Looking Forward in the New Year

By Joan Kelley with poem by Larry James Peacock

“A Prayer for the New Year”

Loving God, journey with me this year so that I may feel Your presence, abide in Your forgiveness, grow in Your strength, and dwell in Your love. Give me an open heart, an open mind, and open eyes so that I may sing Your praise and follow Your path always and everywhere. Amen.

by Larry James Peacock in Openings

As we continue to end out 2011, let us reflect on God’s evidence in that season and remember with gratitude his presence in our lives. But also let us embrace this new season with hope and the possibilities of what is yet to be. I wonder what God may be calling you to do or be or end as you move forward into 2012.

Questions to Ponder:

• What new activities or ways of being is God calling/nudging/whispering to you?
• What is God asking you to disengage from, end or let go of in the new year?
• What word or phrase or scripture has God asked you to live into this year?
• What fruits of the spirit, character traits or personal values do you think God is hoping to see revealed in your life?
• What is God beginning to teach you already this year about His intense love for you and His unique piece of glory meant to be revealed through your story?
• How do you think he wants to intersect your story with others’ stories in the coming days?
• How will you be more aware of His presence every day?
• What’s an initial, specific step He wants you to take this week?
• What would your New Year’s prayer say this year?
• Write a letter to God telling him the honest desires of your heart for this new year.  Save it in a safe place and review it throughout the year.

Scripture:

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.  Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.  But one thing I do:  Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12-14

Prayer:

Father, thank you for endings that lead to new beginnings. Help us to stand in the present moment of this new year, not overwhelmed with the unknown but with gratitude for our past and hope for the future. Help us to be more aware of your presence each day. Amen.

Joan Kelley is the Director of Facilitator Development for oneLife Maps and a facilitator and teacher using the “Listen to My Life:  Maps for Recognizing and Responding to God in My Story,” a visual workbook to be used in small groups, mentoring relationships, workshops, retreats, classes, between spiritual friends, or individually to re-discover the storyline of the life they are authoring with God. More information is available at www.oneLifemaps.com, or contact us at service@onelifemaps.com.   Joan writes a blog at www.caringbridge.org/visit/willkelley.

Leave a Comment ›