A Not-So-Fond Farewell and an Eager Welcome

Somebody really should do something about the convergence of Christmas and New Year’s that comes after only seven days. The echoes of carols have barely faded, and gifts lie hardly unwrapped, as we start preparing to sing “Auld Lang Syne” and kick the old year to the curb. (Although, given the kind of year 2021 turned out to be, maybe it would have been nice if we could have done that months ago.)

During these last moments of the old year, we often stop to look back, reflecting on the good and bad, the things we accomplished and things that fell short of success. I typically revisit old goals, to see how many of them I reached and determine which unrealized goals should be carried over into the new year. There are always surprises – what I didn’t get done, and things I did that I hadn’t expected to do.

 

But in general, there’s limited value in looking back. The past is in the past, cast in stone; while we can learn from failures and revel momentarily in our successes, the best thing we can do with the present is prepare for the future. I’m with the apostle Paul who wrote, “But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14).

 

Paul had much to regret from his pre-Christ days, as the zealous Pharisee Saul, but rather than dwell on that, he used it as motivation to propel him to fuller service to Jesus and His people. Every chance he got, Paul told people about how the Lord had transformed his life and how He could do the same for them. He was perhaps the most forward-thinking of the apostles.

 

As Christ followers, we should be the same. We might rejoice over what He has done in and through our lives over the past year, but now’s the time to prepare for what the Lord has for us in the new year. How, through His enabling power, we can become more effective witnesses for Him – by our lives as well as our words.

 

Each of us is different, so our goals and plans should align with where God has uniquely placed us, what gifts He has given to us, and what passions He has placed in our hearts. Even though the shift from 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 31 to midnight on Jan. 1 is but a single minute, we can still see it as a fresh start filled with unlimited opportunities.

 

Here are a few suggestions I’ve found helpful to consider as we enter another calendar year:

 

First, I’d suggest making time alone with God a priority. Maybe you’re already doing this – devoting a portion of each day to reading and studying the Scriptures, praying and seeking His guidance, which is essential. As with any relationship, giving the Lord our undivided time and attention is one way of drawing closer to Him. 

 

There are countless Bible reading plans, including ways to read through it in a year. I’ve just finished using one. But most important, time in the Word of God daily – whether it’s a verse, a chapter or several chapters – is invaluable. As Hebrews 4:12 assures us, “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

 

I’ve read through the Scriptures numerous times, and yet every time there’s always much I didn’t see before, or a principle that strikes me in a new way. As we grow in our faith, the Word of God grows on us.

 

Memorizing and meditating on the Scriptures is one way to plant God’s truth in our lives permanently. As King David wrote, drawing from experience, “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word…. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:9,11).

 

Prayer is a mystery, speaking and sharing our hearts with Someone we can’t see, but we do so in faith, with hope and expectation. The very first Bible verse I ever learned says we’re to “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17), and that means it’s something we can do at any time throughout the day, even when we’re in an important meeting, driving a car (with our eyes opened), or walking through a mall. 

 

One secret for spiritual growth is a willingness, even an eagerness, to share what we’ve learned with others. Paul exhorted his protégé, Timothy, “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others” (2 Timothy 2:2). There’s an amazing principle that as we share from what the Lord has given us, He in turn entrusts us with more. Whether it’s money or spiritual truth, as someone has said, “You can’t outgive God.”

We have all journeyed through the past year, encountering many bumps and obstacles along the way. But by the grace of God, we’re still here and poised to start a new 365-day trip, one certain to be filled with surprises and challenges, joys and disappointments. As I prepare to do so, I continue to cling to a passage that has served me well for more than 40 years: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6). Blessings for a fruitful – and faithful – new year!