2020: expectancy.

There’s something so refreshing about the new year. It brings such a strong feeling of hope, excitement, anticipation, the confidence to say “this is going to be my year”. I really think it’s a beautiful thing. The new year is a chance for new beginnings, a new start. Now I know everyone says this and you’ve probably heard that so many times, but it really is something to take advantage of!

I think the new year presents us with opportunity and chance. The chance to work on something to become a better version of yourself, the chance to stop a bad habit & start a good one, the opportunity for fun new memories to be made, new people to be met, and new seasons of life to step into.

For me, the beginning of the new year is a chance for me to look back on the year behind me as a whole, and look forward to the year ahead. I wrote a post at the beginning of 2019 and shared how at church the pastor had us write down things we were thankful for & hopeful for, finishing the old year and stepping into the new year. I think taking time to intentionally think about these things and write them down allows you to recall the good times & growth you experienced in the year before, but also become ready and expectant for what the new year could bring.

Another thing I shared in my post at this time last year was how I had never taken the time before to truly consider the things that had happened in the past year or what I could be hopeful for in the new year. I had heard of people choosing words, phrases, or bible verses to claim as their “motto or thing” for that year, but this was something I had never done before. However, last year it sounded like a fun thing to do so at the beginning of 2019, I took time to sit with the Lord and ask Him what it was He wanted me to focus on that year. I asked that He’d give me a word, song, verse....something that I could cling to in the new year. The verse Isaiah 40:31 was what the Lord ended up placing on my heart and it became my verse of the year. Let me tell you, having this special verse that I felt like the Lord personally chose for me and my life during the year of 2019 was one of the greatest things. This verse became the sweetest reminder of the Lord’s kindness and thoughtfulness towards me. He carefully chose this verse to be the verse I would sing over my life in 2019.

Isaiah 40:31

“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint”.

Looking back at 2019, there was a lot I learned from this verse. The two main things are the idea of rest and the qualities of an eagle. I remember when I first read this verse thinking wow Jesus is definitely trying to offer me a sense of peace here. He wants me to be able to run and not grow weary & walk without becoming faint. This was a big thing the Lord had me practice this year and my understanding of resting and practicing the sabbath has become something so important and valuable to me now. Another fun thing about this verse was taking the time to examine all the qualities of an eagle and then watching these characteristics show up in my own life. The analogy of an eagle’s traits to the life of a follower of Christ is such a special hidden treasure that I believe the Lord hopes we discover and dive into. There are a few instances in the Bible where an eagle is mentioned, Isaiah 40:31 being one of these verses. Throughout the year, I wrote a list of all the eagle characteristics I learned about and then took time digging into each of them and seeing how these qualities could be compared to my relationship with Jesus.

Picking a “motto” for myself every new year is something I will definitely be doing for the rest of my life because it’s such a fun thing! During this past year, every time the Lord would reveal something new to me regarding this verse or this verse would pop up randomly I would get sooo excited!!! It was “my thing” for the year and I took this special little gift from Jesus and rannnnn with it.

But now it’s 2020. A new year.

A few days before the year ended I really started praying and asking the Lord what my new “thing” for 2020 would be. I was paying extra close attention to verses I was reading or songs I was listening to, trying to seek the Lord’s voice and desire for me. I started noticing the word expectancy show up. First in a sermon I was listening to, so I wrote the word “expectancy” down in my phone notes to remember it. Then the day after, as I was reading Psalm 5. Psalm 5:3 says “In the morning, Lord you hear my voice; in the morning I plead my case to you and watch expectantly”. Again, the word expectantly jumped out at me.

Expectancy: (n) - the state of thinking or hoping that something especially something pleasant, will happen or be the case

Over the next few days, I felt like the Lord was telling me that this was the type of mindset He wants me to have for 2020. To live expectant of what could happen. Waking up every day knowing that simply my existence reveals God’s glory. Expecting and having confidence that the Lord will continue to be faithful to me in the ways I saw Him display His faithfulness towards me this past year. Living each day joyfully, knowing that God is capable of all things and the blessings He will shower me in will be beyond my imagination. I’m believing that He is going to fulfill promises to me and I will live expectantly knowing He has already gone before me and planned out every little detail. I want to look forward to everything the Lord has already planned for me in 2020. I want to have a sense of eagerness, anticipation, excitement, & expectation!!!

The new year is still new and I encourage you, if you haven't yet, to pray and ask the Lord to reveal something to you whether it be a verse, word, analogy, idea, etc., that you can cling to and treasure going into the new year. I can tell you from this past year, that this was one of the sweetest things to have throughout my entire year.

2020, here’s to more dancing in freedom, soaring on wings like eagles, and living every day expectant & knowing that God is always doing a new thing.

xoxo,

b.