Friends, the new year is just days away—and we’ll not only be turning the calendar on a new year, but a new decade as well! Whew! Just the mere thought of that can be a bit weighty.
Every new year brings with it renewed hope, renewed outlooks, new opportunities, new seasons, new relationships. But a new year also allows us the opportunity to pause and consider the year we’ve just finished. Did we finish 2019 well?
There are many ways we can evaluate where we’ve been—were we true friends to others this year? Did we step out and share our faith? What new things did we try? How did we obey God this year? Is there anything we wish we had done differently? How did we see God’s character in a new way this year? What did we learn?
Looking back can sometimes feel sad, but we see over and over in Scripture the command to remember. While we don’t want to live in regret or despair, we do want to remember how God was faithful to fulfill His promises, how He showed us more of Himself, and how He loved us in the past. Remembering can help us as we step into future planning. God was and is and is to come, the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Remembering that, we look forward to what He will do in our lives in the future.
A new year often serves as a catalyst for remembering and for planning, and we want to help you be prepared to set new rhythms for the new year. We want to help you set rhythms you can start with and continue to consider as the year goes on and life twists and turns.
In the free printable below, you will find many different prompts to consider as you look ahead to 2020. Some of the prompts will ask you to fill in blanks, to make plans, to write lists. Others are simply prayers we’re praying with you as the new year begins. Don’t feel like you need to fill out every prompt we’ve provided (because there are a lot and we know it could look a bit daunting). You could start with one prompt a day and work your way through the list on your own time, or use some of ours as a jumping off point for your own reflections and intentions.
We’d also encourage you to keep this printable with you as you go through the year. Refer back to it—make tweaks and changes as the year goes on. Consider using these questions and prayers as a way to remember how God is working in your life this year. We’ve also included some Lifeway Women blog posts after the printable if you’d like to do further reading on the prompts we’ve provided. May these reflections and plans prompt us all to give thanks to the Lord for His perfect plan. Simply click the link or image below to download the printable and get started!
Setting Rhythms for the New Year Printable
Check out the blog posts below if you’d like to do further reading on the topics covered in the printable!
Develop or grow your prayer life – here and here
Step outside your comfort zone – here, here, and here
Share your faith – here and here
Find a mentor or a mentee – here, here, and here
Memorize Scripture – here
Be gracious – here
Set appropriate boundaries – here and here
Be a true friend – here, here, and here
Be financially responsible – here
