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5 Promising Bible Verses for the Lonely Mama

March 3, 2021 by Gina Poirier 5 Comments

5 Bible verses for lonely moms

As a stay-at-home mom, I am never alone. Ever.

Even when the kids are sleeping, my “mommy radar” is constantly up, making sure that they’re breathing and safe. Even when I can leave the house without them, those little beings consume my thoughts.

And yet, motherhood is one of the loneliest jobs around. The constant noise sometimes makes me want to retreat into a little cave, while at the same time I crave connection with another human taller closer to my height.

Fellow comrades, mamas (whether you work outside the home or are with the kids all day), I KNOW you get lonely too—especially since 2020.

Even if you’re on the introverted side like I am, no one can really do it solo. In fact, that’s not how God designed us. This whole construct of a “stay-at-home mom” being isolated all day with kids is the opposite of what mamas past had. We were created to be relational, to be in small communities with extended relatives and friends, raising kids together and giving each other the support we need.

Related: The Proverbs 31 Woman—10 Myths Explained

Nonetheless here we are.

Fortunately we’re never truly alone. I believe that while God designed us for community, he knew that some of us would be going solo sometimes. And that’s why he’s there for us, no matter what season we’re in.

Printable Bible Verses for Moms

5 Promising Bible Verses for the Lonely Mama

1. Joshua 1:6–9

Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

emphasis added

Joshua was a man who knew loneliness: standing up for what was right when nearly everyone else turned their back on him. Later in his life, God gave him this battle call before Joshua led the Israelites into the Promised Land. And likewise, we are going into battle every day for our families. Take courage, mamas, because God will be with you wherever you go. Stay in his Word and follow his lead.

2. 1 Kings 19:11–13

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

emphasis added

For an encouraging study, read the whole saga of Elijah from 1 Kings 17 to 1 Kings 19. One of the most powerful prophets of the Old Testament, he had fled everything he knew. He was completely alone and prayed that he would die. So God came and whispered to him gently. And then God invited Elijah to speak more to him. I’ll leave it up to you to draw your own conclusions from the story, but if you read on, you’ll see that in the end, God brought Elijah a new best friend: Elisha. He was never alone again, up until his last day. If you’re in the depths, cry out to God (even if it sounds ugly). See what happens.

3. Psalm 22:19–21

But you, Lord, do not be far from me.
You are my strength; come quickly to help me.
Deliver me from the sword,
my precious life from the power of the dogs.
Rescue me from the mouth of the lions;
save me from the horns of the wild oxen.

This is one of my favorite Psalms, and I encourage you to read the whole passage. It is the voice of King David expressing his own emotions, but it is simultaneously a prophecy about Jesus dying on the cross. The Psalm starts with, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” This is also what Jesus uttered as he died (Matthew 27:46). But look how the Psalm ends.

In the case of David, in the case of Elijah, and even in the case of Jesus, all had to hit rock bottom—alone—before God lifted them up in victory. You might be alone right now mama, but TRUST that God is working in your life to bring you back up. Don’t hesitate in asking him to rescue you—although maybe not from lions and wild oxen (wild toddlers can be scary too).

4. Matthew 28:18–19

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

emphasis added

Is this passage just for the first disciples, or just for missionaries or church leaders? Who is doing a lot of the grunt work when it comes to “making disciples” (besides God himself of course)? Parents. Mamas, this passage is for you. You are doing holy work, day in and day out, and Jesus is with you. He promised.

5. 1 John 4:16–19

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
We love because he first loved us.

emphasis added

I add this one last, mamas, because sometimes we need a little push. Perhaps need to put yourself out there and express your needs for friendship, as well as offer your own love to others. This is especially difficult because most of us have experienced hurt and loss in our relationships. But don’t let fear be your master; act in love. This verse has helped me time and again.

Take heart, mamas. You will get through your lonely times.

Want to keep these verses handy? You can now download them in a printable form! Just click below:

Printable Bible Verses for Moms

If you liked this post you might also like my other verses for mamas.

