It’s 2020! Can you even believe it? I love the start of a new year. Everyone has fresh hope and vision. There’s nothing magical about 12 am on New Year’s Eve, but there is something important about how you end one season and enter into another.

2019 was a good, hard, character-building year for me. I talked about it last week in this post if you want to know more. I am thankful for the lessons I learned last year and excited about all that God has planned for 2020.

The number 20 in the Bible represents “a complete or perfect waiting period.” That means that things that we have been waiting for will come to pass this year. Amen?! And it’s not just one 20, but two (2020)… That means it’s doubly complete or, a double portion. Waiting is no one’s favorite activity, but good things come to those who wait. I’m praying that promises you’ve been standing on for years will break through for you in 2020.

Most people make resolutions or goals for the year. Rather than adding more stuff to my plate, I decided to make a few “un-goals.” You’ll see what I mean in a minute. Here they are:

• I want to schedule FEWER appointments this year. We took on too much this past fall and our family was exhausted as a result. I want to steward my family better and guard our evenings so that our kids and our marriage stay the priorities that they are supposed to be. I also want to be more intentional about honoring my sabbath and resting.

“It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones,” (Psalms‬ ‭127:2‬ ‭NLT).

• I want to play MORE. While I’m not scheduling extra meetings and counseling appointments, I don’t want to just fill that time on my phone or watching tv. I want to play! My husband and I went dancing at a roaring 20’s party for the first time last week to celebrate New Year’s Eve. We’ve been married for 12 and a half years and have never gone dancing. We laughed at how ridiculous we danced but had so much fun. I want more of that. More adventure, more board games, more dancing, more fun.

“Play for adults is critical in our stressful go-go-go lives. Play has been shown to release endorphins, improve brain functionality, and stimulate creativity. And it can even help to keep us young and feeling energetic. Studies show that play improves memory and stimulates the growth of the cerebral cortex. Play has also been shown to trigger the secretion of BDNF, a substance essential for the growth of brain cells.”

– Michael Forman 

“So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God,” (Ecclesiastes‬ ‭3:12-13‬ ‭NLT‬‬).

• I want MORE of Jesus and LESS of Tif. My yucky opinions and offenses have no room to grow if they are surrendered to God and I’m chasing after Him.

“He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less,” ‭‭(John‬ ‭3:30‬ ‭NLT‬‬).

• I want to intentionally carry a LIGHTER load. I’m really, really good at seeing the glass half empty, worrying, and taking on stress as if everything is up to me. That is not God’s heart for me or you. Stress and fear are not fruits of the spirit. Joy, peace, and self-control are (Galatians 5:22). If we belong to Jesus then those fruits are supposed to be evident. God hasn’t failed me yet. I want to spend my time trusting Him and telling my brain to be quiet when it tries to spiral out of control.

“Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Then come to me. I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis. Simply join your life with mine. Learn my ways and you’ll discover that I’m gentle, humble, easy to please. You will find refreshment and rest in me,” ‭‭(Matthew‬ ‭11:28-29 TPT).

God is easy to please. What a statement. God doesn’t need us to to be perfect or achieve every goal. He just wants us to put Him first and give it our best. I am praying that your year is amazing! As you set your goals for this year, make sure to schedule in some time to rest and play too.

Here’s to 2020, friends!

Tif