New Year’s Day  also simply called New Year’s or New Year is observed on January 1, the first day of the year on the modern Gregorian calendar as well as the Julian calendar. As a date in the Gregorian calendar of Christendom, New Year’s Day liturgically marked the feast of the naming and circumcision of Jesus, which is still observed as such in the Anglican Church and Lutheran church.

In present day, with most countries now using the Gregorian calendar, New Year’s Day is probably the most celebrated public holiday, often observed with fireworks at the stroke of midnight as the new year starts in each time zone. Other global New Year’s Day traditions include making New Year’s resolutions and calling one’s friends and family.

God’s Plan for New Year

Scripture tells us about God’s promises and how we can face the new year with hope! Our lord wants us to seek out His will for our lives and live life fully alive. Stop satan’s goal in making you feel defeated  and overcome, you can start this new year renewed. God’s plan for the newly year includes the following:

• New Birth (1 Peter 1 : 3)
• Hope for the future (Jeremiah 29 : 11)
• A New Creation (2 Corinthians 5 : 17)
• A New Heart (Ezekiel 36 : 25.-27)
• Forget the Past – learn from your  mistakes (Philippians 3 :13-14)
• Wait on the Lord-God’s timing   is perfect (Ecclesiastes 3 : 11)
• Each New Day is Special (Lamentations 3 :22-24)

1 Peter 1:3

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy, He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. (NIV)

Salvation in Jesus Christ represents new birth- a transformation of who we are. The start of a new year is a great time to reflect on the new and living hope we have in this life and in the life to come.

 

Hope for the Future

Jeremiah 29 : 11

“For I know the plans I have for you,      “ says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope (NLT)

 

We can trust God in the year ahead, because He has good plans for our future. To ensure that God’s plan is fulfilled in our lives lets read the Bible and pray daily. We should also obey what the word instructs us to do.

 

A New Creation

2 Corinthians 5 : 17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation : old things have passed away : behold, all things have become new. (NKJV)

This passage describes a transformation that will eventually lead to the full enjoyment of eternal life in the new heaven and new earth. Christ’s life, death and resurrection introduce followers of Jesus Christ to a foretaste of the new world to come.

 

A New Heart

Ezekiel 36 :25-27

Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will no longer worship idols. And I will give you a new heart, with new and right desires, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony heart of sin and give you a new, obedient heart. And I will put my spirit in you, so you will obey my laws and do whatever I command.  (NLT)

Believers are not merely changed externally, they undergo a radical renewal of heart. This total cleansing and transformation reveal the holiness of God to an unholy world.

Forget  the Past – learn from mistakes

Philippians 3 : 13-14

No dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing  all my energies on this one thing! Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the price for which God, through Christ Jesus is calling  us up to heaven (NLT).

Christians are not perfect. The more we grow in Christ, the more we realize how far we have to go. We can learn from our mistakes, but they are in the past and need to stay there. We look forward toward the resurrection. We keep our eyes on the prize. And by maintaining our focus on the goal, we are pulled heavenward. Both discipline and perseverance are required to accomplish this objective.

Wait on the Lord – God’s timing   is perfect

Ecclesiastes 3 : 11

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men: yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end (NIV)

Psalm 37 ; 7

Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for Him to act. Do not worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes. (NLT)

Isaiah 40 : 31

Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles,  they will  run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary. (NASB)

We can be content and wait for God’s timing, for it is sure to be the right time. By waiting and trusting patiently, we gain quiet strength.

 

Each Day Is Special

Lamentations 3 ; 22-24

The unfailing love of God never ends! By His mercies we have been kept from complete destruction. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each day. I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in Him. (NASB)

We can count on God’s never ending love and faithfulness with each new day.

Lessons from the Verses Quoted

It can be concluded from the verses quoted and explained that God gives each of us the opportunity or a second chance to start our lives afresh every new year.  We can forget about everything that happened in the previous year and begin again like we have had no past failures or successes.

We can say the new year is a gift from God. He kept us alive all through the past year and gave us the opportunity to:

• Be born again
• Re-plan our lives
• Make us completely changed people
• Change our desires and habits.
• Forget about the past and learn from our mistakes
• Wait on the Lord
• See each new day as being special.

On January 1, 2019 we can start the year by having a family prayer time as well as a personal prayer time. It would be good to take a fast too. Even a half-day fast is enough.

You can thank God for the new year and ask for His blessings, direction and protection throughout 2019. You could also put down a few goals you would   like to achieve in 2019. They should not be over ambitious and unattainable. As you achieve each goal you will be encouraged to work towards achieving the next one. Celebrate your success in your own small way.

 

The verse to guide us through 2019 is:

1 Thessalonians 5 : 17

“Pray without ceasing.”

Have a blessed and prosperous NEW YEAR !

 

By Evangeline Esaaba Folson

References

1. Wikipedia (December, 2018) New Year’s Day
2. BibleStudyTools Staff (2015) New Year’s Bible Verses
3. 10 Hopeful Bible Verses for the New Year.