Do you have any favorite verses that get you through loneliness? Please share them in the comments!

Gina M Poirier

Filed Under: Christian Life, Encouragement for Moms, Encouraging Scriptures for Moms

What Are Spiritual Disciplines? Plus 10 Ideas to Get Started

February 24, 2021 by Gina Poirier Leave a Comment

Printables for Christian Moms

When I first started learning in earnest about the Bible as a young college student, one of the questions I pondered and discussed was how to have a relationship with God.

My study group at the time compared it to what we knew best: human relationships. For human relationships to be healthy, they require some basic practices, like spending time together and communication.

Thus, I began a daily ritual that I’ve tried my best to be faithful to ever since: the quiet time.

In my mind, it involved reading my Bible and praying in some capacity.

Related: Quiet Time Bucket List: 20+ Ways to Build Intimacy with God

After nearly two decades of this daily practice, I’ve come to expand my understanding of what a “quiet time” can be, as I’ve sought to deepen my relationship with this mysterious Creator figure and his Son in human likeness, Jesus.

One term I came across more recently is “spiritual disciplines.” More or less, these are habits that are meant to help you grow and deepen the Christian spiritual life. In the same way that certain physical disciplines can help you train your body, spiritual disciplines can help you train your soul.

And just to be clear, spiritual disciplines are NOT about self-help or self-improvement. Their purpose is to help you focus your life around God, not the other way around.

What are spiritual disciplines? Plus 10 ideas to get started

Disclosure: this post may contain affiliate links, which won’t change your price but will share some commission. See here for more information.

Why Do We Need Spiritual Disciplines?

Personally, I love the concept of spiritual disciplines. I know the power of daily habits, and how they can radically alter your lifestyle when it comes to your health or relationships. It just makes sense that they can help you spiritually too.

Spiritual disciplines go beyond the vague practice of a “daily quiet time.” I know I’m not alone when I confess that there have been many days when I’ve opened my Bible and stared at it blankly, or tried to pray and then proceeded to think about the errands I needed to run.

Related: How to Pray When You Just Can’t Focus

Spiritual disciplines are powerful because they give you focus in your relationship with God. In 1 Corinthians 9:24–27, the apostle Paul writes:

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

Without spiritual disciplines, we risk running aimlessly.

Now before you start feeling guilty or overwhelmed at this idea (why do we do that, anyway?), consider that you may practice some form of spiritual disciplines already without even thinking about it. Chances are, if you’re reading this far, you’ve at least tried to pray or read the Bible and participate in Christian worship on some level. That’s exciting!

By being more intentional about spiritual disciplines, we can take our walk with God that much deeper.

My friend and podcaster Marty Solomon talks about God’s call to “create space” for worshiping Him in the biblical text, starting in Genesis 1. Setting aside time and effort for spiritual disciplines is a way to do that. And what’s super exciting is that when we create that space, God is the one who fills it.

As a busy, tired, distracted mama of four (almost five!), that thought is refreshing. I don’t have to follow my chosen disciplines flawlessly. God shows time and again that if I make some effort to just show up, He in turn shows up in a bigger way than I could ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20–21).

Spiritual Disciplines: 10 Practical Examples

10 spiritual discipline ideas

So where do we start with spiritual disciplines? It’s not like God gave us a must-do list in the Scriptures.

However, there is a ton of precedent when it comes to spiritual disciplines. (I’m seriously not just making this up.) If you don’t believe me, start in the biblical text itself and observe how God’s people worshiped. They prayed. They wrote poetry. They observed temple rituals. They practiced a weekly Sabbath. Jesus and his disciples memorized and recited Scripture. Just to name a few.

What’s more, people have continued practicing spiritual disciplines in the centuries following Christ. They’ve fasted and lived in solitude. They’ve memorized the canonical texts and transcribed them. They’ve created music and art.

Richard J. Foster’s Celebration of Discipline is a modern classic that summarizes the many ways we can walk a path of spiritual growth, so if you want to dig deep into more practicals, I suggest you pick it up.

