36 Minutes Now, 365 Blessings in the New Year
As we look ahead to the new year, give yourself the gift of planning. It’s so easy to get caught up in the day-to-day elements of our busy lives. The discipline of looking ahead-with purpose-pays off.
Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.
Proverbs 3:5-6
It starts with honest reflection on the year past. Take a few moments and consider 6 areas:
- Relationships
- Finances
- Work/business
- Physical health
- Emotional wellness
- Spirituality
Ask yourself key questions…
- Was it a good year? Did you achieve your goals?
- What did you do that helped you towards your goals?
- What more could you have done?
- What did you do that got in your way?
- Did you invest in people or were you mostly concerned about yourself?
- Did you experience emotional stability even in tough times?
- How is your relationship with God?
If you have a partner or close friend, invite them to help. You may be surprised at how helpful their input can be. Do you have a mentor? A mentor is a friend who accepts you where you are but is not comfortable leaving you there. Life is like walking through a series of minefields. We all have minefields to cross. Wouldn’t you like to follow someone who has already made it through?
Refuse good advice and watch your plans fail; take good counsel and watch them succeed.
Proverbs 15: 22
Then, look ahead to the next 12 months. Take notes on what you want to see happen, any changes you need to make, any areas you need to rebalance. Review your plans with a partner, trusted friend, or mentor. Keep in mind: our minds are like bad neighborhoods; we should never go in them alone.
I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for, says the Lord.
Jeremiah 29:11
Lastly, let’s consider our spiritual growth. Two things happen if we ignore God. First, we leave the greatest resource sitting on the table. Secondly, we fail to account for our greatest enemy and how the devil is trying to destroy us.
Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up.
1 Peter 5:8
If you don’t already, plan to read the Bible every day. It may be a chapter each day or even just a verse. Read scripture in the morning. Before you get caught up in your day, get caught up in Christ and how much God loves you and wants to help you. It’s a game-changer!
Purposeful planning now leads to daily blessings in the year to come. Happy New Year!