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Put Your Plans Aside and Start the New Year This Way

As we open a new calendar year, many of us are reflecting over the previous year and making plans for the year ahead.

There is just something about the blank slate of a new calendar year that makes you want to start fresh, get organized, and be intentional with your time.

We inevitably turn our eyes to doing.

We want to:

  • Get back on track with our Bible reading,
  • Get more organized,
  • Eat healthier,
  • Exercise more,
  • Whine less,
  • Get rid of stuff,
  • Do this.
  • Do that,
  • Improve this, and
  • Improve that.

This is all really good stuff.

As Donald Whitney says in his book, Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health,

“Where eternal life through Christ does exist, there should be not only health but also growth” (page 14).

“We are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ” (Ephesians 4:15).

We are created in the image of God, and we are created to glorify Him.

To know Him. Walk intimately with Him.

All of this got messed up in the garden, but God made a way for His purposes to prevail – the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

But remember that God created us as human beings, not human doings.

It is in Him that we find our motivation for doing.

Choosing Bible reading plans, setting goals for personal growth, and resolving to do things a little differently this year are all good things, but we must not neglect the most important thing – simply being in Christ.

So before you get started this year with your grandiose plans, be still before the Lord.

Read the Gospel of John in the New Testament. Soak in the words of Jesus for a little bit, especially chapters 14 and 15.

I particularly like to meditate on John 15:5:

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

We tend to get a little swept away this time of year.

We get swept away into doing good works and forget to simply abide in Him.

He is the vine.

We are the branches.

Apart from Him we can do nothing.

Set your beautiful new planner aside for a moment.

Yes, even the 2020 Made to Give Life Seasonal Goal Planner. 🙂

Pull out your Bible and simply soak in His words for a little bit.

You don’t have to journal. You don’t have to do an intensive Bible study.

Just simply read through the Gospel of John and be in His presence.

Then, pull out those plans and maybe use a guide to help you set up your new year for His glory.

But don’t set another goal or make another plan until you have simply sat with Him. I promise you won’t regret it. 

What about you? What are you most excited about this year? What do you like to do at the turn of a new year? I’d love to hear from you in the comments!

When you’re ready to sit down and make a plan for your new year, I have something that can help.

The 2020 Made to Give Life Seasonal Goal Planner is designed to help you get from where you are now to where you’re made to be.

Click here to learn more, or visit my store for other resources to help you be more intentional in the coming year. 

This post contains my affiliate links. See my full disclosure policy here.

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Filed Under: Devotional, Goals, Intentional Living

About Leigh Ann Dutton

Leigh Ann Dutton is the wife to the man of her prayers, Mark, and mama to four loveable little cherubs. She takes joy in spending her days creating memorable moments with her family, studying God's Word, reading good books, and enjoying God's creation. She does it all by the grace of God.

Previous Post: «Do you want to practice the habit of daily journal writing? The new year is a great time to reflect and evaluate the previous year. Includes FREE printable. | IntentionalByGrace.com 30 Journal Prompts to Start a New Year
Next Post: The Best Books I Read in 2019 (to Add to Your 2020 Reading List) I read a lot this year. These are the best books I read in 2019 to add to your 2020 reading list-- plus a Reading Challenge for Christian Women! | Intentional By Grace.com»

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Susan Baughman

    January 1, 2018 at 9:01 am

    Happy New Year! Great post. Our sermon yesterday was about how important it is to give God the first of everything, the first of your day, your week, your month and your year. What a great reminder to start the year off right.

    Reply
  2. Pam Collins

    January 1, 2018 at 10:03 pm

    Thank you so much for the post. What a perfect reminder of our purpose and where our first focus should be.

    Reply
  3. Gabriela

    January 1, 2018 at 10:20 pm

    Yes…great idea. Now you made me read John again. We just finished it last year in BSF but now I feel I need to go back and read it from this view. 🙂

    Reply
  4. Rita

    January 2, 2018 at 2:01 am

    I’m so excited to become closer to God and bask in his word.

    Reply

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