To welcome a new year, I have a personal tradition that is deeply rooted in my faith. No matter how the year has gone, whether good or bad, I always begin a new year with prayer. I believe strongly that everything starts and ends with God, and that only Him can truly guide, protect, and lead us in the right direction. Committing my plans, fears, and expectations into God’s hands helps me close the cycle of the old year and step into the new one with peace and hope.
Before the year ends or on the very first day of the new year, I take time to pray intentionally. I thank God for life, for provision, and for lessons learned from the previous year. I also ask for forgiveness for my shortcomings and strength to do better. This moment of prayer helps me let go of past disappointments and failures. It reminds me that even when I fall short, God’s grace is still sufficient.
After praying, another important tradition for me is writing down my goals for the new year. I write my plans, dreams, and resolutions with excitement and optimism. At the beginning of every year, I am always very motivated and hopeful. I believe that writing my goals gives me direction and something to work towards. However, being honest with myself, I have noticed a pattern over the years. Most times, I do not achieve up to half of the goals I write down.
Usually, I start the year strong and focused, but as time goes on especially by the middle of the year, I begin to relent. Life gets busy, challenges arise, and sometimes discouragement sets in. I lose consistency and motivation, and slowly, some of my goals are forgotten. This has been a struggle for me, and I have had moments where I felt disappointed in myself.
Despite this, I do not see it as a reason to give up. Instead, I see it as a lesson and an opportunity to grow. This year, my prayer is that things will be different. I have made up my mind to be more intentional with my plans and my time. I am learning that it is not enough to just write goals; commitment, discipline, and consistency are also required.
As I welcome this new year, I am choosing to combine faith with action. I am trusting God more deeply, while also holding myself accountable. I believe that with God’s guidance and a more intentional mindset, I can close old cycles of inconsistency and open myself to a new year filled with growth, purpose, and renewed energy. This is my hope, my resolution, and my prayer for the year ahead.
