Crossover nights, New Year resolutions, and reconciliation are a few ways people prepare to enter a new year. Aspirations are high, determination is strong, and the excitement is palpable. They all speak the same language, saying the same thing: “My new year will be better than the old.” “New year, new me.”

But before January runs out, most people revert back into their former unproductive habits. Life goes on as it used to be.

Before February comes along, many people forget what resolutions they made. They no longer value the advantages that motivated them to make the resolutions in the first place. Some who still hold on to the word for the year, which their man of God gave, do so out of a somewhat idealistic belief that that word has an automatic anointing to work effortlessly for them.

Then, as if it has the wings of the Peregrine Falcon, the world’s fastest bird, the year rushes by, and here comes December again with nothing much having changed in our lives from the last year. Yet again, we have new New Year’s resolutions, new reconciliation efforts, plus another excitement-charged crossover night to usher us into another year.

This becomes a routine that can discourage you and make you unhappy with your life in the long run.

But here’s a piece of good news: you can set your life on a course that only gets better, forward, and higher, year after year.

𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗚𝗼𝗱’𝘀 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲 𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲

When you do, each year is an opportunity to build on or accomplish more of that purpose. It already gives you a direction to follow and a motivation that drives you.

𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗚𝗼𝗱

Plans are easier to stick to when you know God wants that direction or goal for your life. It’s easier to ask for and receive His grace to accomplish a goal when you know it’s in sync with His blueprint for your life. So draw your plans but seek heaven’s approval or adjustment of it.

The Bible says “𝙏𝙧𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙇𝙤𝙧𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙣 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙤𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜; 𝙞𝙣 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬𝙡𝙚𝙙𝙜𝙚 𝙝𝙞𝙢, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙨 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩.” Prov 3:5-6 NIV.

Do not plan without God. This will entail you spending some ample time with the Father. After all, you should spend time with God regularly as a Christian.

𝗘𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗢𝗹𝗱 𝗛𝗮𝗯𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗕𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗺

When you see how present unproductive habits hinder you, it is easier to want to create new habits and stick to them, even when your initial excitement about the change diminishes.

That is why you shouldn’t just make resolutions motivated by the excitement of the season. Take time to evaluate your life and habits. Look at where you want to be and consider what it would take to get you to that desired place. Consider what you need to give up and what you need to pick up to achieve your goal.

Then let the benefits of that desired end be the fuel that carries you through the difficult moments when you feel like quitting.

𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱

This cannot be overemphasized because it’s one reason many people give up on their new year’s goals and plans when their excitement dies down.

Self-discipline is hard because it doesn’t need emotions; it needs a drive, a determination motivated by the benefits of your desired end. Without self-discipline, you cannot build consistency either in achieving your plans or forming new habits. There’s no easier way to say it. You need self-control if you must make progress.

My dear friends, I’m sure these are not the only things to do to make your new year a better one. I hope God uses these to help someone truly make their new year better than the old.

Happy and Prosperous New Year 2022!

~AkuBai

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