Some focus on new goals accompanied by innovative strategic plans to attain targets. Others put into writing their newfound longings which they have discovered after the season of reflection. And a lot of us pledge to start a new level of relationships with the people we love and cherish. All these go to show that we all have a general mental picture of where we want to go and on which things we think we may have to leave behind, in the past.
Yet, in the midst of all these serious ponderings on what we plan to do next, let the first day of the year be a time for us to open ourselves to the guiding wisdom and power of the Almighty God. We are called to embrace the liberating truth in Proverbs 16:9, “A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” Remember that we are never prohibited from making new plans for this new chapter. However, we are lovingly urged to humbly submit ourselves to the One who has prepared the grand blueprint of our existence.
True. It would be a tragedy if the goals we have set, the longings we have set to satisfy and the relationships we seek to cherish never get to become realities. But what would be an even greater tragedy is this: the failure to fulfill God’s purpose in our lives. For there is no pleasure that can replace the joy of knowing that we are aligned with God’s perfect will for us.
Past catastrophes – both personal and national – may seem to have blurred our vision of the future and left us confused as to God’s plans for us and for our nation. But together, and with our eyes clearly fixed on the certainty of God’s love, we can always rise.
So let us start this year earnestly seeking His direction and humbly surrendering to all that He wants to do in, for and through us. To fresh starts, an unwavering faith and new beginnings!