A New Year
It is hard to believe that we are turning the page on the calendar and kicking off a new year. I invite you to pause for a few minutes today and reflect on what has been and what is to come.
What parts of 2023 were life-giving to you?
Did you learn a new skill?
Did you start a new job?
Did you have more time with family?
Did you finish a project you've been dreaming about?
Did you read a great book?
Did you rest?
What parts of 2023 were challenging to wrap your head around?
Did you experience a loss this year?
Did you experience loneliness?
Did you experience anger?
Did you experience fear?
Did you ask questions and find no answers?
What are you most looking forward to leaving behind from 2023?
What are you most hopeful about when you think about 2024?
Where did you experience growth in your walk with God in 2023?
Where do you hope to experience growth with God in 2024?
Where did you find truth, goodness, and/or beauty in 2023?
This time of reflection can be messy. God doesn't need it to be neat and tidy. Be honest. As the year draws to a close, where do you find yourself? How is your mental health? Assess your mind, body, and spirit as you sit with the joys and disappointments from this year. As you wrap up your time of reflection, spend some time in prayer, releasing 2023 and welcoming 2024.
Father God, I lift my friends to you today. As we reflect on the past year and all that has transpired, please remind us of your faithfulness. Help us to remember all of the moments you met us - in our questions, in our wonder, in our worry, in our rest.
Please help us leave behind those things that will not serve us in the coming year and pick up those things that you began stirring in us to carry into the New Year. May we surrender our agenda that it may be replaced with your agenda. May your joy permeate our mind, body, and spirit, and may it radiate out of us at every turn. May we encounter you in new and fresh ways in this New Year.
May we be reminded that we are your holy temple and that heaven and earth collide within each of us. May we reflect your glory and goodness into the world around us, and may we be reminded daily that Jesus is our eternal rock, our salvation, our renewal, our redemption, the hope of the world!
Jesus, we ask that we would encounter you today and every day and that each encounter will do the work of shaping us to look more like you. Thank you for loving us unconditionally and for journeying with us through all of the unknowns of this life. We are so thankful that you are sovereign over all things.
As we send off 2023 and welcome 2024, we expectantly look at all that you have in store for the year ahead. May we see you woven through every story. Amen!
~ Melissa