A new year brings a new beginning and a fresh start. As this New Year begins, I am starting to think
about what I want for this New Year. What do I want this year to be about? As I prayed about what I want
for this year, two words came to mind: content and anchor. These words have played a part in my journey
during this past year, and I believe they have a role to play in the year coming up.
For the first time in probably forever I desire to put down roots temporarily and be content in my corner of
the world. I desire to anchor myself to family and friends as well as anchor myself to God. I made a list of
things that desire for the year ahead as I incorporate these words into my life. I am not talking about New
Year’s Resolutions. We tend to think that we will not complete our resolutions. They are normally just stated
to help us feel good about our plans for the New Year. The idea behind what I want out of this year is growth
and adventure. I want these items to contribute to how I interact with others and God.
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Cross at least one item off of my bucket list.
Life is meant for good friends and great adventures. The adventures of this new year comes from
taking chances, stepping out of my comfort zone. In the spirit of continuing to be brave, I desire to
take new adventures and check things off of my bucket list. Sometimes you have to allow yourself
to pursue the things that you want, even if it just to say you did. I checked things off this year like
visiting a new country, but there’s more I desire to check off.
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Make new friends and deepen friendships.
2018 overflowed with new friendships, and I want 2019 to expand those relationships and make
new friends throughout my adventures. Charles Swindoll writes, “I cannot even imagine where I
would be today were it not for that handful of friends who have given me a heart full of joy. Let’s face
it, friends make life a lot more fun”. I do not know where I would be without the amazing friends I have
and the ones I made this year. There is a moment when you meet someone and something clicks. You
become friends, and they impact your life in ways you never thought of. This year I strive to be more
vulnerable with the friends in my life. Inviting the people I love into my heart and life.
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Embrace the life of freedom-this life of more-that I have been given.
As a child of God, I have been given freedom. I am no longer a slave to fear, perfection, and insecurity.
I can embrace life with an attitude of freedom because Christ had given me life. Freedom from fear
and insecurity is something that I have been wrestling with over the past year. This year, I am choosing
to live in that freedom and embrace the Creator of the Universe.
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Learn to make each moment, good or bad, count-and be content where I am.
The thing about living a brave and free life is that I want to make every moment count. I do not want to
look back on this year and regret the passed moments and missed opportunities. I desire to look back
on my year and say, “Wow. What a year!” because of the relationships I made and the moments that I
allowed myself to live, I mean, truly live. I want to live life to the fullest, as I take step out of my shadow
and be brave with my decisions. I’ve allowed myself to anchor myself to here and now. The small
moments matter. The smiles. The breezes. The quiet. These little moments like holding hands, reading
a book for fun, the reassurance that I am heading on the right path. These moments are not flashy
moments, but rather they creep up into your life.
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Be intentional with the people in my life.
As I deepen my relationships, I want to reach out to the people around me. As I am intentional with my
conversations, I can invest in people’s lives. At the end of the day, accomplishments are amazing, and
material possessions are nice, but relationships are the only things that we can take with us to Heaven.
People matter.
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Spend more time discovering who God is.
This new year is a new opportunity to spend time discovering the Creator of the Universe and me. My
relationship with God is the most important relationship in my life. I desire to spend more time intentionally
getting to know God and allowing him to love me. To love the places in my heart where my deepest
insecurities and hopes lie. Beth Moore writes, “May God remind us daily—no matter what kind of
obstacles we face—that we are loved and empowered by the One who brought the universe into
existence with the mere sound of His voice. Nothing is impossible for Him”. As I get to know God
and delve into His word, He continues to love and empower me. He pushes me out of my comfort
zone into places that I never thought about, but that are so incredibly better than I could have planned.
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Figure out what makes me tick, what I feel passionate about and delve further into it.
As I bravely and vulnerably surrender my time to Lord, He begins to show me glimpses of the woman
he created me to be. I bravely try new things, develop new habits as I discover new interests. As I
celebrate my twenties, I desire to use my time this year to discover new passions and bravely
explore the place these passions interact with my life. Whether it is volunteering at a free clinic,
helping with an afterschool program, or raising money for a cause halfway across the world, I desire
for this year to be a defining year of me interacting with the lesser known passions and desires in my heart.
I desire to continue to figure out this new Sara and who God is shaping me to be.
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Cry unashamedly.
Crying signifies vulnerability, and I hate being vulnerable, truly vulnerable. This year, as I bravely become more
vulnerable with the people around me, I give myself the freedom to cry. Not emotionally crying all the time, but
to cry when I need to cry without being ashamed of tears. Sometimes, being strong means not holding back the
tears but letting them fall.
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Worry less about what people think.
I have a tendency to be reserved and cautious because I am afraid of what others think of me. I
selfishly think that they care about every little thing I do. The reality is that as I live in freedom I
shake off the perceptions of other and the expectations I place on myself. The only expectations
that matter are God’s. I am pretty, smart, awkward, quirky, organized, vivacious, entertaining,
outspoken, and introverted. I am fiercely loyal to my friends. I have an obsession with colored pens
and planners. I love reading. I am learning to accept myself exactly as God created me quirks and
all.
2018 was a year to remember, but here’s to more adventures with God in 2019 as I investigate my
corner of the world.
Fearless at Heart 