ByWhenever a new year is around the corner on December 31, many people desire to see positive changes in various aspects of their lives in the upcoming year. Well, that is not bad. In fact, it’s good. However, in most cases, years pass by without many of us experiencing the changes we desire to see. But have we asked ourselves what causes these problems? Choices are more powerful than statistics. And that means your story can differ from the masses if you choose to. However, you must be willing to pay the price to be different.
Choices are more powerful than statistics.
Preparing for a new year before that year begins is good because it positions you to expect changes and new things in the upcoming year. In today’s article, I’m glad to walk you through how to prepare to start a new year with God. I hope you’re ready.
1. Recognise your need of God
The only One who can help you have a fruitful new year is God. No matter the motivational messages you listen to, they can’t replace Him in your life. It’s God who gives life; He is the One who will give you air to breathe and also woo people’s hearts to help you. You must recognise your need of Him.
You may indeed live till the next following year. But without God, there’ll be no difference in your life. That means you must be born again if you’re not. And if you’re born again, you must intensify your personal relationship with Him. How? By taking your Bible study more seriously, attending spiritual meetings more regularly, both at home cells and in-person church services, more seriously, and being serious about other spiritual disciplines in the Church also.
2. Evaluate your life
Next is for you to evaluate your life. When I say this, I’m really asking you to get a pen and paper, think about your life in the year you’re in now. Compare what went well to what didn’t. However, because of forgetfulness and cloudiness of the mind, it’s better to departmentalise the areas you must analyse – like your marital or relational life, educational pursuits, work achievements, leadership and more.
Check what you spend more money on and see whether the things you’re buying are necessary or just for pleasure. You can use the purchased items in your room to help you diagnose this or your purchasing history in an e-commerce app you’ve been using, like Amazon or Jumia.
Are you satisfied with your educational pursuits, or do you want to further because you want to do more in your career? What about your relationships with people? Ask yourself whether you speak nicely to people or how you ought to speak to people. Is it good or bad? Tell friends to help you with this, so you can get genuine feedback to see what you need to change.
Now, you may ask, “Are all these things necessary?” Yes. It is because of two reasons.
- The Bible teaches us to watch our lives closely (1 Timothy 4:16).
- We must represent Christ wherever we are so well, and that includes checking our behaviour and relationships with people.
Analysing your life helps you scrutinise your strengths and weaknesses more clearly. Also, it can help you to decide which acts you must depend on the grace to stop doing, which new habits you must form and which ones you must improve upon.
3. Decide to build systems around your life to improve it.
I’ve always said that it’s not just about making new decisions for a better life improvement. It’s about building systems to keep you consistent on the good things you have decided to do.
Analysing your life helps you scrutinise your strengths and weaknesses more clearly.
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For example, maybe, you’ve determined to read more Christian articles from our ministry website or Christian ebooks. Such a decision is good, but when you don’t create a check-and-balance system in your life to keep you consistent, you might start well and still abandon this good habit formation on the way. It happens to many people, and they can’t explain why they can’t build great habits. It’s because there’s no system to check their consistency.
Now about reading, I like using Apple Books to read ebooks and the YouVersion Bible app to read plans each day. Those two apps have an in-built streak system each to check my daily reading and app usage. The feature helps me to remain consistent in my reading habits, which will further improve my own knowledge bank about God’s Word. Trying it out can help you.
Maybe, you’re not so technologically advanced to understand streaks systems and alarms. Why don’t you get an accountability partner to help you instead? It could be your spouse, child or friend. Let the person know your new decisions so he can check up on you about your progress each day.
Below are some spiritual systems I suggest you should build or improve upon in your life each year.
- Bible reading (at least a chapter each day).
- Prayers and fasting for yourself and your family.
- Church attendance commitment
- Audio Bible listening
Note that all these things are supposed to do two things in your life. First, enhance your relationship with God, and second, build your life. They are not to create religious practices in your life.
Have a great year. You’re a blessing.
