10 THOUGHTS FOR THE NEW YEAR

January 2nd, 2025
by Pastor Aaron Newman

1. WHERE THE SPIRIT LEADS, THE SPIRIT EMPOWERS.

The Holy Spirit will lead you into new seasons in 2025. Some of this will be totally uncharted, stretching, and maybe even a bit scary. He will guide you into situations where you might feel inadequate and unequipped (and you will be). Trust Him in His leading, and remember: whatever He calls you into, He equips and empowers you for.

2. FEED ON THE WORD, NOT ON THE WORLD.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon said, “Half our fears arise from neglect of the Bible.” We plug our smartphones into chargers every night. Why? So they don’t die. Similarly, we must diligently plug our souls into their power source—communion with God—by feeding heartily on His Word.

3. LIVE OUT OF CONVICTION AND TRUST, NOT FEAR, GUILT, OR PRIDE.

"The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe” (Proverbs 29:25, ESV). Don’t live for the approval, admiration, or affirmation of others. Don’t live in fear of what others might think or say. Instead, live out of your identity in Jesus. Live under and according to God’s Word. Live with the snare-less freedom that comes from trusting God.

4. GOD HAS MORE GRACE THAN YOU HAVE SINS.

In Christ, the Father could not love you any more, and He will never love you any less. “He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32, ESV). Drink deeply and daily from the well of God’s grace this year.

5. DISCIPLESHIP IS ALWAYS HAPPENING. THE ONLY QUESTION IS, WHO IS DOING THE DISCIPLING? IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CHURCH, NOT THE WORLD TO MAKE DISCIPLES.

If the older won’t invest in the younger, if the mature won’t build up the immature, and if the Church won’t fulfill its core responsibility to make disciples, the world will be eagerly waiting in the wings to take its place. This year, find someone who is a little ahead of you spiritually and humbly learn from them; find someone who is a little behind you spiritually and invest in them.

6. STOP TAKING OFFENSE AND START TAKING RESPONSIBILITY.

I read this line from another pastor recently, and I felt compelled to include it here. Imagine if God’s people were imperturbable in the face of slights and offenses. Imagine if we had soft hearts but thick skin. If we stopped taking things personally and instead focused more intently on all God has entrusted us with, I submit to you that many of our problems, distractions, and hindrances would evaporate.

7. STOP SPENDING SO MUCH TIME SEEKING GOD’S WILL. INSTEAD, SEEK GOD HIMSELF.

We best know what a person desires if we know the person well. Likewise, if we want to align ourselves with the Lord, pursue His purposes, and desire His desires, we should spend less time seeking His will for specific situations and more time seeking to know Him more deeply.

8. GOD MAY USE DIFFICULTY THIS YEAR TO REVEAL YOUR HEART AND GROW YOU INTO DEEPER FAITH AND MATURITY.

During times of difficulty, stop thinking that the Lord is upset, unkind, or unfair. Instead, recognize that difficulty can be an opportunity for our hearts to be revealed and our dependence on Him to be cultivated. Rather saying, “How could You let this happen, God?” or, “I wasn’t faithful enough to receive God’s blessing,” remind yourself, “Jesus loves me so much that, at the cross, He took on Himself the greatest difficulty, suffering, and abandonment so that I don’t have to. He has already overcome the worst possible fears, defeated my greatest enemies, and dealt with my ultimate problem. Because of that, I can endure my current struggles knowing that I am loved by Him and secure in Him.”

9. “IF POSSIBLE, SO FAR AS IT DEPENDS ON YOU, LIVE PEACEABLY WITH ALL” (ROMANS 12:18, ESV)

We must not seek to merely keep peace but actively seek to make peace. This means pursuing reconciliation if possible, but forgiveness at all costs. Reconciliation takes two, but forgiveness only takes one.

10. GOD CARES FAR LESS ABOUT YOU LEARNING SPECIFIC METHODS OR TECHNIQUES AND FAR MORE ABOUT THE PERSON YOU ARE BECOMING.

We live in a day obsessed with technique, methodology, and quick fixes. But God cares less about you figuring out the right technique in certain areas of life (your devotions, relationships, marriage, parenting, vocation, etc.) and more about you becoming a person who aims to grow in grace, love others sacrificially, and glorify Him in all areas of life. If you continue to grow into that type of person, effective methods will follow.

Posted in NEW YEAR, 2025