[This reflection was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, January 2018]
It is that time of year when we tend to look back at the year just gone and ahead to the one just begun. We probably had a lot of good intentions (resolutions) at the start of the last year and on reviewing things, if you are like me, there are a lot more that we fell short of achieving, than those where we hit the mark. Indeed, on reflection, I see where God’s blessings have been abundant and often unexpected. The shame about it is that I forget these very quickly and wonder why He seems so distant when the next difficulty presents itself!
I am determined to do things differently this year, such as getting this work-life balance thing right, taking time for what really matters, tackling one thing at a time, spending more time with God in His word and in prayer. All laudable things no doubt, but given my track record, hmmm…
How do I go about making this year different from the one just gone? How do I know what really matters, what path God wants me to walk this year? Victor Frankl is said to have stated that “We DETECT, rather than INVENT our missions in life.” How do I detect what I need to do this year?
I find words from Minnie Haskins’s aptly named poem, ‘The Gate of the Year’ very helpful:
And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year:
“Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.”
And he replied:
“Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God.
That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.”
In John’s gospel, Jesus said “I have come that they might have life and have it more abundantly” (John 10: 10). Jesus was clear about why he had come in to the world. To get clarity, that is who we need to turn to. We need to ask Him to show us what we need to do, where we need to be during this year and how we should do what He has asked us to do.
My prayer for us all is that when Christ’s Spirit reveals these things to us, we will resolve to be faithful and obedient to His leading.
So, yes, New Year revelations, which will lead to New Year resolutions.
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Contributed by David Makanjuola; © David Makanjuola