We are quickly approaching 2024 and all that a new year brings. Resolutions, Biggest Loser for some here, new hopes and dreams for the next 12 months. It’s a good time to hit the reset button and I always look forward to it.

For now, however, we can take a few moments to reflect back on 2023. Think about these questions… your responses can be big or small, silly or serious:

What was something that challenged you this year? How did you handle that?

What was something that brought you joy? Did you tell God or the person about that moment?

What are you proud of from this last year? Something you did? Something your spouse/child/friend did? Why were you proud in that moment?

What is something that God told you this year? What did you do in response?

What is saving your life right now?

We still have 3 more days in 2023. I’m not going to put out a challenge for all of us to wrap up our 2023 goals in 3 days (for example, I surely won’t read 3 more books in 3 days to hit my reading goal 😉).

What if we try to finish these last 3 days of 2023 well by preparing our hearts for 2024?

Paul wrote to the Corinthian church these instructions:

24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

What if finishing 2023 well means making a game plan for 2024? Not necessarily resolutions or goals. But maybe you and I spend a few minutes prayerfully asking and considering what God may be asking us to do in 2024. What does “training diligently” look like in this season for you? What is feasible? Or maybe what looks like a stretch but that God is nudging your heart about and you keep getting this feeling that God is asking you to do something that feels impossible? Not starting 2024 by “running aimlessly” but running with a purpose – moving forward in faith, whatever that looks like to you.

Let’s finish 2023 well by considering 2024 and how God may be wanting to use you this coming year. What He is bringing to your mind? That nudge that you’re feeling or a thought that popped up? Spend some time praying about that. God plans seeds in our hearts and minds; let’s see how He may grow them this coming year.

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