And if you want a basic list of practical examples, I’ve got that for you right here. Be sure to also check out the printable list and habit tracker I’ve made, which you can find in my resource collection for subscribers.

spiritual discipline ideas
Spiritual discipline habit tracker
Printables for Christian Moms
  1. Scripture writing: You’ve probably read the Bible, but have you ever transcribed it? I recently wrote out the entire Gospel of Matthew, and I love how it helped me slow down and savor the text. I noticed a lot of details I wouldn’t have otherwise, and it prompted me to dig deeper into passages I wanted to learn more about.
  2. Scripture memorization: There are many ways to do this, like writing out short passages on notecards or reciting longer passages. Don’t worry too much about remembering the verses forever; just store them in your mind and heart somewhere, and you may be surprised when they turn up.
  3. Bible study: This one seems obvious, but there are so many ways to approach it. You can do straight reading (like reading through the Bible in a year), or studying to historical context, biblical words and themes, and commentary from trusted sources. Right now I’m doing a deep dive on the prophets.
  4. Christian meditation: Spend quiet time not in active prayer, but rather in silent reflection. I find it helpful if I think about a particular passage so my mind doesn’t wander. Breathe deeply but naturally.
  5. Fasting: The traditional way to fast is to deny yourself of food or drink for a time, but if you’re unable to do that, you can take a break from just about anything you can think of. I like to think of fasting as an extension of my prayer life.
  6. Praying the Scriptures: If you ever have difficulty focusing in prayer, try praying through different Scriptures like the Psalms or Jesus’ teachings in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7). You can also through a biblical theme like the promises of God.
  7. Practicing gratitude: This is one of my favorite disciplines because it is so easy to do yet so powerful. Write down or verbalize at least one small thing you’re thankful for each day and watch it transform the way you look at your life. I do this personally and with my kids.
  8. Sabbath rest: I’ve spent much effort digging into the importance of Sabbath and choosing rest, especially in a never-stop culture. It is both a practice and a posture.
  9. Solitude and/or silence: While I don’t get a whole lot of opportunity to do this, I always marvel at how refreshed my soul is whenever I can get away and just be with Jesus.
  10. Creative expression: Use your gifts in music, visual art or other artistic expression as an act of worship.

Additional Ideas

Hopefully it’s clear that these ideas are just a starting point! I focused on individual disciplines, but there are plenty more that you can do in community, including:

  • Service
  • Generosity
  • Communion
  • Worship
  • Confession
  • Submission
  • Celebration
  • Encouragement

You can also practice any of the individual disciplines in partnership with others.

If you’re looking for a list of spiritual disciplines and other tools to help you grow in your faith, be sure to sign up for my collection of free Christian resources below:

Printables for Christian Moms

Do you have any favorite spiritual disciplines or resources? Leave a comment and let us know!

Gina M Poirier

Filed Under: Christian Life

10 Favorite Reads from 2020 (Plus What’s Up Next)

January 21, 2021 by Gina Poirier Leave a Comment

Printables for Christian Moms

One of the upsides of 2020 having a lot of “downtime” (albeit nonetheless quite busy for those of us with kids at home) was that there was more time to read. While I’m not a bibliophile who reads 100+ books a year, I do enjoy diving into other people’s words for at least a few minutes on most days.

I also like talking about books, and so I figured, why not do that here on my blog? Perhaps you’ll be inspired, perhaps you’ll think my tastes are weird; I’m not too swayed either way. I like what I like.

Related: Must-Read Books for Christian Moms: My Recommended Reading List

10 favorite reads from 2020 plus what's up next

Disclosure: this post may contain affiliate links, which won’t change your price but will share some commission. See here for more information.

A Note on My Approaches to My Reading Life

Some people make goals for how many books they want to read in a year. While there’s value in that if you find that motivating, I only like to do it if I have a good reason to. For example, one of my 2021 goals is to dig into the prophets, and so I’d like to (loosely) read at least one related theology book per quarter.

