The turn of the new year is a time of reflection. When the new year comes, we look back on what has happened in the previous year while also looking forward to the things that will happen in the current year.
When I was little, the most fun part of the new year was staying up until midnight on New Year’s Eve. My whole family would pile into our living room with blankets, pillows, and popcorn to watch movie after movie until the clock hit midnight. I remember watching the clock anxiously while a movie played, desperate not to miss the exact moment that we went from one year to the next.
There are a lot of big decisions for this upcoming year that I have to make very soon, so naturally I’ve been looking to the future quite a bit recently. As I look at the people around me, I’ve realized that the truth is, everyone has big decisions this new year that might make us feel anxious. In this season of the new year, remember that God has a plan and that there is no reason to be afraid.
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace
and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Jeremiah 29:11
The future is unknown to us, and the unknown can be scary. The good news is, God knows what will happen in the future. He knows what will happen this year. He knows what will happen next year. He knows what will happen a hundred years from now. The future is not a mystery to God.
To me, one of the craziest things about this verse is that it tells us that God doesn’t just have an intricate plan for the whole world, but He has a specific plan for us, one of peace and hope. The Lord God in heaven thinks about us personally. He has a plan for your life and for mine. When looking to the things to come this new year, do so with hopeful expectation. We don’t have to be afraid of the unknown because with Christ, we have a future to be excited about.
Prayer Tip #1 - Praise God for what He has done in the past and be excited about what He will do in the future!
Prayer Points - (Pray over these requests)
Praise God for three specific things that happened last year.
Praise God for giving us “a future and a hope.”
Pray that God will give you peace about the future.
Pray that God will give you wisdom for upcoming decisions.
Pray that this year you will grow closer to God than you’ve ever been before.
Suggested Prayer - (Pray these words in your heart or out loud):
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You for everything that You did for me last year. I praise You for leading me into another year, and I pray that You would continue to lead me in the path that You have for me. Lord, I
want Your will for my life this new year and every year to come. I pray that You would give me the wisdom to always choose to take the steps that lead me closer to You. Thank you for giving me a future of peace and hope. Help me to remember that, through You, the best is yet to come.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen.
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