Photo Credit: Piniterest.com

It is another time of the year when individuals, companies, nations, etc. are taking stock to review their performance for the year ending. This is to enable them plan for a better outing in the new year. It’s been a very busy period with Christmas coinciding with the end of the year. Lots of traveling, outing, recreation, fun fare, parties, celebrations, and sharing love characterize this period, with lots of businesses such as food and clothing making it big this period as they seem to tag it their ‘season’. If we’re not careful, we would be carried away by the frenzy of the season and forget the reason for the season – Jesus. 

God’s Provision for the New Year

“You crown the year with Your goodness, and Your paths drip with abundance.” – Psalm 65:11

The above Scripture makes it clear that each year is loaded with God’s goodness. This should form our expectations for the new year. Irrespective of your experiences in the past year, be encouraged that God has the best for you in the year ahead. Each year has embedded in it goodness and abundance for God’s children, and only those who walk in obedience will enjoy these glorious bounties. Sometimes God uses the unpleasant experiences to shape us, draw us closer and make us trust Him more. Regardless of your unpleasant experiences in the past year, God ultimately deals with His children based on His unfailing love. It was for this reason that the Apostle Paul wrote that “All things work together for the good of those who love God and are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). So, beneath every experience of life – whether good or bad – is the unfailing love of God for His children. For this purpose, expect the best in this new year. 

Regardless of your unpleasant experiences in the past year, God ultimately deals with His children based on His unfailing love.

Crossing Over to the Other Side

“On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, ‘Let us cross over to the other side.’” – Mark 4:35

Entering a new year is like crossing over to the other side of time. The evening will always come for every season and phase of our lives. The evening of the past year had come and gone, and there’s the need to move into a new day (New Year). Whatever we couldn’t achieve in the past year, could be reassessed to see if it’s worth the pursuit in this new year. This is why the Word of God enjoins us to make the most of every passing time because the days are evil (Ephesians 5:15-16). In case you feel unfulfilled in the past year, with battered dreams and shattered hopes, this New Year is another opportunity God presents for a new beginning. The best way to make up for lost time is to maximize the present. 

Whatever we couldn’t achieve in the past year, could be reassessed to see if it’s worth the pursuit in this new year.

Maximizing the New Year

God expects us to make the most of each day as the time that passes cannot be reversed. In order to maximize the New Year, take note of these helpful recommendations.

Retreat with God: The Prophet Isaiah exhorts us to seek the Lord while He may be found (Isaiah 55:6-7). The Patriarch David also expressed his desire to seek the Lord early (Psalm 63:1-2), and a desire to dwell in the house of the Lord and behold His beauty (Psalm 23:6; 24:3-4). Christ, during His earthly life and ministry, withdrew from the crowd occasionally to seek the face of the Father in prayer (Matthew 14:23; Mark 1:35; 6:46). This was a usual practice for Christ when He was on earth. If Christ, who is God, needed to retreat from time to time, to stay with the Father in prayer and communion, how much more you and I? Every new beginning comes with new responsibilities. How are you utilizing this crucial period of your life – just travelling around and catching fun? Are you just sleeping away your life and time? It is important to note that your attitude and approach towards this beginning of the year will determine your experience throughout the year and how well you will end it. Just like David and Jesus, why not retreat from those unfruitful activities, unprofitable friends, time-consuming internet and social media, and other distractions to seek the Lord for insight into His plan for you in the year. Sometimes we may need to withdraw from loved ones, work, business, and even ministry to get direction for the next phase of our lives like Jacob (Genesis 32:1-32). Desperate about settling disputes with his brother Esau, he needed to withdraw from his family and business to seek God for a night. Even Rachael, the love of his life had to part company with him that night because he had a destiny matter to settle and needed to enter a new phase of his life. Do you have a hint of what the year holds for you? Retreat! When you retreat, you’re spiritually, mentally and physically refreshed. When you retreat, your strength is renewed for the journey ahead. When you retreat, you receive direction and clarity concerning the next phase of your life. Friends, this is a good time to retreat!

Review the Past Year: The Psalmist charged his soul to bless the Lord and not to forget all His benefits (Psalm 103:1-5). The second way to maximize this important junction of life is to do a review. It is important to reflect on God’s goodness and mercies in the past year. It is true that when you’re thoughtful, you will be thankful. Reflect on His deliverance, provision, protection, help and every great benefit you’ve enjoyed from the Lord. The second thing to review are the mistakes made in the year that just ended. Such mistakes could include unfaithfulness in your service to God; missed or misappropriated opportunities, time and relationships; misuse of money and inability to save or invest; etc. In reviewing the past year, three questions are pertinent: What worked in the past year that needs to be continued? What needs improvement for continuity? What were the things that did not work or add value to your life that you need to discontinue or change? The answers to these questions will come with a price that may require you to quit some unhelpful relationships, discontinue some destructive habits or impose strict disciplinary measures on yourself. All these are only possible by the grace of God. Like the Apostle Paul, you can only become the person for God’s glory by His grace (1Corinthians 15:9).

Re-envision for the New Year:  The Prophet Habakkuk declared, “I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what He will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved. Then the LORD answered me and said: “Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it”” (Habakkuk 2:1-2). As you retreat and review the year, the next important step to maximizing the New Year is to review your vision for the year. There is need to redefine your vision and properly understand where you’re heading in the year. If you enter into the year shoddily, you will end it regrettably. The Bible clearly states that death is the resultant effect of a visionless life (Proverbs 29:18). This implies that vision imparts life and vitality. Has your life’s vision gone comatose? Cheer up! This New Year is a God-given opportunity to resurrect it as you tarry with God. Have you lost direction in life? Are you at a confused junction of life and in the valley of decision? Take advantage of this season to get redirection.

The Prophet Habakkuk, acknowledging the power of writing, encourages you to write the vision, then it will be made clear. Get a pen and a paper or your mobile device and write your vision for the year. The vision will only attract heaven’s attention if it is God-centered and humanity-centered. A self-centered vision will only fulfill a selfish ambition and cannot pass first reading with heaven. Write the vision and make it plain that it may keep you running on your feet until its fulfillment. Pursue its fulfillment by penning down strategies for achieving each phase of the vision. Be ready to commit the time, resources and efforts required to executing the vision. Stay focused and avoid every distraction to ensure you have a fulfilled year.

In conclusion, let God lead the way as you “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and depart from evil” – Proverbs 3:5-7. God also declares: “I am the LORD your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you by the way you should go” – Isaiah 48:17. As you heed His Word and give Him the right of place in your life in this New Year, may you enjoy a fruitful and fulfilling year. Happy New Year!