- I AM THE NEW YEAR.
- I am an unspoiled page in your book of time.
- I am your next chance at the art of living.
- I am your opportunity to practice what you have learned about life during the last twelve months.
- All that you sought and didn’t find is hidden in me, waiting for you to search it out with more determination.
- All the good that you tried for and didn’t achieve is mine to grant when you have fewer conflicting desires.
- All that you dreamed but didn’t dare to do; all that you hoped but did not will; all the faith that you claimed but did not have . . . these slumber lightly, waiting to be awakened by the touch of a strong purpose.
- I am your opportunity to renew your allegiance to Him who said, “Behold, I make all things new.”
Moses asked of the Lord, “Teach us to number our days, so we may get a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12). Time—seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years—is a gift to us from a loving God so much so that Ephesians 5:16 tells us redeem our time
The arrival of the New Year can remind us of the new birth, a new opportunity with Jesus to turn the page on an old way of life and embrace a new one. In Jesus, we are a new creation whose minds are continually being renewed by the Holy Spirit.
Setting goals can be a good thing if they are from the heart and glorify God. These are a few ideas for taking steps in making Godly goals:
REMEMBER Ecclesiastes 12:1 says, “Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, ‘I have no pleasure in them’”.
REPENT Our worship of God for His majesty evidenced by the changing of the seasons, should lead us to repentance. Beginning the new year with repentance is to draw closer to Jesus, to appropriate the fresh grace that is ours in him. This is why confession always brings relief and joy. It is the gateway to greater intimacy with God. Begin the year by allowing His light to penetrate our hearts and reveal areas in need of growth.
RENEW The New Year can be a time of renewing old commitments, like marriage, family, church, and other core commitments. Our most vital work is what we do within the walls of our homes—loving our families in an atmosphere of godliness and grace. We should also renew ourselves to the faithful body life of our local church where we gather in community to declare Christ’s kingship with brothers and sisters in Christ. Faithfulness in core things help us form the habits of a disciple and show the world what it looks like to be a Christian.
REST In the New Year, we may find a time to rest in our identity in Christ and His love for us. Even if we failed to meet the goals of previous years, Jesus still loves us. His love does not change over our failures and unchecked boxes. It is the whisper of the enemy that says we have less worth if we blow our resolutions. On the other hand, the Bible tells us that He loves us unconditionally.
We should also make a habit of physical and mental rest. Often, we schedule time to hustle and bustle but neglect time for sleep and leisure. Rest is not a sign of laziness or weakness; rather, it is a sign of spiritual strength and confidence that when we close our eyes, we are confident that our lives are in the grip of an all-powerful, sovereign God. When we sleep, we recognize that we are not God and that the world goes on without us.