Otherwise, I don’t set reading goals for a couple of reasons. First, it makes reading more of a chore than I’d like it to be. Second, I have no problem with leaving a book unfinished if I don’t enjoy it. I could hypothetically pick up 50 bad books in a year and not finish one of them, and that would be okay with me.

I read more than 10 books in 2020, but these are the ones that stood out to me most. I didn’t finish a few more!

Some people also like to know what medium I prefer for books: hard copy, digital or audio. The answer: all of them! Sometimes it depends what I can get my hands on from the digital library or my Scribd subscription, or if I get a good deal. It also depends on the genre; I love hearing fiction and lighter reads on audio so I can listen while multi-tasking, while with heavier reads I require text so I can highlight, reread, etc.

Okay, with no further ado, here are my favorite reads from 2020, divided into categories.

Theology

The Day the Revolution Began by N.T. Wright

I picked up this book because I have become a huge N.T. Wright fan in recent years. This isn’t his easiest book to read, but it’s not his hardest either. It does get a little repetitive, but I actually liked that because it helped me internalize the bigger points of the book.

This book summarizes a lot of what he has written elsewhere about the full meaning of Christ’s atonement. He challenges the popular idea along the lines that “Jesus stepped into the sinner’s place to take on the punishment they deserve” and offers a much more robust and biblically supported case for the beautiful and powerful ritual that Jesus’ death on the cross represents.

The Beast That Crouches at the Door by Rabbi David Fohrman

This was a fascinating account of the fall of mankind from a renowned American Rabbi, recommended in one of my favorite theology podcasts, BEMA. Fohrman presents the story we’ve all heard a million times about the serpent, the temptation and the murder of Abel and leads the reader through a series of questions they’ve probably never thought before.

This was the freshest look at the early chapters of Genesis that I’ve read in a long time. It helped me see the relationship between God and mankind in a whole new light.

Self-Improvement

The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown

I’d seen her TED talk and even her Netflix special, as well as her quotes on social media, but I never actually read Brene Brown’s work until fairly recently.

It was good. Really good.

I appreciate her dedication to research as well as her articulate and humorous communication skills. This book spoke to me personally as a perfectionist, since it demonstrated just how powerful our “weaknesses” are in making us fully human. (And it’s not a big stretch to see how her research is backed up by biblical teaching, when you examine it.)

The Happiness Dare by Jennifer Dukes Lee

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. I had heard of it a few years ago but never got around to it. Perhaps I was skeptical that it was going to be a feel-good Christianese read, which I have very little interest in these days.

For whatever reason (I think it popped up on my audiobook suggestions), I finally delved in and was delighted by the author’s easygoing writing style. She challenges the idea that Christians aren’t meant to be happy and presents several different ways we can approach and understand happiness. The lessons stuck with me—my “Happiness Style” is “doer.”

Introverted Mom: Your Guide to More Calm, Less Guilt, and Quiet Joy by Jamie C. Martin

My main response to reading this book was, “I feel seen.”

I have studied a lot about introversion and personality types over the years and am aware of this tendency in myself, yet I still found this book to be remarkably refreshing and affirming. The author offers some very practical insight to how to not only cope with introversion as a mom, but thrive in it.

The Ministry of Ordinary Places by Shannan Martin

This title of this book is almost misleading; it is NOT a “feel-good” read about how you should be happy just as things are and embrace your day-to-day existence. That depends on what your day-to-day existence looks like.

This book could easily fall under the next category of my reading list (“social awareness”). The author’s day-to-day existence is in an urban working class neighborhood, and her days are filled with hosting drug addicts, school drop-outs and literally people of every nation. While that might not be everyone’s reality, her challenge is to seek out those who are marginalized in your ordinary places, and to make that your ministry.

Social Awareness

White Picket Fences: Turning toward Love in a World Divided by Privilege by Amy Julia Becker

With all of the social upheaval of 2020 in the U.S., I dedicated myself to more education about privilege, culture, race and class divisions. This book is a memoir from a white, middle class woman’s perspective, trying to bridge the gap between the world she grew up in and, well, the rest of the world.

