A New Year Perspective
By Filoiann Wiedenhoff
"Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of
it. 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."
NIV
As Christmas comes to an end we anxiously await the words "Happy
New Year!" My best friend and I have this tradition we do every
year for the last five years usually around the end of December.
We go to our favorite beach spot, where we talk and pray about
the past year and look ahead to the New Year.
We ponder and discuss all the interesting occurrences that
happened the past year; the good times, the bad times, the
frustrating times and the fun times. We share what valuable
lessons we learned from our experiences, what God showed us and
how He was faithful through all of it
We do this as a closure to one year and then an opening to the
next. After we have laughed a while and then cried, we begin to
look forward with great excitement, wondering what God has for
us this coming new year. What new experiences will we go through
and what new lessons will we learn. It's all fresh and new and
that is exciting.
In doing this I believe it helps us to view each year as a
season, understanding that God is Sovereign and has new seasons
of experiences and growth to make us more like Christ. I can
testify there were times we went through seasons of grief and
there were also times we experienced seasons of joy.
It helps me to remember that God is in total control and that we
are constantly growing as His children and that He knows the
plans He has for us. Plans of new wisdom, insight and
understanding that He wants to impart to us, if we will allow
Him to.
It also gives us a fresh new outlook of the coming year and
enables us to leave the past where it belongs, not that we
forget the past but learn from it and move forward into our
present future with opened hearts and minds to receive whatever
God has for us.
With that said, I put together eight ways we can view the New
Year and every year as.
A Year of:
New Beginnings: Start out the New Year with a fresh point of
view to new experiences, memories and blessings. Having an
opened mind and heart to where ever the Lord may take you with
full assurance and confidence that He is with you. (Matthew
28:19-20)
New Possibilities: There's no limit to what God can do in your
life and nothing is impossible with God. God opens doors that no
man can shut and also closes doors that no man can open. The
possibilities are endless with God that is according to His
will. (Philippians 4:13)
New Plans: Every year is a new season, be prayerful of what God
has planned for you and be willing to walk by faith in obedience
as you follow His leading. Remember that His plans are always
for good and not for evil to give you a future and a Hope.
(Jeremiah 29:11-13)
New Purpose: As you forge ahead, God always has a plan and a
purpose for what you will go through and experience. Remember
that God always has a reason for what He allows in your life and
through it you can trust Him completely. (Proverbs 1:3-5)
New Provisions: The bible says to not worry about tomorrow for
tomorrow has enough worries of it's own. Trust in your Heavenly
Father who knows everything you need, who is your God and your
Provider. He is faithful and He will do it. (Matthew 6:1-33)
New Growth: When we are willing to let go and let God work in us
and through us, He will always stretch us and grow us. It is an
important part of the growth process. Continue to grow in your
relationship with Him and in His Word. Pray for God to mold you
and make you pliable in the potters hand and then watch the
master craftsman work on His masterpiece; which is you!
New Wisdom: With new experiences and new lessons come new wisdom
and insight. Always make it a priority to seek out wisdom as
hidden treasure or fine gold. In Proverbs it says that it will
be like a garland of grace around your neck and honor you and
present you with a crown of splendor. (Proverbs 4:7-9)
Renewed Peace: As you go through new experiences and new
adventures whether they are good or bad, my encouragement is to
keep your eyes fixed on Christ and He will give you rest and
peace, because He is our peace and loves you and cares for you
deeply. (John 16:33)
Keep in mind that if even the wicked give good gifts to their
children how much more will your Heavenly Father give to those
that ask Him? (Matthew 7:7-11)
Let us give thanks to the Lord for getting us through another
year as we look forward to what He has for us up ahead and
praise Him that He is faithful and worthy to be praised!
Our God is an Awesome God
Who Reigns on Heaven and Earth
With Wisdom Power and Love
Our God is an Awesome God!
May the Lord bless you and your family with a blessed New Year!
Filoiann M. Wiedenhoff is a pastor's wife, work at home mom,
Woman's Biblical Counselor, Bible Teacher and Writer. View her
website for more articles http://filoiannwiedenhoff.com/
