Happy New Year! It is 2019 my friend, are you ready for your best year EVER?! If you’re reading this article, it’s possible that you’re reading one of the very first posts on my brand new website, Live Wise Love Well! Do you know how I spent New Year’s Eve? From the time I woke up until now as I get ready for bed at 2 am I’ve been working on this website. God put this dream in my heart long ago, before it even had taken shape in my mind… before I ever had an idea of what the culmination of my passions, talents, and schooling would turn into. I feel like he’s been leading me here all along. Whether 10 or 10,000 people read this website, I can rest knowing that I’m being obedient to the call God has on my life in this season.

You see, 2018 was a year with many changes. I stepped away from my in-home daycare, letting go of a full-time income to pursue a home based business and this website. We went from two incomes, down to one. I lost my Dad to cancer. That was a heavy, painful blow. In fact, it’s been hitting me harder lately than when it first happened. Grief is the worst, and it’s unpredictable. This past Sunday during praise and worship at our church I felt like God whispered into my Spirit that 2018 was a year of loss and 2019 will be a year of gain. I recieve that with joy and anticipation.

At midnight, Luke came in from the barn where he was working on his latest project and met me at the table where I’m working on mine and we had our New Years kiss. No alcohol, no confetti, no pomp and circumstance. Just a couple of dreamers with a can of red bull and Bethel music playing in the background.

I have to share one of my favorite things to do at the beginning of the new year. A couple years ago a leader from church shared this practice of choosing one word to focus on for the new year. She encouraged us to spend some time in prayer and discover what God wanted us to focus on for the upcoming year.

I used to always make resolutions! I’m going to lose weight. I’m going to drink less alcohol. I’m going to read the whole Bible in a year, even Leviticus! I’m going to exercise! I’m going to be more patient with my kids. It should come as no surprise that while we have the best of intentions of keeping our resolutions, they often times get pushed to the side and by the end of the year we don’t even remember what they were.

I liked the idea of choosing one word and spending time with the Lord. He is such a loving father that he doesn’t expect us to work on everything all at once! I’m a work in progress, and he knows it. Thank you Jesus for your grace.

Here were my words for the past couple years:

2016: Simplify

2017: Present

2018: Perspective

Last year was the first year that I really took my word seriously. Having perspective leads to thankfulness. Having perspective helps me to be patient with my kids. Having perspective keeps my eyes on God and off my situation. I didn’t get it right every day of the year, but I was conscious of it and it made a difference in my life. Having perspective allowed me to set down my daycare income in order to pursue the passion God placed on my heart.

As I prayed about what my word for 2019 would be it took only a millisecond before it flashed immediately in my mind.

Discipline.

Ouch. That doesn’t sound like a fun word to focus on does it?! Yet my heart rejoiced because I knew what God was telling me. I know the season that God has me in and it is for my benefit. Luke and I are dreaming larger than we have ever dreamed before. God is giving us creative ideas and open doors in different areas. We don’t know how everything is going to pan out yet, and we’re not fully sure where God wants us to focus our energy but we are EXCITED! We are expectant to see God move in our lives. We’re fully dependent on his direction because we can’t see the finish line from this starting point. He has to lead, we have to follow.

I felt like the Lord was putting the word discipline on my heart to focus on for 2019. I shared this with Luke and the next day he said that really resonated with him on his drive to work. It makes sense that the Lord would be speaking to us in the same area this year. We’re stepping forward in several areas together, and it’s going to take discipline to step into everything God has for us.

– Luke & Erika

When God puts big dreams in your heart, if you want to step into everything he has for you it’s going to take sacrifice. Discipline is different from punishment. It’s actually a positive thing. The purpose of discipline is to train for correction and maturity. It provides a tangible outcome for refusing to give up what feels good right now for what we want in the long run.

OK, God! I hear you loud and clear on that one! Here are a few areas that we will need to practice discipline in the coming year:

Discipline in getting into the Word daily.

Discipline in going to bed early so we can wake up early and be productive.

Discipline in eating whole and healthy foods to fuel our bodies.

Discipline in working out to care for the temple God has given us.

Discipline in spending quality time with our children, making them a priority even with a busy schedule.

Discipline in not spending money on frivolous things in order to save for new businesses and investment opportunities.

Discipline in not drinking alcohol.

Discipline in praying more, all day without ceasing in the Spirit and in words.

Discipline in folding laundry and doing dishes… seriously, this makes the list!

I’m not surprised that this is both of our words for the year. In fact, I’m more excited about this word than I have been in years past. I’m ready to grow, I’m ready to step into these crazy God-sized dreams with my husband. Look out 2019! We’re unstoppable now!

God bless you and Happy New Year!

Join the Conversation

Have you chosen a word for 2019? I’d love to hear it! Comment below or on Facebook!

If you are new to this idea of choosing a word to focus on, I challenge you to spend some time in prayer and discover the word that God has for you!

The post Happy New Year! Choose a Theme Word for 2019 appeared first on Live Wise Love Well.