It’s January. Christmas is over. New Year’s Eve has passed. And the holiday shopping, eating, visiting, and celebrating has come to an end.
Maybe you had an awesome holiday and you’re sad to see the decorations come down and loved ones depart.
Could it be that you’re still recovering from a massive sugar hangover from too many sweets. And you’ve got the sugar blues?
Or you’re just “done” with winter. In many places, January is cold, gray, and oh so dark most of the time, which doesn’t help your mood.
Now what?
Beating the mid-winter blues and starting the New Year on a solid footing starts with these three essentials:
One. Get a new vision for your life. One of the best things about a new year is that you get to start over. On New Year’s Eve, I love watching the TV coverage of the gigantic glittering ball drop in New York’s Times Square.
Goodbye old year, hello new one!
December 31 is like a period at the end of a very long sentence; it’s closure on the year gone by. And, in a single instance, a new year begins. Boom! I have a fresh start.
A new beginning.
With hope and joy, I anticipate all that God may have for me in the 365 days ahead. I think about what I want to change in my life and how I want things to be different—and better—one year from now.
Instead of resolutions, I make intentional prayers and ask God to bless my health and finances, my career and my community (family, friends and others).
I ask Him to be Lord of my love life.
I ask God for wisdom in how I can serve and bless others, and have courage and joy.
I give Him praise and thank God for all He has done and for who He is—loving, wise, powerful and good.
And so much more.
What about you? What do you want to change in your life in the next year? How do you want this year to be different?
Ask God to show you what He has for you so you can look forward with greater hope. And joy.
Two. Ask God to empower you. A lot of people make New Year’s resolutions and then bail on them a few weeks, or days, later.
I don’t make resolutions. Why? Because in our own human strength (or should I say in our own human weakness), we can’t keep the promises we make. Sure, we may have good intentions. We want to do the right thing or make changes in our lives, but self control doesn’t come easy.
Often, we give up, get bored and get a pizza.
Instead, I choose to pray. I ask the Lord, the ultimate source of power, love and wisdom—the One who created us and loves us most—to help me do what I cannot do on my own: change.
Real and lasting change is possible with God’s power at work in us.
So whether your goals for the year ahead include losing weight, getting out of debt or finally doing that thing you just never get around to doing, ask God to empower you.
Remember: Life doesn’t change one day at a time, but one choice at a time.
Choice by choice, moment by moment—with God’s power at work in you—transformation happens.
Three. Get inspired. Lastly, but most importantly, get fuel for your faith, and the days ahead, with God’s Word. Your spiritual sustenance.
Here are a few encouraging Bible verses for the year ahead. May they give you strong hope, good courage, and joy despite your circumstances.
The mind of man plans his way,
But the Lord directs his steps.
Proverbs 16:9 (NASB)
Show me your ways, Lord,
teach me your paths.
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.
Psalm 25: 4-5
For we live by faith, not by sight.
2 Corinthians 5:7
See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland.
Isaiah 43:19
“For I know the plans I have for you,”
declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you
and not to harm you, plans to give you
hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11
May this be your BEST year yet!
Prayer for the New Year
Lord, I stand at the start of a fresh new year and I ask for Your blessing on the days ahead. Give me courage and wisdom to make right choices, even when I don’t feel like it. Give me strength in the challenging times. Teach me how to trust You more. May I live a live filled with increasing love and joy, and receive all You have for me so I can be a blessing to others. I ask for Your best! In Jesus’ mighty name. Amen.
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