It’s a new year—2025! There’s something refreshing about “new,” a new outfit, a new friend, a new job, a new activity, game, or challenge. So in this new year, what will be new for you? “Same ole thing” you say? You’ve got all you can handle, don’t need anything else?
You’re thinking do, aren’t you? Maybe God wants to urge you to be something new. Be more loving to a family member. Be content with a situation. Be aggressive about righting a wrong. Be more thoughtful. Be intuitive about a need. Be less critical.
Confession. That last one hits me. I may not say something critical, but I have to watch being overly judgmental in spirit about someone or a situation.
However, for me right now, I’m focused on the doing. I shared earlier in the year that I felt the Lord had relieved me of feeling that I had to read every email about aspects of writing or still go to writers’ conferences or feeling guilty that I wasn’t promoting my books and doing more marketing, etc.
For the past twenty years, I definitely felt the pull of the Holy Spirit to step out in faith to write those three books, but this year I have felt his spirit releasing me from writing any others. So, I have been mulling over other directions He has for me, yes even in these latter years of life.
His spirit has been pulling me toward getting better acquainted with my neighbors—perhaps eventually forming a Bible study/book study group of some kind. So, I’m committing myself to gather together the ladies in the corner of my neighborhood this month before we leave on our annual February Gulf Shores trip.
There, I said it. Now I must put feet on my committment. I have all of you as witnesses. Along with your witness of this declaration, I ask that you pause just now and pray for me to step forward in this new endeavor and that the Lord will open some paths and ready some hearts.
As has often been said, “When He closes one door, He will open another.”
Well, that’s my story. I would love to hear your story. How do you perceive “On With the New” to play out in your life this year? New way of thinking? Of being? New action? Even a new ministry? I anxiously wait to hear from you. And Happy New Year!
~ Joyce ~