A New Year, A New Direction In Life

The year will soon be over and another one will come. As we try to welcome the new year with hope, we can also reflect on the new path we may want to take in life.

What goals can we set for this coming year? What changes do we want to see in our lives? And how do we start taking the very first steps towards achieving our resolutions?

Here are some things we can consider as we start our journey towards a new direction this year:

1. Review the past years

The last part of our year can be spent reflecting upon the year that is about to end, as well as those that came before.

We can start by asking ourselves the following questions:

What good things that happened do I want to have more of in the future?

What blessings have I forgotten to be grateful for?

Were there trials that helped me grow and brought a good change in my life?

Did I do anything that made me feel like I could have done better?

Which events made me realize the kind of person I wanted to be?

Which people have had the most impact on my life? Why?

How did I respond to God’s love, provision and guidance?

In what ways do I want to deepen my relationship with God?

2. Discover your heart’s desires

We may become too busy that we forget what it is that could fulfill our deepest desires.

With the opportunity to start anew, try to discover what it is you truly want.

What are the things that make you feel happy? What brings you the most joy in life?

Many times, we allow our fears and anxieties to drive us. We do so many things because of our worries. Why not start doing things out of joy and love?

3. Pray for God’s guidance

Prayer should not be our last resort when all else fails. Prayer should be our priority in daily life.

With prayer, we allow God to guide us in every step we make.

Only with prayer can we be filled by God’s light, wisdom and truth.

We often ask others for advice on what to do. Why not ask God first? He is the One who knows us best and He knows what can make our lives most meaningful and fulfilling.

4. Surrender to God’s plans

Setting a new direction in life is not only about our own plans and efforts. It is also about surrendering to God’s will and plan for our lives.

We must grow in faith by believing that God knows what is best for us.

We may think that we know everything, but we don’t. There are things that only God Himself can see. It is to Him that we surrender all our plans and desires.

5. Fulfilling God’s direction in daily life

Sometimes, we think that following God’s direction consists only of fulfilling one big milestone after another.

In truth, however, following God’s direction applies to the many small things that we do each day. They are the steps that can take us continuously along God’s path of hope, peace and joy.

Praying daily, reading the Bible and doing small acts of kindness can go a long way towards deepening our faith and fulfilling God’s eternal plan of goodness for our lives.

Letting God Lead the Way

God is our Shepherd. In Him, there is providence, protection, wisdom and life.

Let us walk along the safe path He has prepared for us. By following Him, we need not be afraid, for we shall never walk alone.

Prayer

Lord, I thank you for this year and the coming one. I thank you for all your many blessings, even for the trials that brought me closer to you.

Please keep me safe and guide my steps. Grant me wisdom that I may know which way to go. Grant me grace and strength that I may fulfill your will in everything that I do.

Our Father, you are the one who made the sun, the moon and the stars. You know us and you know the path that will lead us to life.

Guide us always that we may not stray. Bless us that we may be channels of your holiness, love and joy.

To you we surrender everything. May your name be praised forever!

“For I know well the plans I have in mind for you—oracle of the Lord—plans for your welfare and not for woe, so as to give you a future of hope. When you call me, and come and pray to me, I will listen to you. When you look for me, you will find me. Yes, when you seek me with all your heart…” – Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NABRE)

Jocelyn Soriano is the author of 366 Days of Compassion. You may want to start the year by reading this devotional book each day to inspire you and lead you to prayer.

Where is God? God is with us, but we often do not know where to look and so we do not see. God is there, pursuing us, waiting for us to take the time to call on Him in our helplessness, in the routine of our daily lives. He is the one who will fill our lives with meaning and our hearts with hope and love.