I appreciate the author’s humility in this book. She’s not offering answers; she just asks a lot of good questions. Her experience raising a child with significant special needs gives her a unique perspective about approaching differences in a more compassionate way.

The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander

I confess that I probably wouldn’t have read this book if a friend of mine hadn’t invited me to an online study group. But wow. This should be required reading for anyone who wants to be educated in American history, socioeconomics or public policy. Even if you don’t agree with all of Alexander’s conclusions, you cannot argue with her compelling research about the damage that the war on drugs and the U.S. approach to incarceration has done to Black communities.

Get Money Do Good by J.D. Vermaas

A friend of a friend asked me to review this book as part of its independent launch. I was in early pregnancy at the time (i.e. exhausted) and thus fell waaaaay behind. But I did eventually finish the book, and its compelling story still sticks with me.

It’s a crazy-sounding but true story about a couple with a gift for making a lot of money and also a strong drive to use that money to fight poverty and “do good.” They end up adopting…let’s just say A LOT of kids. The book challenges the reader to think outside the box when it comes to wealth. I appreciate how it doesn’t sugarcoat the tough realities about international adoption. It also demonstrates how children with trauma and special needs don’t need to be fixed or rescued; like anyone, they need love and an opportunity to shine.

Fiction

The Sisters Grimm Series by Michael Buckley

Wow, I really didn’t read much fiction last year! It was mostly accomplished during read-aloud time with my kids.

And that’s where the Sisters Grimm comes in. We actually started this series a couple of years ago and came back around to it. Imagine that all the fairy tale characters from around the world are real and live immortally in a small town in upstate New York.

And two girls, who are descendants of the Brothers Grimm, are learning how to be “fairy tale detectives.” They eventually carry the responsibility of saving the world from magic-induced chaos.

It’s no Harry Potter, but this series was a lot of fun. We all enjoyed it when stuck at home for much of the year.

What I’m Reading Next…

I always have a ton of books on my “to read” list, and here are a few that are currently loaded on my devices or sitting on my nightstand.

Emma by Jane Austin: I listen to this on audio whenever I need a British chick lit infusion.

An American Marriage by Tayari Jones: A heart-wrenching story about love torn apart by racial injustice.

The Powerful Purpose of Introverts by Holley Gerth: A follow-up read recommended by Jamie C. Martin.

Fall in Love with God’s Word: Practical Strategies for Busy Women by Brittany Ann: This is the first book by a friend of mine from Equipping Godly Women, and I’m honored to be on her launch team.

All the Feels: Discover Why Emotions Are (Mostly) Awesome and How to Untangle Them When They’re Not by Elizabeth Laing Thompson: I have all the feels about this book.

All Things to All People—The Power of Cultural Humility by Michael Burns: I am mostly through this book and have been listening to Michael Burns’ podcast. I highly recommend it for church small groups.

The Prophetic Imagination by Walter Brueggemann: I am studying the prophets this year, and Brueggemann is kind of the man when it comes to the prophets. It’s dense, but I think I like it.

Interested in more about what I’m reading? You can also follow me on Goodreads (though honestly I’m not very disciplined about keeping it current or leaving detailed reviews there).

What have you read or what are you looking forward to reading next?

Gina M Poirier

Filed Under: Living Intentionally

Rooted: My Word of the Year + Goals

January 13, 2021 by Gina Poirier Leave a Comment

Printables for Christian Moms

For the last several years now, I’ve chosen a “word of the year” as part of my annual goal-planning process.

While I haven’t always posted my word on my website, I thought it would be helpful to do so again this year…for posterity, if nothing else. What’s more, quite a few people have expressed interest in this process and find inspiration in other people’s words. So here you go.

In previous years, my words have been:

  • 2018: Connection
  • 2019: Rhythm
  • 2020: Freedom

Ready for this year’s word? Drumroll please…

2021 Word of the Year: Rooted

Disclosure: this post may contain affiliate links, which won’t change your price but will share some commission. See here for more information.

