How to Let the Word of God Shape Your Year
By Aaron D’Anthony Brown
Bible Reading:
“Teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts.” (Psalm 90:12, CSB)
With the new year comes new hopes, expectations, and disappointments. Whatever we face, everything is always better when we face it with God. Sadly, however, we often start our year without focusing on Him. We have our goals and plans for achieving them. Yet, the Lord doesn’t always factor into that process.
Perhaps that explains at least part of the reason so many resolutions fade away by the end of January. We make commitments, but none stick. What sticks are the excuses.
Here’s an alternative. What if we made plans, but factor God into the process? What if we sought Him for wisdom on what goals to set and how best to accomplish those goals?
As a believer, that may sound self-evident, but we make many decisions every day without consulting God. We enter disputes with loved ones, take on responsibilities, and more, all without spending sufficient time in prayer.
Sometimes we have to make split-second decisions. However, if we’re being honest, there are times we could pray and simply don’t. We think we know what’s best, but then we feel foolish when things don’t exactly work out.
Let’s do something different this new year. Before we make any plans, let’s figure out how we can allow God to shape this new year.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
Entering into the new year is undoubtedly an exciting time. If we’re going to make the most of this newness, we should strive to put the Lord first. Here are a few ways you can let the word of God shape your year:
1. With Action
Some of us set unrealistic goals, some of us set too many goals, and some of us set no goals at all. The solution to all of this is to pray for wisdom, which God gives freely (James 1:5). He knows our heart’s desires and also knows what’s best for us. Seek Him and ask Him for the best approach.
Doing so will help us find the wisdom we need not just to make good decisions, but the best decisions.
The new year is a great time for action because we enter it with a fresh mindset. However, keep in mind that we don’t have to wait for the new year to change. We should seek God on a daily basis to become more like Christ, rather than waiting for special occasions.
2. With Gratitude
When God is at the center of our plans, we experience greater gratitude. That’s the natural result of living a life with a view of the Creator. We know that what we have is not given freely, and not our own, and not to be taken for granted. What we have are gifts from God. Our plans, the success of the plans, and the result, whatever that may be.
3. With Trust
When life goes our way, and even when it doesn’t, knowing that God has brought us through before helps us trust Him for the next time. That applies to specific circumstances, such as familial disputes or loss, but also applies to how we approach the new year. Some years are better than others for a myriad of reasons - financial, relational. Whatever the case, God has seen us through the difficult times, which reminds us we ought to trust Him for whatever comes next year. There is no good reason to fear the future.
4. With Hope
Faith in God grants us a hope for the future that people can’t find when they don’t believe in a higher power. Such individuals are forced to find hope in people and circumstances, and that hope can just as quickly falter. However, when we have our eyes trained on God, we set our feet on solid ground. We find many reasons to hope. And those reasons never change because God never changes (Hebrews 13:8).
Let that be an encouragement as you set yourself to grow, not just this new year, but day by day.
Further Reading:
Proverbs 3:5-6
Proverbs 16:9
Psalm 32:8
James 1:5
Hebrews 13:8
Join the conversation! Share how today’s devotional encouraged or challenged you in your walk with Christ.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/arkira
Get in touch with him at aarondanthony.com and check out his debut short story anthology Honey Dreams on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
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