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Anticipating 2014

Tomorrow starts a new year. Tomorrow will mark the first day of 2014, another year in the history of humanity. Now, I am not one to make new year resolutions, primarily because I am not good at keeping them, however, I think there is value in looking at the new year with anticipation and this is what I want to share in this post.

Yesterday I mentioned that this mama needs a lot of discipline, and this is understating it. I have for the longest time struggled with being a disciplined person and sticking to routines. This is not always helpful when it comes to homeschooling and even spiritual growth and that's on top of the fact that it also drives my wonderful hubby crazy, as the very disciplined man that he is.

One thing he has tried to teach me is that routine frees you and allows you to accomplish more. I understands what he says but somehow struggle with the application.

As the boys grow and get higher in grades I realize that I really need to be on the ball. I can't afford to be lazy and undisciplined. It does not help anybody. So, as we enter the new year, the one thing I would like to focus on is being more disciplined.

Unfortunately, desiring something is just the first step in a long process of true change. Just yesterday I read an article that pointed me in the right direction towards what my next steps need to be. It can be summarized in a few words : "seizing every moments as an opportunity to do the right thing". I will fail, but God promises His grace as we seek to follow and obey Him. So I will look to Him and I will seek to look at every moments of my life as being an opportunity, provided by Him, to do what I ought to do and to seek and experience His grace .

So in light of this, here are a few of the things I am hoping and anticipating for this year:
  • More awareness of my failings, especially attitudes and habits
  • More repentance
  • More actual efforts to wake up early to be ready to seize life's precious moments
  • More routine
  • More reading
  • More learning and growth, both in me and my children
  • Deeper relationships both within my blood family and my church family
Only God knows what this year will bring, but one thing I know is that the Lord is my Shepherd. Therefore, I shall anticipate what will come as coming from His hand and my responsibility to trust and depend on Him. And this, I will do, as I understand that everything that happens in my life and all the responsibilities He gives me, are His means by which He is changing and shaping me - all for His Glory!
"Yes, you and I need to be committed to change in 2014, but not in a way that hopes for a big event of transformation, but in a way that finds joy in and is faithful to a day-by-day, step-by-step process of insight, confession, repentance and faith." Paul Tripp
Interested in hearing about how some of my bloggy mom friends are looking forward to 2014, read on . . .

2014 - Love, Joy, Peace, Grace, and to Know Him Better by April E. @ ElCloud Homeschool: Busy Minds, Busy Hands, Busy Feet

2014: The Adventure Continues by Leah @ As We Walk Along the Road

2014 Prayers, Hopes, and Goals by Clara @ A Slice Of Homeschool Pie

Priorities and Goal Setting for 2014 by Kristen @ Sunrise to Sunset

A Peek into My Plans for 2014 by Jennifer @ Conversaving

A Year to Sparkle! by Susan @ Homeschooling Hearts & Minds

Saying Hello to 2014 by Tess @ Circling Through This Life

2014 Already? How can that be? by Debra @ Footprints in the Butter

Goals For 2014 Homesteading & Homeschooling by Kim @Homestead Acres

Facing 2014 With Anticipation And Caution by Audra Silva @ Simply Audra Marie

Embracing Real Moments in 2014 by Cristi @ Through the Calm and Through the Storm

2014 Goals and Why We Should All Set Them by April B. @ Coffee, Cobwebs, and Curriculum

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Susan said…
I'm not so disciplined myself---you are right, there is freedom in discipline, in not needing to rush around because you've left something to the last minute, in not feeling at a loose end because you don't know what you need to do next, and so on. And as my children get older, I've come to realize that my lack of discipline is not a good example to them---it does me no good to rebuke them for their lack of discipline when I'm not modeling it for them.

Thank you for your thoughtful reflections. I pray that you have a successful New Year!
January 4, 2014 at 12:43 PM
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