This girl doesn’t make New Year’s resolutions. I think I stopped making lists like that ten or so years ago. Not that there’s anything wrong with New Year’s resolutions, but I have found them to be ineffective for me personally. Rather, before the New Year begins I take a look back at the year passing, make an objective assessment of how much I’ve grown and any areas that I can see need to be strengthened (as objective as one can be when looking at one’s self, mind you). Then I look ahead. Leaving the past behind, I shift my focus towards the future with high hopes and renewed faith of what I believe God can and will do in my life through the course of the New Year.
This past year, as I wrote a few weeks ago, was somewhat of an unexceptional year. However, God was still present in it, and I believe will use even the mundane for His glory. This coming year I look forward to what God has in store. Whether it be the miracle I’ve been waiting for, or simply the steadiness of His hand in every situation I encounter over the next twelve months. Above all I expect to look back a year from now and once again see God’s goodness, His providence and His grace.
So, as the modern translation of “Auld Lang Syne” goes, I will embrace the New Year with a toast to days and times gone by and look ahead with great expectation to the days and times to come.
And I pray your New Year be blessed too!
For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne, we'll take a cup of kindness yet, for auld lang syne.
-Scottish Poem written by Robert Burns in 1788