DEAR TWENTY-SEVENTEEN

Dear twenty-seventeen,

I don’t know if I really believe in New Year’s resolutions, but I do know that I want this year to be different from the last and I want "this me" to be different from my past. Here's my pledge, my hope, my prayer at the dawn of this new day.

I want to be content with my real life, not caught up in curating the perfect Instagram.
I want to be authentic, not hidden by a filter.
I want deeper friendships, not more acquaintances.
More heartfelt conversations and less curated coffee catch ups.
More raw communication and less shallow observations.

I want to wake up in the morning and grab my bible, not my phone.
I want to practice what I preach and care more about following Him, than who's following me.
I want my public life to be a reflection of my private one.
I want the hidden places to hold more value than the platform does.
I want to be more secure with less to prove.
More loved and less consumed.

I want to be in the moment, not always trying to capture it.
I want to be more present and less distracted.
More available and less vacant.
More engaged and less absent.

I want to give my best to those closest to me,
and be patient and kind with my own family.
I want to work hard, but from a place of grace not stress.
I want to choose passion over mediocrity.
Productivity over procrastination.
Gratefulness over entitlement.

I want to choose community over individuality.
Team work over a one man show.
I want to leave a trail of strong friendships in my wake, not offence and isolation.
I want to value people, over things.
Relationships over accolades.
Jesus above everything.

I want to know Jesus, not just serve Him.
I want to do more in His strength and less in mine.
I want to stop controlling and start trusting.
Stop striving and start resting.
Stop dreading and start believing.

I want to become more aware of His presence.
More in tune with His voice.
More surrendered to His will.

In a world constantly striving to be somebody.
I want to rest in knowing I am somebody.
Not because I am great, but because I am greatly loved.
He sees me, knows me and has a plan for life.

Same goes for you.

Happy New Year everyone.