As the New Year approaches it offers us a great opportunity to readjust, refocus and reconsider our priorities and goals. I encourage you to take some alone time to mediate and pray about how you want to approach 2019. Here are some points to ponder as you prepare for the coming year.

Word for the Year – Choose one word to focus on throughout the year. It will help you stay grounded and observant as you consider all that God wants to teach you in relation to that word.

This year my word is Truth. I want to seek the truth, speak the truth, live the truth. I also ask the Lord to lead me to a verse that goes with my word for the year. My verse comes from Jesus’ words, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 This year I plan to dwell on both the word and the verse and consider all it means in my life and my community.

Three Priorities – Consider three priorities for the coming year. Write them down and every month revisit these three priorities and consider how they are playing out in your life.

My three priorities for 2019 are:

Family,  Engage Positive Parenting Initiative and Writing

What are your three? Share them with several other people, so that they can ask you about them and keep you accountable.

Seven Questions to ask yourself – As you transition from one year to the next, it is healthy to take an honest look at yourself and consider what needs to change in order to move forward. Here are seven questions to contemplate:

1. What are the important lessons I learned from last year?
2. What areas or habits do I need to change from last year?
3. What new habits do I want to start this year?
4. What are some of my dreams for 2019? What is it that I want to accomplish?
5. What positive changes will I need to make in order to reach my goals?
6. Who are some people I want to invest in or mentor this year?
7. Who are some people I want to get to know better this year?

My dad often shared this simple phrase, “Everyday in every way you’re getting better and better.” Yes, we should all be bent on improvement! Let’s move forward, not backward, as we start the new year. I hope it is a great 2019 for you as you focus on the potential of what God can do through you to be a positive influence in this world.

Photo by Alessio Lin on Unsplash