Do you make New Year’s resolutions? I’ve never been a big fan of them because, inevitably, by the end of January, I’ve fallen short of the diet, exercise, and Bible-reading routines I set for myself. It can leave me feeling more like a failure than inspired.

Still, there’s something refreshing about a new year—a clean slate and a chance to start fresh. It’s a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the past year and intentionally plan for the year ahead. Socrates once said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” While I don’t fully agree—every life has intrinsic value—I do think there’s wisdom in taking time to be intentional. Life moves fast, and I don’t want it to just happen to me. I want to live purposefully, especially in how I spend my time and raise my boys.

Instead of focusing on resolutions this year, I’m focusing on intentions. A writer friend recently used this term, and I loved it. Resolutions can feel rigid and overwhelming, while intentions leave room for grace. So, what do I intend to do with my time, Lord willing, in 2025? I hope some of these ideas inspire you, and I’d love to hear about your intentions, too!

Intentions for 2025

Devotional & Prayer Practices

Writing Out Scripture
I recently came across a story about a woman who handwrote the entire Bible over the course of seven years. She wrote about 12 verses each day, and her consistency inspired me to try it myself! I started with 1 Peter—a short book from the New Testament to ease into the habit—and have since moved on to Isaiah. Tackling such a long book early on might be ambitious, but I figure there’s no rush.

For this project, I’m using a spiral notebook with graph paper and Amazon Basics felt-tip pens. There’s something incredibly satisfying about writing with a felt-tip pen on graph paper. If you know, you know! Writing Scripture by hand forces me to slow down and savor God’s Word in a way that typing or simply reading can’t replicate.

Praying for My Boys
Another one of my intentions is to pray more consistently for my boys. I’ve realized that my prayers for them are often focused on immediate needs—challenges they’re facing, upcoming events, or, truthfully, my own struggles: “Lord, help me to have patience. Help me to handle this situation better.” While those prayers are valuable, I also want to pray for the eternal condition of their hearts.

About five years ago, I created a resource called Confident Prayers. It’s a collection of prayers rooted in Scripture, inspired by the Apostle Paul’s prayers for the early church. Each chapter includes the original prayer (from the NLT) and a paraphrased version written as a personal prayer you can pray for your children.

The title, Confident Prayers, comes from 1 John 5:14-15:
“And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.”

This year, I plan to use the prayers in this book as a guide. There are 10 prayers, so I’ll rotate through them, praying for a different boy each day. After praying the Scriptural prayer, I’ll add specific requests for that child. Some days, I might write these prayers in my journal; other days, I’ll pray while driving home from wrestling practice.

If you’d like to join me, you can download Confident Prayers for free on my website at lauriechristine.com/prayers.

Books to Read

I love starting the year with a fresh reading list. Here are a few of the books on my list for 2025:

• Devoted by Tim Challies: Stories of godly moms and their influence on some of the greatest theologians in history.
• Untangling Emotions by Alasdair Groves and Winston T. Smith: Understanding and embracing God’s design for emotions.
• Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Peter Scazzero: Exploring the connection between emotional and spiritual maturity.
• Ted Dekker’s Middle-Grade Series: I bought his books for 8-12-year-olds on Black Friday and plan to read and discuss them with my kids. While I’ve heard mixed reviews about Dekker’s theology, I see this as an opportunity to talk with my boys about biblical discernment.

I’d love to hear what you’re reading or planning to read with your kids. Send me your recommendations!

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The “To Don’t” List

Have you ever made a “To Don’t” list? It’s a list of things you’re giving yourself permission not to do. Here are two things on my “To Don’t” list this year:

Social Media
I’ve realized social media doesn’t bring much value to my life. The algorithms make it ineffective for building community or selling books, and the content often leaves me feeling like I’m missing out. Plus, it’s a major time-waster! While I might still browse Facebook Marketplace occasionally, I plan to avoid social media as much as possible this year.

Seeking Approval
Writing books, producing a podcast, and teaching parenting classes often put me a spotlight that I don’t love to be in, and I’m tempted to worry about what others think: “What if they don’t like my books? What if I can’t meet their expectations?”

But Galatians 1:10 reminds me: “Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.”
This year, with God’s help, I want to let go of the need for others’ approval and focusing on God’s calling for my life.

What About You?
Do you have any intentions for the year? Books you’re excited to read? Things you want to put on your “To Don’t” list? I’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment below!

Here’s to a purposeful, intentional 2025!