Starting, Planning, Simplifying 2011

by Anna Moran

annamoran.com

At the end of the year, my husband, JA, and I have this tradition of sitting down and coming up with a list. On it we would the write things we are grateful for in the passing year, as well as things we are believing for in the coming year. We do this because it helps nurtures gratefulness in our hearts, as well as help build our faith.

It is also during this time that we discuss about what we believe God wants us to do and not to do. Whether it is things we should prioritize or things we should let go of. We also discuss things we need to pursue and things we need to change in our lives. When confronted with uncertainty over decisions that need to be made, I usually find it helpful asking myself these three questions to help me come to a resolution.

For whom am I living for?

JA and I have long decided that Jesus is the Lord of our lives, He calls the shots in our lives. This decision affects all our decisions–big or small. Our lives, our marriage, our family, our careers, our relationships, our time, our resources are all His and all for Him.

What is the will of God in my life?

I have come to a point in my life that I no longer want to do so what is popular, what is convenient or what makes the most money. I do not want too be limited by my abilities and my resources. I want to fulfill God’s plan and purpose for my life, and for my family. And this is how I want to live my life. I am praying that I will have His grace, wisdom and power everyday to live out what He wants me to do, not what I want to do. God never shortchanges us anyway. His dreams are always better and greater than anything we can dream for ourselves.

After God, who is next?

My husband JA would be my next priority. This would mean putting his needs, his schedules, his dreams, his plans on top of mine. I really want to be the helper and support that he needs his wife to be. This year, I want and I will do my best to make it easier for him to work, succeed and live out his dreams. Andi, my child (and any other child that would come in the future) would come in third. This would include taking care of her, teaching her, training her and spending time with her.

Building a home for my family would be fourth. My family and the home I am building does not take a back seat in my life. I want to build a home that the people dearest to my heart would love to come home to and stay in. I want it also to be a source of blessing to people who visit my home.

This year it is going to be a little different as I am going to add another priority to my list and that is health. JA and I really want to live healthier lives. We want to not only eat right, but to exercise more and get enough rest and sleep.

It is only when all these priorities are taken care of that I can pursue the things I want to do, things I want to achieve and dreams I want to pursue.

I am starting a new year.

I am planning the best and wisest way to live it out.

And I am simplifying it.