Why Choose a Word of the Year?

While I resisted this practice for a long time, I finally came around when I discovered that it is helpful to have something to focus on when I’m making plans and setting goals.

I keep my word somewhere visible, like on my phone’s lock screen, stuck to the refrigerator or in the front of my journal. Whenever I sit down to work on my goals, it reminds me about what’s important (and also what’s not).

You can learn more about my planning and goal-setting processes and tools here:

How Moms Can Set Meaningful Goals (with Examples!)

Are PowerSheets Worth It for Planning Goals? An Honest Review

The Ultimate Time Management Guide for Moms

How I Chose “Rooted”

I spent some time at the end of 2020 reflecting, journaling and praying. (And what a year it was to reflect on!). Using the prompts in my PowerSheets Goal Planner, I assessed what worked well for me last year, what didn’t, and what’s important to me going forward.

2020 will be remembered by many as a year of chaos and uncertainty, and it was all the more so for our family. Not only did we have the stress of the pandemic and the social and political instability that many faced, but we also brought home a long-awaited adopted child from overseas and then found out I was unexpectedly pregnant a few months later.

The word “rooted” reminds me of stability and perseverance. I think of old trees that withstand chaos like storms and drought. They might lose branches and take a beating from time to time, but if they’re deeply rooted, they still stand.

It’s not surprising to me that Bible contains abundant metaphors of plants and roots, in both the Old and New Testaments. A quick word study revealed a pattern: being rooted in good things leads to good fruit.

I chose a theme scripture to memorize: “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness” (Colossians 2:6–7).

My hope is that everything I do this year is rooted in love, beauty and truth (all of which are embodied in Christ himself). I will strive to maintain that focus as I work toward my personal goals.

My Big Goals for 2021

In general, I don’t like to get too specific about goals more than about 90 days out. Many productivity experts suggest that quarterly goals are more effective than annual ones anyway, since we humans apparently have short attention spans.

This year, I whittled down my ambitions to what might be more appropriately called focus areas or themes. (I talk about this in more detail in the Take a Deep Breath video series, if you’re interested.) I wrote out a general statement about how I want to focus on each area.

  1. Build an Emergency Fund
  2. Beautify Our Home
  3. Grow Deeper with God
  4. Empower My Kids’ Growth
  5. Help My Online Platform to Flourish

If you look closely, you can see these words can be easily linked to the idea of being rooted in love, beauty and truth.

Now, if you’re a fan of systems like S.M.A.R.T goals, don’t cringe because I’m not done. Using these larger ideas and the word “rooted” as guidance, I set “micro” goals and chose habits to work on in 90 days or less.

Micro Goals and Habit Ideas for 2021

With my focus areas in mind, I brainstormed more specific goal ideas and action steps. I’ll share some of them in categories below. I’ve simplified my lists so that I don’t bore anyone (and plus there’s some personal information I’d rather keep private). Hopefully you’ll get the idea.

Build an Emergency Fund

  • Track budget daily
  • Talk with Marc about budget in weekly/monthly meetings
  • Monthly income goals
  • Monthly savings goals, increasing as year progresses

Beautify Our Home

  • Organize different areas of the home (listed out)
  • Minor updates in various rooms (listed out)
  • Prepare for new baby action items (listed out)

Grow Deeper with God

  • Study the book of Ezekiel, possibly other prophets
  • Read one theology book/quarter
  • Daily prayer/meditation
  • Record Spirit-led acts of generosity each month

Empower My Kids’ Growth

  • Weekly family game nights
  • Help kids study for “Memory Masters” in our homeschool program
  • Explore my daughter’s options for preschool and/or therapy
  • Quarterly nature adventure
  • Assist kids in county fair 4-H projects

Help My Online Platform Flourish

  • Run new Facebook ads to cold audience
  • Run new Facebook ads to warm audience
  • Reach 10,000 email subscribers
  • Prepare 6 weeks of maternity leave content
  • Minor website updates
  • 2 new blog posts/month
  • Major website redesign

Once I finished brainstorming, I chose the items that I will focus on in the first quarter, and then I loosely scheduled out what I want to focus on each month.

