Written by: Lourieke Haller
Article source: JOY! Magazine
What a wonderful opportunity to have a new beginning every year, a fresh start. I am not talking about New Year’s resolutions – those good things that we should do, but that we all know that we never actually end up doing. Let us do something different this year. Moses prayed, “Teach us to number our days, so we may get a heart of wisdom” – Psalm 90:12. Every second, minute, hour, day, week, and month of 2023 is God’s gift to each of us. Let us redeem it wisely.
1 Close the chapter
Consider this. “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past” – Isaiah 43:18. We need to put the good and the bad of last year behind us in order to embrace the new things that God has in store for us. Let go of 2022 today. Choose to close the book on all the disappointments and failures. Forgive if need be. And alas, we cannot bask in last year’s victories and successes. We need to get ready for the new challenges and the victories with God that await us in 2023.
2 Start a prayer journal
If you are not the journaling type, do not despair. I am not talking about writing every day or for hours on end. Just start the habit of writing down the answers to your prayers. Too often we forget about the small (or big) miracles that God does in our lives. Such a prayer journal, full of beacons of God’s faithfulness, will be a lighthouse of hope in those dark storms that occur in all of our lives.
3 Reinvent yourself – live, do not just exist
For different people this will mean different things. For some it could simply mean trying out that new hairstyle or hair colour. It could mean trying a trendier style of clothes instead of the dated ones that you have grown accustomed to over the years. This is about reinventing, a fresh new you! Say “yes” to invitations more, open yourself up to meeting new friends. Get out of the deadly comfort groove – the results might surprise and invigorate you! Make an appointment with a career consultant and explore new possibilities. Life is meant to be lived, do not merely exist.
4 Take on something new
Whether it is to join a sports team or an art class; taking up dancing lessons, trying a new hobby like photography or woodwork, or joining the worship team or going on mission outreaches – take on something new. Try new recipes for a change – eat a dish from a different country once a month.
Can you recall the exhilaration of that first time you learnt to balance and ride your bicycle? Keep on discovering and having new experiences in this wonderful life God that has gifted you with. Do not shrink away from something just because you do not know how to do it. Take on the challenge!
5 Declutter
We all have that one cupboard or room where everything ends up that we do not know what to do with. Things we need to mend, or to find a new home for. Now is your chance to get it done! Make it fun, put on your favourite music to bop to, and have a throwaway box, a giveaway box, and a ‘to sell’ box at hand. There are numerous online videos and programmes with tips on how to declutter and tidy up. The extra physical and mental space when all the clutter is gone, is freeing!
6 Wake up early and start your day with a plan
If you are looking to make the most of every day this year, there is no better way than by waking up early (The definition of “early” I will leave to you). You will give yourself the chance to get ahead of the day’s tasks and avoid feeling rushed – a thief of our peace and joy. It also gives you the opportunity to start your day with God – the best way to start any day.
7 Create a vision board
Put together some images of items, holidays, destinations, or experiences that you hope to acquire or do someday and create a vision board. You can keep this digitally on your screen, or put one up on your wall where it can inspire and motivate you to save and do what you need to, to achieve those dreams.
8 Fix your eyes on Jesus
Lastly, if we want to start the year right, we need to firmly fix our eyes on Jesus. Only by doing this will we be able to stay the course in the race this year. “…Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…” – Hebrews 12:1-2
Are you trying anything new this year? Write to us and let us know, we’d love to hear from you! Email us on info@joymag.co.za
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Date published: 01/01/2023
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JOY! News is a Christian news portal that shares pre-published articles by writers around the world. Each article is sourced and linked to the origin, and each article is credited with the author’s name. Although we do publish many articles that have been written in-house by JOY! journalists, we do not exclusively create our own content. Any views or opinions presented on this website are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the company.
