Happy New Year!
Every new year, we hear the ‘new year, new me’ narrative, don’t we? Whilst for some, starting the new year with a goal or intention is the exact motivation needed to pick up a new hobby, prioritise fitness, or live a seemingly ‘better’ life, for many it can become infuriating, disappointing, or lead to self-criticism and frustration when they find life simply gets in the way of their newly-forming habit. I had a wonderfully wise friend at the bakery I interned at in my gap year, and when asked what her New Years’ resolution was, she simply said, ‘life is complicated enough, and I know who I am, so I’m just going to focus on doing this year well’ – I wasn’t expecting that! But, it resonated then, and still does now. As Christians, we have a certain identity:
‘how great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God! And that is what we are!’
1 John 3:1
What a joy to know of the sure and delightful identity we have in our Heavenly Father, and the certainty we have in eternity with Him! But we’re also told in the Bible that we’re on a journey to becoming more like Jesus on our way to our final Heavenly home (have a read of 2 Corinthians 3:18), and so I think there is a real place for setting intentions for the year. Steve was speaking on Sunday about prayer, and encouraging us to re-engage with prayer in this new year, perhaps by joining a core group, using a new devotional book, diving into liturgy, or thinking of a heart prayer. As I was reflecting on this yesterday, I’ve realised my heart prayer for this year might be from Psalm 51:
“create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of my salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me”
What a prayer to start each day with!
So, in true devotional form, here are some things for you to reflect on:
What might God be calling you to come back to, start afresh, or prune from your life?
What might be your heart prayer for the year?
Are there people you could be accountable to, to support you as you journey with Jesus?