Fixing Our Eyes on God: Starting the New Year with Purpose as a Mom

Life as a mom is a beautiful, chaotic, and deeply rewarding adventure. If I'm being honest though, it's also incredibly tough. Over the past year, you've likely celebrated sweet victories - whether it was watching your little one take their first steps, cheering your kid on as they played for a championship, or even witnessing your older child grow in faith and maturity. Yet, the endless to-do lists, late nights, and the moments of sheer overwhelm have been just as real.

Perhaps, as you sit down at the end of the year, you're reflecting on countless blessings. Or maybe your year has been marked by struggle - long days of what feels like unanswered prayers, unrelenting exhaustion, or battles you couldn't have imagined going through. You may have even found yourself feeling far from God and lacking hope, due to struggles, temptations, or sin that you've let enter into your own heart and life. Wherever you find yourself today, stepping into the new year is an opportunity to reset, not by finding the right resolutions and "words of the year" (not that those are unencouraged), but by intentionally fixing your eyes on the Lord.

This is an invitation to think differently about new year resolutions, and to reflect on what it looks like to be a mother with a Kingdom mindset, and to trust the Lord as we take on the joys and challenges ahead.

Setting Goals with God at the Center

A new year can put a lot of pressure on a person. You may know you need to make changes, but the start of a new year can also bring unrealistic expectations of overnight change. You may be looking at new year goals according to what you feel you were "failing" at. You may have given up completely on trying to make new year resolutions. Or you may have a long list of things you are genuinely excited to put into practice. But what if, instead of chasing the world's idea of productivity and improvement, we created meaningful goals that align with God's plans for our lives over our own. The new year invites us into fresh opportunities to surrender our worries and our strongholds, and exchange our worldly goals and desires for Kingdom-centered ones.

Start with Prayer

Invite God into your planning process. James 1:5-6 reminds us, "Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind." We certainly need wisdom, and God offers it freely. All we have to do is ask for it. God is so gracious that way, friend. I need wisdom, don't you? I can sure make a mess of things whenever I do what I want, without asking God for direction. Make sure not to miss what it says next, to "ask in faith, without doubting". I don't want to be driven and tossed by the wind, and I don't think you do either. Sometimes though, we can get that way throughout the year. We begin falling into the motions or even messes of life, and we don't stop to ask for wisdom; and if we did, it would shift how we live and the direction we are moving in. Ask God for wisdom in how to approach this year. Ask Him to reveal His priorities for your family, your children, and your own growth.

Become Kingdom-Focused

It's not useful to tell someone to "be" something, because that lends to an immediate result. I'm encouraging us to "become" something, to have a transformation of sorts. The first step in that process is recognizing what we were put on this earth for, our purpose - to know God and to make Him known. That can be easily forgotten when life is busy, and we are just trying to keep up with everything. If we can take a moment and be still in this thought, we can really soak in how much God loves us, and how He desires a close relationship with us. Reflect on where you are in your relationship with the Lord, and consider what you can to do to grow spiritually. You cannot lead someone somewhere you aren't going yourself.

Once you consider your own spiritual growth, then consider ways you can intentionally steward your home for God's Kingdom. In what ways can you invite God into your daily lives? Could you memorize verses together? Can you take a few minutes and pray together on the way to school or before bed? Maybe you could read through chapters of the Bible together? God's Word will not return void, and the time and effort put in to spending time with your kids and pointing them to the Lord will never be something you look back and regret.

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Remember, as Christians, our ultimate goal is not just personal success or happiness, but rather living in alignment with God's will and purpose for our lives. As we seek wisdom from God in prayer and intentionally stewarding our lives for His glory, we will make a greater impact in our home and in other areas of our lives .

Walk Into the New Year with Hope

Being a mom is a great calling, but one that is greatly challenging. Going into a new year as a mom brings fresh opportunities, but it can also stir feelings of doubt and overwhelm. You might be struggling with the same questions of, "How can I juggle it all better? or "Am I doing enough for my kids?" Or you may feel like you've waited too long or messed up too much to point your kids to Jesus.

If you're carrying those worries into the next year, lay them down at the feet of Jesus. He sees you. He knows exactly what your heart feels and what your family needs. And while we can plan and prepare, remember that it's not all on your shoulders. He is ready and willing to lead and guide you.

A new year may give you hope for a change you have been needing; but God's mercies are new every morning, and that's way better than waiting for a new year to find hope and begin change!

 You crown the year with goodness; your ways overflow with plenty. Psalm 65:11

Lord,

I come before you asking you to forgive my sins. I thank you that you are a merciful God, and that you give new seasons of life and daily opportunities to change and grow. I pray, Lord, that you will give me wisdom and discernment for this new year. Help me to prioritize what is truly important - knowing You and making You known. Show me areas in my life where I need to change or grow, and give me the strength and discipline to do so. Lord may I be an intentional steward of my home; using my time, resources, and relationships for Your kingdom. Open doors for me to share Your love and message with those around. I trust in Your plan for my life, and for my family's life. Let this year be one of spiritual growth and Kingdom impact.

In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.