New Year

A new year is just around the corner. It’s a blank slate. A chance to begin anew.

365 days full of wild hope and possibilities.

On the brink of a new year, millions of people will make New Year’s resolutions, only to break them by January 2 (if not sooner).

Not you, of course. You’ve thrown off “resolutions” years ago.

Instead of resolutions, you make new GOALS every year. Or, you don’t. You just wing it. And hope for the best.

Either way. I have another idea for 2022.

How about two simple questions:

1. WHO you want to become this year?
2. What you want to DO differently this year?

First, your character. Who do you want to become?

A kinder person? A more joyful person?
A more courageous and bolder person?
Someone who listens more?
Someone who is more other-centered, and less self-centered?
Ponder this. And consider what you want to change about yourself in the next twelve months.

Second: What do you want to do differently this year?

Making changes starts as you look back. Review and reflect. How was the last year for you? What are you grateful for from the past year?

Then, look ahead. What do you want to stop doing, start doing or keep on doing? Keep it simple. Don’t overwhelm yourself with too many changes at once.

Experts say your goals should be specific, not vague. Instead of, “I plan to lose weight.” (vague) say something like, “I plan to lose 20 pounds by the 4th of July.” (specific).

If you want to go a step further, some say to frame your goals in a positive way, not a negative way.

Like saying “shed pounds” instead of “lose weight.” It’s up to you how detailed you want to be about that.

Whatever you decide to do—whether it’s lose 20 pounds or reduce debt by 50% or start a new online business—do it for yourself. Not because someone else is pressuring you to do it.

Also, don’t listen to the cynics who want to crush your dreams. They have their own issues. Instead, focus forward on your own goals.

And reward yourself when you make progress!

Finally, which should actually be first and foremost, look up.

Ask God for wisdom and direction as you make goals for 2022. No one expects you to make life happen on your own.

Life can be hard, messy, and disappointing. Thankfully, our loving and powerful God is our helper, our healer and our provider. He is our strength.

And He has the power to make real and lasting changes in our lives.

It’s the same power that raised Jesus Christ from death to life—and it is available to you and me.

In fact, “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life…” (2 Peter 1:3)

How does that happen? The verse goes on,

“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” (full verse)

When we “know God” not just “know about” Him—when we choose to accept Christ into our lives and let Him change us to be more like Him—everything changes.

With Christ living inside of us, we have the power to change.

God helps us to do things we simply cannot do in our own human effort.

Now that is a gift!

New year, New beginnings

So, what will you choose to do?

Take time to reflect on this past year.

Look forward with hope—and a few goals—to the year ahead.

Maybe even choose a word or phrase for the year (like COURAGE or HOPE or A NEW YOU in 2022! Or whatever is meaningful to you).

Whatever you choose to pursue in the year ahead, know that the Giver of Dreams and the One Who Loves You Most, our great God, is FOR you, and He is WITH you.

As for me? I choose to have wild hope, extravagant hope, for God’s BEST in 2022 for each of us.

Blessings to you!
Jackie M. Johnson


P.S. Let me know in the COMMENTS below what one of your goals is for the New Year?

Photo by Joshua Earle on Unsplash