I love the beginning of a new year. It feels like we get a do-over, or a mulligan. Perhaps it is a bit naïve. Just because the calendar changes over (like it does every day), it doesn’t mean all our hurts, habits and hang-ups no longer exist or that our very real problems will wash away overnight.

Still, I like it.

I like the emphasis on a fresh start, a clean slate. And why not lean into it? Why not take advantage of the cultural, national mood of reflection and looking ahead? Why not take it seriously with Jesus? Surely our lives and relationships warrant this kind of intentionality and time.

Many great resources are out there to develop what I call a Personal Inventory. I think it’s a healthy habit for leaders to have a plan they can refer to and reflect on regularly throughout the year.

I believe planning for a new year is a nuanced journey.

Theme

For me, this process starts with going away to find quiet. It is intentional and separate from my regular life. I start with a theme, which requires waiting and listening and reviewing what God has been doing. I try hard not to rush this.

It’s usually a word or two and a Scripture. The word and theme are just a means to the ultimate end: to know Christ more and allow Him to transform me into His likeness. Then I apply that theme to about a dozen areas of my life (mental, physical, spiritual, work-related, etc.) and across each role I play in my family.

Restrain

I’ve learned the hard way that less is usually better. I limit myself to one to three bullet points under each area.

While these bullet points are things I want to accomplish, sometimes they aren’t things I can simply check off a list. They are much bigger than that. Maybe my goal in motherhood is to discover what my children need from me as they venture into new seasons of life. A bullet point like that requires daily commitment. I approach this with a desire to steward my short life on earth — maintaining a big-picture perspective.

Review

I do my best to review my personal inventory and pray through it once a month. I have a monthly task in my project management system to remind me to schedule time for this review.

I may be in the minority here, but I believe planning for a new year is a nuanced journey. It isn’t a one-and-done sort of deal. If we look closely at the work of God in our lives, we know this is how He does most of His work — slowly, consistently and quietly. In a beautiful invitation, Jesus asks His disciples to keep secrets with Him. In Matthew 6:6, He reminds us to give and serve in secret, promising that “your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” This is just one of the ways I try to respond to this invitation. 

How will you keep secrets with Christ this year? When will you be alone with Him to listen? How will you serve in hiddenness?

This article originally appeared in the January/February 2018 edition of Influence magazine.