In January 2016, my whole life shifted. I had just graduated college, accepted a job in “the Big City”, and was coming out of a season of sin. After my parents helped me settle into my new apartment and I hugged them goodbye, I sat alone in my new place. The unfamiliar sound of heavy traffic and uncomfortably close neighbors failed to drown out the wrestling within my mind.
My 2015 had been hard and chock-full of lessons and losses. I wasn’t ready for a new life, and was certainly not ready for a new year. At the beginning of 2016 is when I discovered the value of reflecting on the past year and of resolving to have a great new year. My 2016 quickly became a hallmark year for me. I grew closer to the Lord than ever before. I owned my faith as my own. I confessed and turned away from habitual sin. I learned to see others as God does. The Father taught me so much in 2016, and I believe it is largely because of how He led me to kick the year off… with reflecting and resolving. Here’s how I did it:
On Reflecting
Reflecting on the past year is absolutely necessary for growth in wisdom and maturity (both of which I am in continual need). God has given us the ability to have a memory, to be able to recall things. He has gifted us with minds that can snatch high points and low points from our pasts and evaluate how we felt. I have a relatively poor memory, so I depend on pictures to help me in the reflection phase.
I flip through dozens, if not hundreds, of pictures and take time to remember the moments that came with each picture taken. Here are some questions I ask myself:
Who is in this picture with me? How has our friendship developed in the past year? Was I an intentional, present friend?
Where was I in this picture? Were there any high or low points to that experience? Did I ever actually thank God for allowing me to have this moment?
Why did I take this picture? What was my intention? Was it selfish or selfless?
How did I show Christ this year to the people in this picture?
Reflecting doesn’t have to be just through pictures. Scroll through your social media posts, read over your text messages, check out your past year’s planner or calendar, flip through your journal, or even review your bank statements. The key is to spark memories of key moments that made up your past year.
Once I’ve invested plenty of time to gather my memories, I take a moment to praise God. For me, I show my appreciation to God by grabbing all my printed photos from the year, holding them in my lap, and saying a prayer of thanksgiving. I thank Him for the good, the bad, and the ugly. I thank Him for being a God that turns the seasons and hears my prayers. I thank Him for sustaining me emotionally, financially, spiritually, physically, and mentally. I thank Him for salvation.
On Resolving
After reflecting, I resolve to use those past moments and memories to better my coming year. We do not know what the future holds (Matthew 6:25-32), but we can be sure that it is God’s will for us to be a people that utilize time well (Ephesians 5:15-17) and press on toward our eternal goal (Philippians 3:12-21). When I begin creating resolutions, I think about my reflection of the past year and what I wish I had done differently. Do I wish I had gained more wisdom? Do I wish I had shared the Gospel more often? Do I wish I had been in God’s Word more consistently?
When I start with the spiritual goals of the coming year, they naturally draw me to create physical goals. Many people try to reverse the sequence, but I find it is better and more effective for me if I start with how I want to grow spiritually. Here are some examples of spiritual goals that result in related physical goals:
Read the Bible consistently > Wake up earlier in the morning and follow a Bible Reading Plan (Click here to find the Bible Reading Plan our church will be doing in 2020 or find an abbreviated Bible Reading Plan on the YouVersion Bible App.)
Gain wisdom > Find a mentor
Share the Gospel once a week > Join a club
Tithe every paycheck > Budget well
Be quick to listen > Make more friends by intentionally listening
Have gratitude > Write a thank you note once a week
Value Imago Dei > Eat better and set up a workout plan
I do what I can to keep God at the center of my goals. I’m a pretty compulsive, excitable gal, so I try my best to think of valuable goals and take time to patiently ask the Lord if these are what I most need. In the end, when it comes to evaluating my resolutions for the coming year, I do best when I measure them up against Micah 6:8. Do my goals ahead cause me to seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with my Lord? If not, how should I adapt them?
Truly, the greatest difference from my difficult 2015 to my thriving 2016 was my proximity to God. What has made or derailed any given year in my life has always been related to my willingness to allow God to shape me and make me more like Him. The world is corrupt and bad things happen. Flesh gives way to sinful desires. But the most consistent element in all my life has been the Lord God Who makes beauty from ashes. He can redeem anyone from any year.
How can we thank Him for His goodness? By surrendering control in reflecting on the past, and resolving to enter the new year with a humble heart. May 2020 truly be a Happy New Year for you!
Meet the Author!
Hannah Hanzel is an opinionated, passionate gal that loves sharing what God is doing in her often busy and complicated life. She strives to show God's glory in working as the Art Director for the Baptist Messenger, serving as a multi-client freelance graphic designer, and communing with CRBC. When she's not working, you can find her sipping coffee in a hammock, watching classic '40s movies, or going on an adventure with friends or family.
