So, you made it. You survived 2023. I know it might not seem like you survived but, if you are still breathing you survived. We all find ourselves believing that a new year makes everything new. We place all of this pressure on ourselves by setting unrealistic goals to meet. We feel like we need to leave everything that happened that did not serve us well in the old year. Some of us came into the new year carrying heavy burdens, painful disappointments, grief, and so many other things. We want to believe that this new year is all we needed to change in our lives. In reality it’s more about what is on the inside of our hearts, minds and souls that need change. I truly believe that a new year can offer a fresh start, a new beginning and another chance to get it right. I also believe that there are necessary changes that need to be made for that to happen. There is a scripture in the bible that talks about not putting new wine in old wineskins because it will cause the wineskin to swell and burst(Mark 2:22). So, keeping that scripture in mind we cannot take on a new year with all the same old things that didn’t serve us well in the previous year.
A few days ago, I read this quote and it made me really think about my approach towards the new year. The quote was,”I’m not making any plans for 2024, I’m going to let Jesus lead the way”. Now for many reasons this stood out to me. I would have to surrender everything to Jesus in order for this to happen. My trust level towards him and his plans for my life would need to be at 100%. I would have to completely change the way I’ve always approached the new year filled with plans, goals and so many other things that I’ve believed that I needed to put in place to approach another year. Is it the best thing to do? Is this what Jesus really desires for us? Have we really been planning, setting goals, seeing life coaches, creating vision boards all while excluding Jesus. I’m not saying that any of those things are wrong, but if we have run to all of this before we have reached for Jesus…..maybe we need to allow Jesus to examine our heart and tell us areas that need to be surrendered in our heart. I’m just saying, before you consult with any of those things, consult with the one who created you and knows every intimate detail of your being.
We made it to see another year, so now what do we do? Let me offer a suggestion, we should totally surrender and trust God. We should trust his plans for our lives. We should trust the plans he has laid out before us. We don’t get the entire plan all at once but he gives us parts of it to see how we will use it. Jesus is longing to lead us into all the good things he has for us in 2024. Jesus also desires to walk us through the hard moments. We just need to trust that nothing is wasted in his hands. So, if we hold on to it, he can’t use it for our good. I know you might think you can do more with it but, trust me, I’ve placed so many things in God’s hands that I thought was wasted and he showed me that nothing I give to him will ever be wasted in his hands.
I want you to think of this scripture above for this new year. It is within our hearts that we make plans for our future, but the Lord chooses the steps we will take to get there. We must remember that it is him where we find the steps we need to take for the plans in our hearts. I want to leave you with this last thought from the scripture above. No matter what 2024 brings us or has brought us already, one thing you can rest in is that the plans of the Lord stand firm(dependable and sure) forever and the purposes of his heart runs through generations. So, he is with you and his plans for you and your life remain firm forever. May this new year bring us closer to God and more surrendered to the plans he has for our life. Thank you for remaining on this journey with me. I’m so grateful you are here.
I am a wife, a mother a believer in Jesus Christ and a person who has lived with a mental health condition. My desire is to come alongside of those like me who need support. I will write my real, raw, honest journey through this in hopes that you and I can find strength through it together. Your comments are welcomed and honored here. All I ask is that you be respectful with your words because my journey might not look like yours but it is mine. Looking forward to walking alongside you here in this safe space.
P.S
If your looking for perfect grammar and words placed perfect….you won’t find that here. You will find words that come from my heart and the heart of Jesus, hopefully in that you will find hope. I believe with hope comes the courage to step into the safety of the light.
Uplift 
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