New Year, New Me
New Year, New Me
2021 is officially coming to an end. How many of are you are ready for a brand-new year? A fresh start. A clean slate. For some of us, 2021 was a tough year. For some of us, it may have been a great year. But I think we can all agree we are ready and excited for 2022! One thing I love to do during this time is reflect on everything from the past year and write out my prayers and goals for the year to come. It can be very helpful to think about the previous year and all that happened or didn’t happen, the highs and the lows, and everything in between. When we take time to reflect over 2021, we can make more realistic goals and dreams that we want to accomplish in 2022. While some people may think there is way too much hype over the “fresh start” of a new year, I think it’s really important for us to make those goals and have a vision for our life. Proverbs 29:18 tells us, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” Dream big. Pray big. How are you going to be better in the year to come?
Like I mentioned, the two things I love to do before the new year is 1. To reflect and 2. to write out my goals and dreams. As you’re reflecting on this past year, I want to challenge you to think about yourself at the beginning of 2021 versus now. How have you changed? How have you grown? What have you accomplished? Think about these questions. Write them down and answer them. Because in just one year, I know you have accomplished so much more than you 1 year ago could have ever imagined you would have. Sometimes it’s easy to only remember the tough times when you struggled or feel like you came up short. Maybe you didn’t stick to that strict workout routine that was on your new year resolution. Or you weren’t able to have quiet time every single day of the year. That’s ok! None of us are perfect. We all fall short. That is why I think it’s important to write these out. Writing out your accomplishments and how you have grown, in big and small ways, will remind you of how far you have come. And praise God for that because none of us would be where we are right now without Him and the strength He puts inside of us.
After taking the time to reflect, think about the next 12 months and all that can happen. What are your goals and your prayers? What do you want to accomplish? How are you going to reach those goals? Create a practical plan. Then really spend time thinking and praying about the new year. Pray that those plans glorify God and bring you closer to Him. Ask Him to reveal to you the plans He has on your life for this next year. I am a big planner. I LOVE to plan things out and have everything in order, so writing out my goals and dreams for the next year is something I look forward to every year! I write out realistic goals, but I also like to dream big. Anything from physical goals, to spiritual, relational and emotional goals. One thing that is always on my list, and I want all of you to add to your list as well, is to strive to be a better version of myself this new year. I want to be 1% better every day than I was the day before. I also want to leave those I interact with better than when I found them. And that’s not a testament to me or anything I’m doing on my own, but to God and what He does through me. Allowing Him to move through and speak through me. I always want to be obedient to Him and what he’s calling me to. Those are things that are always at the top of my list.
I challenge you to write out your dreams as well. One of the best things about writing them out, is getting to look back on them when you are reflecting at the end of the upcoming year. Who do you want to be in 2022? How are you going to grow? Where are you going to find your strength and your confidence? Whatever it is, pursue it well. Be consistent and be patient. Philippians 4:13, “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
I’m praying for all of you and hope you have a very happy new year!
Challenges:
Write a list. What are the things you want to accomplish this year? Think about them, pray though them and be consistent in pursuing them.
Be patient! You are not going to accomplish all of your goals in the first month of the year! So, be patient and strong. Do not give up and cling to the Lord for strength.
Pray throughout. I challenge you, as you are thinking through your goals, to ask yourself if these goals are rooted in glorifying God or rooted in self-glorification. Pray that the things you strive for are in line with the Lord’s plan for you.
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for 2021! There were ups and downs and whole lot of craziness but thank you for every single day of it because it brought us to where we are today. Thank you that you have walked through it all with us and you will never forsake us. I pray over 2022 and for every person as we enter it. I pray over our goals and our dreams and I pray that your will be done in this next year. Lead us in the way that will glorify you above all. We love you and praise you in all that we do. In Jesus’ name! Amen!