Getting God’s Perspective on the New Year

Season 3 Episode 2 -- It's that time of year when we are often motivated to create goals for the year.  Is there a way to get God's perspective in this process?  You bet!  Listen and find out some helpful biblical principles related to this endeavor.

"Reflect on This" is a once-a-week, short devotional podcast, where I share what I am learning about following Jesus, through applying eternal biblical principles to life, in practical ways.  Not religion, but RELATIONSHIP - with Jesus and with others!
 
If you like the podcast, please tell your friends and family about it, and subscribe/follow it, because it helps others to find the podcast more easily (because having more followers raises the podcast higher in search results).
 
Resources that inspired some episodes:

"My Heart, Christ's Home" by Robert Munger

"The Language of Rivers and Stars" by Seth Lewis

“Dream Small:  The Secret Power of the Ordinary Christian Life” by Seth Lewis

 Seth Lewis blog:  https://sethlewis.ie/

35 Bible Verses About Listening To Others (Explained) - Bible Repository 

"Restoration Year: Devotions to Transform Your Relationships, Spirit, and Faith" by John Eldredge

"Boundaries" by Henry Cloud and John Townsend

"The Pleasure of His Company" by Dutch Sheets

"Fresh Air" by Chris Hodges

“The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts” by Gary Chapman

"The Lies We Believe: Renew Your Mind and Transform Your Life" by Dr. Chris Thurman

Featured ministries and resources:
 
“Agape Puppets” (ministry)
This is an amazing world-wide ministry that uses puppet shows to reach children (and their parents) for Christ, in cultures that are generally not very open to the Gospel.  To learn more, go to: https://theagapepuppets.org/ 

"Manufacture Good" (ministry)
 Manufacture Good is a Christian ministry that offers paid apprenticeships to men who need a second chance.  These apprentices learn biblical principles, character, and valuable woodworking and metalworking skills which lead to employment opportunities.  You can shop their catalog of fine home and office products, order a standard or custom piece of furniture, make a donation, and learn more about this amazing ministry, at: https://manufacturegood.org/.

"The World and Everything in It" (podcast)
This is a weekday 35-minute podcast that presents headline news, in-depth news articles, media reviews, and opinion pieces from a Christian world view.  Their stated mission is "biblically objective journalism that informs, educates, and inspires."
 
“Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage” (podcast) 
This is a once a week 30-minute podcast hosted by Greg and Erin Smalley, who head up the marriage team at Focus on the Family.  Each episode addresses a different aspect of marriage, using biblical principles, featured guests, practical advice, and a mixture of humor and candidness.  
 
"e-Sword" (Bible study software)
This study tool includes many free (and low-cost) resources, including Bibles, dictionaries, commentaries, and devotionals.  It allows you to simultaneously view verses and their corresponding cross-references, lexicon entries, commentaries, and more.
On your computer, go to e-sword.net
On your mobile device, go to your app store and search for “e-sword.” 

Music credits:
Beauty by MaxKoMusic | https://maxkomusic.com/
Promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all

Transcript

At the beginning of each year, we often find ourselves motivated to create goals for the new year.  For the last few years, I have settled into a rhythm of getting alone with God and asking for His guidance in looking back at the previous year, and looking forward to the new year.   

In 2024, in an early episode of season 1 of this podcast, I outlined the process that has become very helpful to me.  Here’s a quick review:

For the past year:

·         List the successes, growth, and fun I experienced (as encouragement).  

·         List my failures (as reminders of my dependence on God).  

·         Identify the lessons learned from these failures (as reminders of opportunities for continued growth and maturity).  

·         List examples of God’s faithfulness during the year (using the 20/20 vision of hindsight).

For the current year:

·         Identify my current challenges.

·         List my needs (letting God’s faithfulness during the previous year give me confidence in His guidance and provision for this year).

·         Identify my wants (recognizing that God knows what is good for me, and will respond accordingly).

·         List my goals (remembering to prioritize people over projects).

·         Give myself permission to list my dreams (even those that might take many years to come to fruition).  I remind myself that God may have actually put some of these dreams in my heart.

Then, in 2025, in an early episode of Season 2, I added some practical advice from Mike Foster, a personal and professional life coach, on this process.  He encourages us to not focus on starting something completely new, or trying to stop something completely.  Instead, he suggests that we:

·         Identify the things already in our lives that are bringing value,

·         Commit to building upon these things in meaningful ways, and 

·         Identify and celebrate big and little wins as progress.  

·         (I would add to this advice to look for the blessings in everything, as an encouragement to keep going.)

I now want to add some additional insight I have gleaned in this annual process.  It comes from what I have discovered is a surprising and healthy tension between two guiding biblical principles, illustrated by two different quotes from Jesus.  

The first principle is illustrated in the following passage:

Luke 14:28-30 HCSB  "For which of you, wanting to build a tower, doesn't first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it?  (29)  Otherwise, after he has laid the foundation and cannot finish it, all the onlookers will begin to make fun of him,  (30)  saying, 'This man started to build and wasn't able to finish.'  

I call this the “plan and count the cost” principle.  Jesus is encouraging us to plan with Him.   Here is the second passage:

Luke 9:1-6 HCSB  Summoning the Twelve, He gave them power and authority over all the demons, and power to heal diseases.  (2)  Then He sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.  (3)  "Take nothing for the road," He told them, "no walking stick, no traveling bag, no bread, no money; and don't take an extra shirt.  (4)  Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there.  (5)  If they do not welcome you, when you leave that town, shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them."  (6)  So they went out and traveled from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing everywhere.

I call this the “just trust the Lord” principle.  Jesus is also encouraging us to trust Him.

So, what do these principles have to do with my annual time with the Lord?  Simply this:  It is good to take time with the Lord, listen to Him, and make plans for the year.  But, as the year unfolds, I must also hold these plans lightly in my hands, being open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit to change course during the year as He directs, and trusting the Lord in these deviations from the plans.  

What about you?  Will you spend some time alone with God, allowing Him to work with you in formulating plans for this year, balanced by a simple trust in His guidance so as to not over plan?

Today, I encourage you to “Reflect on This.”