For that is what God is like.
He is our God forever and ever,
and he will guide us until we die.
(Psalm 48:14 NLT)
Let’s watch the old year die
With a fond good-bye
And our hopes as high
As a kite
How can our love go wrong if
We start the new year right?
(“Let’s Start the New Year Right” – by Irving Berlin from soundtrack to the movie “Holiday Inn”)
Today is the last 24 hours of 2024. Whether you consider this year “good” or “bad,” it IS ending and a new one is beginning. While many use this day to prepare for parties and other revelry, it’s also an opportunity for self-reflection. Ending one year in a place of peace, forgiveness, and grace helps us to move forward with strength and confidence into the new year. Today I invite you to ask God to guide your answers to the following:
What are the hopes, dreams, and visions you had for 2024 that were realized? Spend some time thanking and praising God for them.
Are there any persons you need to forgive, ask forgiveness of, or make a call or visit to “make things right”? Ask God to help you do what needs to be done.
What are the hopes, dreams, and visions you had for 2024 that went unrealized? Spend some time asking God which ones you should seek in 2025, which should you release, and which new ones you should pursue.
During this “in between” week I’m doing some thinking and discerning about my next year. A friend mentioned that her goal for 2025 is to be “intentional” with her time. That makes a lot of sense to me. What are the most important things I need to do and when do I do them? Maybe you have a similar goal, or a very different goal, but I encourage you to ask the Holy Spirit to hone your thoughts and goals to resonate with what God wants for your life.
Starting the new year right, may involve some challenging internal work, or it could be no more difficult than remembering to write a new year for the date. Either way, hear these words adapted for you from Isaiah 43:1-4 and 19 (NLT):
But now, O [Child], listen to the Lord who created you,
…the one who formed you says,
“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.
I have called you by name; you are mine.
When you go through deep waters, I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up;
the flames will not consume you.
For I am the Lord, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior…
[Jesus was] given in exchange for you.
I traded [his life] for yours because you are precious to me.
You are honored, and I love you.
For I am about to do something new.
See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?
I will make a pathway through the wilderness.
I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.
God,
Thank you that you are faithful and consistent, that your love endures forever, and that you call us to new seasons as your children. We praise you for creating us, calling us to be yours, and for your presence when we’ve walked through times that seemed like deep waters or consuming fire. Thank you for the gift of salvation in our lives because you see each of us as precious, honored, and loved. Thank you for the opportunity to reflect upon 2024, to do the work of evaluating this year and our relationships, and to seek you for next year. Help us to forgive and seek reconciliation where we can. Pour out your Holy Spirit upon us so we can dream your dreams, see your visions, and speak your words of prophecy to comfort, encourage, and build up your Church. Help us to see the new things you are doing in our lives, to not fear the new, and to trust you to guide us into all peace. Help us to embrace the new creation life you have placed within us, and to live fully under the Holy Spirit’s leadership your love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self control this year. May our lives be filled to the fullness with your love, grace, mercy, power, and peace. We pray in Jesus’s name, AMEN.
“Then, after doing all those things,
I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy.
Your old men will dream dreams,
and your young men will see visions.
In those days I will pour out my Spirit
even on servants—men and women alike. (Joel 2:28-29 NLT)
But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them. A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church. (1 Corinthians 12:3-4 NLT)
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV)
Because of God’s tender mercy,
the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us,
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
and to guide us to the path of peace.” (Luke 1:78-79 NLT)
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! (Galatians 5:22-23 NLT)
May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. (Ephesians 3:19 NLT)