intimidating. But saying yes, especially in obedience to God, means success. God cannot fail. If I am saying yes to His jobs and plans, I will succeed. And I also know I will be truly blessed in the process.
So in 2018, I am going to Simplify. God has been preparing my heart all 2017 for 2018, and He has done the same for you. What are you being called to this year? What is your theme? You may not know yet, and that's ok. Spend some time with Him and let Him tell you. Even if you don't start on January 1, 2018, God still has a plan for you this year, and I promise, HE Promises, its perfect and amazing.
Another year under our belts (that are fitting a bit more snug these days). Another year to look back on, memories, triumphs, heartbreaks, struggles, and life. Because as they say, life goes on.
Reflecting on my 2017, my word was Restore. God told me that after a little while of suffering, He would restore me. My thinking was, He would give me back all that was lost, but that's not QUITE what He did. He brought me to a place where I could start over. Sometimes God has to bring us down to ground level so we can rebuild stronger than ever before. Of course the destruction that goes along with that is practically unbearable at times, but here we are to tell the tale. God has brought me through things I could never have survived on my own. 2017 was a good year. It was the first year in a while that I wasn't ready to say good riddance and kick the dust off my heels. I have learned so much in 2017, about myself, and about the God who made me, called me, and sustains me to this day. I truly believe that we can never know ourselves until we know the One who created us.
So, jumping right in to 2018, I have a stronger sense of who I am. I have begun to create boundaries for myself and for my time specifically. God has brought the word Simplify into my quiet times in the past month, and I know that will be my theme for 2018. It sounds wonderful, yet I head into it with excitement mixed with fear. If you know me, you know I am a planner. I have plans for everything, but when you lay things down and give them into God's hands, my plans are out the window. I fear what I may have to give up in 2018. I fear what trials God will bring in my life, because through those trials is the best way He gets to me, so that I can really learn what I need to grow and achieve more. I fear change, I fear the unknown, I fear loss. But the Bible says perfect love casts out fear. Fear, in my life, is sin. Fear is hanging on to what I think is best and not allowing God to truly be the King. So, as I take these baby steps into letting go in 2018, I believe I will find how freeing it will be. To fully depend on God for provision in every aspect of life. I fool myself in thinking I'm already doing that, I'm not. (Control issues, haha). but with prayer and study and encouragement and accountability, I will let go. I will not give excuses. I will not put others before my God. What He says goes, and right now He is telling me to simplify.
What does that look like in practical terms? Simplify my stuff. I am going through each room in my house and getting rid of all the STUFF. Pinterest has been a great encourager for me. Quotes and scripture about living with what you need and things that bring you joy and peace. Not to mention this is the perfect season of HYGGE. If you don't know what that is, get on Pinterest, type it in the search bar, and be ready to fall in love with the idea. Simplify also means choosing better things to spend our money on. Less eating out, less buying stuff, more family time. Trips, activities, memories. Those are the things that last. More dinners around the kitchen table, talking with no screens to grab our attention. More jokes and riddles, more stores and discussions. More face time (not FaceTime). Simplify means saying no. Which is beyond hard for me. I want to help out with everything I can get my hands on. I love being needed. I love that I am a hard worker and when I say something will get done, I'm getting it done. I believe strongly in completing responsibilities that you sign up for. Which is why I must learn to say no. Even though an opportunity may be a good thing, its not always the best thing for me. I am not supposed to do everything. I am not needed to do everything There are plenty of people that are beyond capable, even more than I would be, to complete the tasks. So before I write anything on my calendar or my schedule in 2018, I will ask God if its a yes or a no. I don't want to waste my time doing things I'm not called to. I want to dive in the things God has for me this year. I don't want to take the blessing away from someone who God has called to do the very things I am doing half heartedly. So I am learning to say no. However, Simplify in 2018 also means saying yes. Saying yes to things I would never say yes to before. I have seen hints of what some of those things might be, and its intimidating. But saying yes, especially in obedience to God, means success. God cannot fail. If I am saying yes to His jobs and plans, I will succeed. And I also know I will be truly blessed in the process.
So in 2018, I am going to Simplify. God has been preparing my heart all 2017 for 2018, and He has done the same for you. What are you being called to this year? What is your theme? You may not know yet, and that's ok. Spend some time with Him and let Him tell you. Even if you don't start on January 1, 2018, God still has a plan for you this year, and I promise, HE Promises, its perfect and amazing.
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