A New Year, A Clean Slate 2024
As I write this morning, it is the day before we officially welcome in the 2024 New Year. Many of you are preparing for your New Year Eve celebrations.
I spent an entire day yesterday preparing for a New Year’s meal for my family. This meal will consist of blackeye peas of course, which is a good old Southern tradition. Oh, and there will be rice, cabbage, okra, sweet potatoes and let’s not forget a delicious roast, cornbread and dessert.
As I am writing this it makes me wonder how many people will spend more time planning their New Year’s celebrations, than planning their New Year.
Because I have personally experienced the blessings of spending time with God, and consulting with Him for directions and guidance for the year, I truly want you to experience the same.
Here are a few of my suggestions for you to have a powerful and effective planning strategy for your New Year.
Take some time to really get still before the Lord and just listen. If you are not used to being still before the Lord in total silence, you may feel like nothing is happening. Initially you will feel like you want to cut this session short. I encourage you to start with 10 minutes and work your way up to 15 minutes. God will start to give you thoughts and ideas that will help point you in a direction that is best for you. Just be patient.
Psalm 46:10
10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
Isaiah 30:21
21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”
Write your plans and goals down. Put them in a place where you can review them daily. Pray over them daily also.
There should be six areas of your life that you strive to grow better in, and they are:
Spiritual Goal – Ask yourself; How can you draw closer to God in 2024? What areas have you not been willing to be totally obedient in? How can I better serve God? Get totally honest with yourself and God and decide how you will do better in the New Year.
Matthew 22:36-40
36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b]
40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Mental Goal
– Protect your mind by choosing to stay positive and to stay away from negativity. Read something from God’s Word every day. Also read books that motivate and inspire you. Choose movies and TV shows that are good and positive, and that line up with your Christian values.
Romans 12;2
2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Physical / Health Goal
Set a goal to eat healthier and to get in more exercise in the New Year. Be sure that you are getting adequate sleep each night. Listen to your body. If you need to rest your body, do that. Plan mini vacations if necessary for down time, just to catch your breath. Get your physicals and dental appointments on schedule.
1st Corinthians 6:19-20
19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies.
1. Financial Goal
Save more, spend less. Set a giving goal for your local church or the charitable foundation of your choice. Tithing is always one of the best ways to honor God with your finances. Do you have a retirement fund set up? Do you have a financial advisor? Make a decision to get your finances in order in 2024.
Mathew 6:24
24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
Luke16:11-12
11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?
12 And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?
Philippians 4:19
19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
Proverbs 13:11
11 Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.
Career / Work Goal
What would you like to achieve in your work or career in 2024? Write it down and be sure that you have a start and stop date. Without a start and stop date it’s just a dream. Create a vision board for your life. Look at it every day.
Habakkuk 2:2
2 Then the Lord replied: “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald[a] may run with it.
Home and Family Goals
What would you like to accomplish as a family this year? Are there relationships that need to be repaired or reconciled? What projects would you like to do as a family? Would you like to plan a family vacation together etc? Would you like to have a family devotional and prayer time together? Discuss your goals as a family and write them down.
1st Timothy 3:5
5 if anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?
Proverbs 22:6
6 Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. Colossians 3:13
13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Galatians 6:2
2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Gratitude Goal – Set a goal to write down the ten things that you are most grateful for each day. This is very important. When you focus on the things that you are grateful for you complain less and you seek the good that can come from every situation. Your gratitude blesses God.
Ephesians 5:20
20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Psalm 107:1
1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
Blessings for a Happy and Prosperous New Year!
