It's been a while since I jump-started my new year with goal setting and deep reflection for the upcoming year. I suppose I feel all these dreams, hopes, and desires welling up within me. So what better way to get them out than to write them out!

Personally, I'd rather not share most of them as some are quite personal. However, I did want to share my word/theme for the year. I was praying about it this morning, thinking through many possible words. And then as I was on the treadmill a worship song I heard last week popped into my mind and I knew immediately what my word for 2016 would be: DEEPER.

Maybe you've heard the song "Closer" by Bethel Music. The chorus goes like this:

“Pull me a little closer
Take me a little deeper
I want to know Your heart
I want to know Your heart
`Cause Your love is so much sweeter
Than anything I’ve tasted
I want to know Your heart
I want to know Your heart”

When I was singing my heart out along with this song last week in church it was the word "deeper" that stood out to me. That's what I really want most in life; to go deeper with God. But as I was thinking through the goals I had just written out in my journal I realized I wanted to go deeper in so many other ways as well.

Deeper in my study and understanding of Scripture.
Deeper in intimacy with my husband.
Deeper in new friendships.
Deeper in resources that touch people's lives in very practical ways.

So deeper it is this year! My prayer is that I would be able to reflect back on 2016 and see those deeper relationships, understanding, and ministry. I'm actually pretty excited right now and my heart is full of expectancy of what God is going to do!

2015 was a pretty great year for me; in fact, it was the best to date. I got married, moved to Colorado, started working for my dream ministry, made new friends, took new adventures, stepped into new ministry opportunities, and watched God do incredible things in and through me! But for as good as 2015 was I am believing the best is yet to come in 2016, and it's exciting.

Maybe 2015 was hard for you? 2012, 2013, and 2014 were all pretty hard years for me so I know what it's like to come to the end of the year and be thankful it's over. Hoping that the next one will be far better. If that's you, carry the same spirit of expectancy I do that God wants to show up in your life! I've always loved Isaiah 43:18-19,

“Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it? There it is! I’m making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands.”

Whether 2015 was good or bad, God has something new in store for each of us this year. I strongly encourage you to take your own time today or tomorrow and write out goals for 2016. I even suggest coming up with a theme for the year; a word that summarises your desire for the coming year. Then pray over those goals and that word daily, believing God to show up and be glorified in your life in big ways.

Praying 2016 is a great year for you!

New Year, New Goals