Why not start the new year by deciding to follow Jesus, or perhaps with prayer and fasting, or with some resolution for your life? A New Year / new season brings to mind a new beginning, new decisions, and new hope — but also the baggage of the old year, questions about direction, and responsibilities. That is exactly why we shouldn’t start the new year with action — but with listening to God, so that we make the right decisions.
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What Can a New Year / Season Mean for Us?
For each of us it may mean something different:
- 🧭 A new beginning, new possibilities
A new year is a reminder that God keeps giving us a new beginning, even when we feel tired or defeated. Start the new year with God and with the new strength that He gives us!
“His mercies are new every morning.” – Lamentations 3:22–23
- 🧭 A new direction (the question: “Where am I going, where am I heading?”; maybe I need to change my path)
A new year often shows us that we are moving fast (time is passing), but not necessarily in the right direction. Correct your course! Make sure you’re heading in the right direction!
“A man’s heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps.” – Proverbs 16:9
“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” – Proverbs 16:25
- 🧭 It shows the passing of time and our own frailty (everyone’s age changes, and that’s not always good news ;) )
A new year teaches us that time is a gift, but also a responsibility. Use it well, not on foolishness! Invest in God’s Kingdom, and everything else will be added to you!
“…seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” – Matt 6:33
“Teach us to number our days, that we may get a heart of wisdom.” – Psalm 90:12
- 🧳 The baggage of the old year (wounds we’ve experienced, unmet expectations; grief, weariness, disappointment…)
You cannot step into a new year while still carrying old things inside you. Get rid of that baggage! Maybe you need to forgive someone? Maybe restore some relationship? Maybe deal with some sin in your life?
“Let us lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely…” – Hebrews 12:1
- 🔥 New decisions (new resolutions and a moment of choice)
The new year confronts us with a question: Do I really believe God, do I actually choose God in everything? Do I make my decisions together with God? Will we serve God, or other things? Am I not wasting my time on TV, games, or other things that eat up my time?
“Choose this day whom you will serve.” – Joshua 24:15
- 🕯️ It’s a New Hope
A new year reveals who we truly trust. There is uncertainty about tomorrow and a fear that things will get worse, but there is also hope that things will get better. Trust God — He has a GOOD PLAN for you!
“For I know the plans I have for you… plans for welfare and not for evil.” – Jeremiah 29:11
That is exactly why it’s better to begin the year by listening and drawing near to God, rather than by acting!
The world says: “Act faster, do more, push harder.” God says: “Be still” and rely on my Spirit!
“Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD!” – Zech 4:6
God spoke this way to Zerubbabel, who was to rebuild the temple — not through human resources, but through God’s own working, by God’s own Spirit!
People Are Like Trees
The Bible often pictures people as trees (for example, Nebuchadnezzar in the Old Testament, in the book of Daniel), and in the New Testament Jesus speaks of PEOPLE AS TREES 🌳
God, as the gardener, does not begin His work on a tree with the fruit, but with the roots! God transforms our hearts first. Yet we often try to fix the fruit and the outward behavior without ever touching the roots.
ROOTS
The roots are our BELIEFS — HOW you believe, and WHAT you believe is true. 🌱These are our heart’s convictions, our identity, our foundation, our base. This is what I live by in the hidden, inner places.
“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted BY streams of water [God’s source] that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.” – Psalm 1
“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” – Proverbs 4:23
“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him.” – Colossians 2:6–7
TRUNK
The trunk represents our VALUES — what we hold to be best. It is our character and our stability under trial. It grows out of being grounded, out of faith, and out of building our life on God’s foundation. If the trunk is weak, the tree breaks in the first strong wind.
BRANCHES
The branches are our ACTIONS — what we do. Our decisions, our habits, our everyday way of life
“I am the vine; you are the branches…” – John 15:5
FRUIT
FRUIT is our RESULTS — what others see on the outside. The outcome of our life and its impact on others.
“You will recognize them by their fruits.” – Matthew 7:17–20
“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace…” – Galatians 5:22–23
Change does not begin with the fruit — change begins underground.
Are You Experiencing a Full Life in God?
Jesus came so that you might have life, and have it abundantly. You can be a Christian and still not step into the fullness of life to which Jesus calls you. This tree shows us that we all have to make a certain journey. 70 to 90% of everything you do and think is habit! Habits can be changed in our lives when:
- We reflect and meditate on the Word of God
- Through the work of the Holy Spirit, we recognize what in us is healthy and what is unhealthy
- With the support of people we trust, and later of our community as well, we make the right decision to change
- We act and put into practice what is good and healthy for our lives
- We share it with others
We look into the mirror of God’s Word, and through the Holy Spirit and our own cooperation we are transformed into His image. We can only experience as great a transformation as we allow God to bring about.
“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord as in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another, for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” – 2 Cor 3:18
“I came that they [my sheep] may have life and have it abundantly.” – John 10:10
The apostle Paul writes to young Timothy that he should train himself in godliness. Physical training is of some value, but godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
“Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather, train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.” – 1 Timothy 4:7-8
Train yourself in godliness in every area of your life.
- learn to reflect,
- learn to recognize what is healthy and what is unhealthy.
- make decisions to do things differently.
- actually do things differently.
“So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.” – 1 Peter 2:1-3
“Like newborn infants, long for pure spiritual milk.” Peter says: “No, no. Stop feeding yourselves junk food, fast food, and things that aren’t good for you. Stop filling your mind with things that are unhealthy and useless.” He says: “Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation — if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.” The right food produces the right growth in our lives.
“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” – Gal 5:1
Christ has set us free for freedom, and we should stand firm, strong, and unshaken. This will require certain choices in our lives — telling apart what is right from what is wrong — but we are to stand firm and not submit again to the yoke of slavery!
