Preparation for the New Year

Published 9:19 pm Thursday, December 28, 2023

I usually take the last week of the year to review the prior year. I keep a personal journal and usually mark important insights, events and things I may want to remember as I am seeking the Lord for the upcoming year.

I have a number of friends that take the time to write out detailed plans/vision for the upcoming year. I have tried this a few times and usually fail miserably in my follow through and consistency. My first observation for 2023 was that the first three goals I had listed did not happen. and then I had a few things that did happen that were not in my plans at all (mostly medical) that sort of rearranged the last half of the year. As a matter of fact, almost nothing that I thought might or should happen in 2023 did.

What is so amazing is that I don’t feel guilty or condemned! The very first words I heard for me from the Lord for 2024 is “flexibility.” That could mean a lot of things, but what came to my mind was a reminder that even if I feel like there are some specific things I want to accomplish this year, I need to allow the Lord to have the last say so. Several times in the book of Acts Paul had made or was making plans to go to a certain place when the Lord intervened. One time it was a dream that redirected his plans. Are we willing to trust the Lord to speak to us and direct or redirect our plans? “The steps of a righteous (or good) man are ordered by the Lord.” (Psalm 37:23)

One thing I know: “For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11) That does not mean that we will not face suffering, challenges or difficulties, but rather He will work all situations for our good. (Romans 8:28) Everything that happens to us will ultimately be used for our good – especially for those who love God. They have been filtered through God’s perfect love for each one of us.

So, does that mean we don’t need to set goals or make plans? I don’t have any statistics to prove this statement, but I personally think those who only “fly by the seat of their pants,” or never have any concrete plans or at least vision for the future are generally not going to be very successful. Of course there are always exceptions, but diligence and planning usually see better results. Scripture supports this concept. One example is building a house. Perhaps an experienced builder could build a house without plans but in order to build more than a very basic structure usually requires plans, both the materials needed as well as the steps to take to see it done correctly and successfully. Scripture talks about the Lord building the house, about building on the rock (vs. sand), and using wisdom to build the house.

The big mistake Adam and Eve made right at the beginning of their lives was listening to the deceiver satan who convinced them that they would be wiser or equal to God if they ate of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Their plans did not turn out so good. The rest of humanity has proved that following our own plans without the Lord’s partnership is usually not going to have the best results.

My weakness has been getting ahead of the Lord. He gives me ideas and sometimes plans, but many times I have not waited on Him for the details and tried to figure things out on my own. I think that is called presumption. His ways are always so much better than mine and if I will “wait upon Him” many times He will lift me up above the circumstances (“mount up with wings like eagles” – Isaiah 40:30) so that I can see things from His perspective.

I have several amazing friends that spend a good amount of time at the end of a year to wait upon the Lord for direction, for ideas, for details in every area of their lives – from personal, to family, to business, and to ministry – they have pages of details of what they feel like the Lord has spoken to them. I am fairly certain they have to make adjustments along the way, but at the end of the year they have accomplished many of their goals. They are successful, influential individuals that impact the lives of many others in their spheres of influence.

Don’t compare yourself with others, please. My vision or instructions may only have bullet points, while yours may be very detailed because of the season of life you are in. I am 76 years old and have my plate full of things I feel like the Lord has prepared for me in this season. I have recently said (in my journal) that “my dreams are coming true.” I am doing things that are not only very fulfilling but I sense His pleasure in them. Did I make a few mistakes? Oh, yes – several costly ones (financially) – but hopefully I have learned from those mistakes and won’t repeat them!

So, what is my exhortation to each of you reading this column? Take a little time with just you and the Lord where He can speak to you personally. Be open to receive correction, instruction, vision or anything else He may want to say to you. Write it down! Habakkuk instructs us to “write the vision, make it plain – so that you may run with it.” Your instructions from Him may or may not be long or short, but He will speak to you if you take the time to listen. Time is a very precious commodity – and we all have an equal amount of it each day. Steward that commodity well. It is something each one of us is responsible for – we are not responsible for the way someone else uses their time, but we are responsible for how we use our own 24 hours each day. This is not a rigid framework that you must follow and map out every detail, but an opportunity for the Lord to speak to you about some things He would like to walk with you through this coming year. May your 2024 be blessed beyond anything you could ask or think!