I’ll track my goals and habits as I go, do a minor reassessment each month, and then do a major reassessment after the first quarter. At that point, I’ll add, adjust or remove goals based on my priorities at that time.

Summing It Up

If you’ve never done something like this before, I know it can look a little overwhelming. Just remember that I’ve practiced this process a lot, and what I came up with this year is what works for me. It has also evolved over time.

I shared quite a few resources in this post if you’d like to do something similar. Beyond that, if you’re not already subscribed, be sure to sign up for resources to help you live more intentionally this year and beyond:

Printables for Christian Moms
Gina M Poirier

Filed Under: Living Intentionally

10 RESTFUL New Year’s Resolution Ideas You Will Actually Want to Follow Through with

December 28, 2020 by Gina Poirier 2 Comments

Printables for Christian Moms

So let’s be clear: I think traditional New Year’s resolutions are dumb.

Here’s why: the numbers vary depending on which source you look at, but statistically less than 10 percent of people actually follow through with the ideas they get so excited about come January 1st.

So for the other 90+ percent, what’s the point? For most people, resolutions are just wishful thinking.

For a long time, I just didn’t bother. I figured if I wanted to change something in my life I would just…do it.

And while that works to an extent for me, I nonetheless hit a wall a few years ago. I was exhausted and overwhelmed with three small kids, drowning in mental and physical clutter and feeling purposeless. While I didn’t exactly know where I was going, I made a decision at the end of 2015 that I was going to be more intentional with my life:

  • I started decluttering my home.
  • I turned my hobby blog into a professional one, got certified in stress management coaching and developed digital products.
  • I embraced my purpose in motherhood.
  • I started taking better care of myself and embraced biblical rest.
  • I started praying powerfully and with purpose.
  • I learned how to control my daily schedule rather than letting it control me.

And it all started with a process called goal-setting. A.k.a New Year’s Resolutions—but the kind that I can follow through with because I’m working on them year-round.

So while I still think that New Year’s resolutions as I used to understand them are dumb, when you do them right, they can be incredibly effective and life-changing.

Related: How Moms Can Set Meaningful Goals

I’ve learned a lot about this process of the last several years. There’s a lot of great advice out there, but if I do have one nugget of wisdom to offer about resolutions it’s this:

Choose rest.

While the rest of the world is wrapped up in being skinny and self-improvement and getting rich, imagine if you chose to do something a little different?

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
—Matthew 11:28–30.

To rest is to be faithful. To stop and let God fill in the gaps. To trust the Spirit’s guidance. To be content with less…and to feel fuller in the process.

Sound good? Then check out these alternative New Year’s resolution ideas anchored in rest that you can get excited about.

10 Restful New Year’s Resolution Ideas

Restful New Year's Resolution Ideas

Photo credit: Cristian Escobar

1. Practice Sabbath

It’s an ancient practice: set aside a 24-hour period each week to REST. Up until pretty recently, I had never done this.

But now, I can’t imagine my life without it. One day a week, I do my best to let go.

I don’t check my social media or email. I don’t do any household or work projects, even when I know there’s stuff to get done. Instead, I spend time with those I love, I worship and I relax. And I face each week refreshed.

2. Sleep More

Again, up until recently, my mentality was to sleep the minimal amount without feeling completely wrecked each day, to maximize the amount of time I had to get stuff done.

It’s a terrible way to live. I had to adjust my morning and evening routines, but now I regularly get the 8.5 hours a night I need. And of course, I’m way more productive.

Give yourself permission to get more sleep. Go to bed (perhaps earlier) at the same time each night after a relaxing evening routine. Take short power naps during seasons when your nighttime sleep is interrupted. Ask for help taking care of the kids wen you’re feeling run down.

