 The new year is sneaking up on us and, if we're honest, we don’t have it together. So, here’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to offer some ideas on how to walk out the next year with intentionality in a very corny way. BUT, I’ll bet we remember it! Ready? Let’s start here with this Bible verse: “The Lord your God wins victory after victory and is always with you. He celebrates and sings because of you, and he will refresh your life with his love.” -Zephaniah 3:17 (CEV)¹ The context of this verse is God rejoicing over the restoration of His people. We are now grafted into the family of God because of Jesus. When we turn toward Him, I imagine He celebrates over us like He did over Israel. We bring Him so much joy that He sings! He will “refresh your life with his love.” So, let’s discover how to live with intentionality in the upcoming year using REFRESH as an acronym. Ready? R-Rest What a joke right? Who has time to rest? We are so busy with work and family! Just take a look at the calendar. How do we rest? We find time, fight for it, and schedule it on a calendar. As a mom who works as a communications director for the nonprofit my husband and I own while also leading worship on the side, I get the struggle and temptation to let rest go. It’s easy to discard because it doesn’t affect anyone but me. Or does it? The reality is, being tired affects everyone. We’re less productive and peaceful when we’re worn out. Our families, companies, and relationships all take a hit. Here’s what finding rest looks like for me. I regularly tell my kids, “Mommy is a human, not a superhero. I get tired and need alone time or rest too.” After that, I extend the invite for them to rest with me or I ask them to play well by themselves while I take a short break to sip some coffee in my favorite chair. With my husband, I schedule a weekly “me” time where I can grab an hour or two by myself. We put this on a family calendar and I use that time to do whatever I want. Sometimes it’s a nap, other times it's a trail run on the greenway. The main question that will answer what we need for rest is, “What will bring you life right now?” I fill that space with whatever action best answers that question. So, what does this look like for you? What would bring you life right now? Take out a journal or grab a sticky note and (yes this is going to seem like an oxymoron) make an action plan for rest in your upcoming year. In light of talking about my family, I’m going to give you the quote that I always give my kids. “After God was done creating, He took a whole day to rest. If the God of the universe needed rest, so do we.” E-Embrace ......
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