A new year, a new decade, a new hope

Does the thought of a new year bring you joy or anxiety?

Maybe last year didn’t turn out the way you expected and now you’re looking with hope to this new decade. Are you hoping for a new job; more opportunities; stronger relationships with family, friends or God; do you need a better outlook for the future? Do you worry about what this new year will bring?

Of course, while we can’t see what’s on the other side of this new year, we can take steps and be intentional about the things we want to see happen.

Here are a few ways to get started:

  1. ASK God for guidance and wisdom and then trust He will give it. James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” BELIEVE that God created you with a purpose and destiny with plans to prosper you and give you hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). He wants you to live in that truth. And REMEMBER that God loves you and wants to be a part of your world every day. Zephaniah 3:17 states, “the Lord your God is living among you” and “He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” His love for you is never failing.
  2. DON’T SIT ON THE SIDELINES. Whether we are aware of this or not, every day we decide to either make our life happen or allow life to happen to us. THINK about the decisions or actions that you’ve been putting off because of doubt or fear of failure. MAKE A CHOICE to set them straight today and don’t ignore them any longer. Matthew 5:37 encourages us to make firm decisions and follow through with them.

And finally…

  1. LIVE A LIFE OF GRATITUDE. Decide every day to look for things that bring you joy. It could be a smile from a stranger, a baby’s laugh, a beautiful sunset or a hug from a loved one. TAKE NOTICE of these things and then THANK GOD for them. Know without a doubt that God put them in your view to bring you joy. When we begin to appreciate these things, He will give us even greater things to be thankful for (Matthew 25:23 ESV). Doing this will also help to set our minds on things above as Colossians 3:2 says we are to do because our “lives are hidden with Christ in God”.

So don’t be afraid to step out in faith and just remember that God has great things in store for you this new year.  He gave His life for it!

“But God loves us deeply. He is full of mercy.  So He gave us new life because of what Christ has done. He gave us life even when we were dead in sin. God’s grace has saved you.  God raised us up with Christ. He has seated us with Him in His heavenly kingdom. That’s because we belong to Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:4-6)


 

Amy Hacker is a regular contributor to The Scroll. She also is advertising manager for The Alabama Baptist/TAB Media Group. She attends the Church of the Highlands and has three children.

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