3. Create Meaningful Memories

One thing I have wanted to grow in is being more mentally present with my husband and kids. I want us to look back with memories full of meaning and love.

There are many ways you can approach this. What has worked well for me is getting one-on-one time with one of my kids each week, as well as a date of some kind with my husband every week. I also try to take photos weekly—in everyday life, not just the special occasions. I’ve worked hard to stay on top of my digital photos, which means sorting and editing then within a week of taking them. This makes it much less overwhelming to organize them.

Meaningful Family Memories from New Year's Resolution

4. Cultivate Your Friendships

This is another area I’ve grown in recently. Even during the recent social distancing period, I’ve been grateful to have deep friendships and great conversations

I know it’s tough for many of us in the season of motherhood because we lack the time. If that’s the case with you, I encourage you to be creative with this resolution.

Be bold and initiate (that other mom is probably lonely too). When you can’t meet, talk on the phone. You might be surprised just how little extra time those friendships can take if you simply take the effort to invest in them.

5. Enrich Your Prayer Life

In the past, this has been a weakness but now I’m proud to say and think is becoming a strength. Over the last couple of years, I have gotten more disciplined and focused and have seen a lot of the fruit.

For me, it took some digging and journaling to get there. Can I suggest starting with this prayer journal?

6. Say No to Your Phone

I think I’m pretty conscious about this, and still, I find myself getting sucked into checking my notifications whenever I get a free second.

Some ways to combat this include setting up screen-free times into your schedule as well as only allowing yourself to check notifications at specific times of the day. Otherwise, it’s all too tempting!

Related: Social Media Addiction: 20 Strategies to Break It

7. Spend Time in Nature

There’s something spiritual about the sky, the sea, the mountains, the fields. As someone who grew up in the Pacific Northwest and now lives in the Midwest, I can find my present opportunities…lacking. But that just means I’m not looking hard enough.

Studies show that being in nature is good for your mental and physical health. So let’s get out there regularly and make it a priority!

Brainstorm some ways you can enjoy nature, whether it’s sitting out on your back deck every day, taking a long walk once a week, or planning a trip out into the wilderness.

Spending Time in Nature as a New Year's Resolution Idea

8. Explore Healthy Food You LOVE

Weight loss is on the brain for many people at this time of year, and that’s necessarily not a bad thing…but we can go about it the wrong way.

I find that I’m healthiest when I’m not thinking in terms of how I’m limiting myself but rather embracing what I love.

I finally admitted to myself that I don’t love salad. Plus no one else in my family likes it much. I’ll eat it because I know it’s good for me and that’s enough of a motivator…but I’m a lot more excited about a plethora of other vegetable-rich dishes that I’ve learned how to make. So rather than forcing myself to limit my food to something I’m not wild about, our family is getting adventurous with healthy, whole foods we love and can be thankful for. See the difference?

What nourishing food can you get excited about discovering in the coming months?

9. Find a Mentor

There’s a phrase that has stuck with me through the years: “You don’t know what you don’t know.” Sometimes you don’t even know what you are doing right or wrong unless you get some perspective.

If you’re feeling stuck in any area of your life, why stay in a rut if the strategies you’re using aren’t working? Get some help: a coach, an advisor, an accountability buddy, a counselor, whatever. It’s biblical and it helps.

10. Practice Gratitude

This is almost too cliché nowadays but I’m gonna write it anyway. Gratitude is proven to change the way you think. Make it stick by writing it down daily.

Okay friends, now it’s your turn: what restful New Year’s Resolutions ideas would you add to the list? And which ones do you want to try this year?

If you want some guidance putting those goals into practice, be sure to check this the mini goal-setting workbook I offer in my free resources collection:

Printables for Christian Moms

Gina M Poirier

 

Filed Under: Living Intentionally

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I'm Gina, a happily married mom of four and stress management coach. I help exhausted, overwhelmed moms find peace and purpose in the everyday. Be sure to sign up for tons of free resources that will help you stop just surviving and start thriving! Read More…

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