“It is always important to know when something has reached its end. Closing circles, shutting doors, finishing chapters, it doesn’t matter what we call it; what matters is to leave in the past those moments in life that are over.”
On the eve of the New Year, a new consciousness dawns on earth. God once again inspires each human being, each creature, with new hope, new light, new peace and new joy. God says, "The New Year dawns and a new consciousness dawns within you. Run toward the destined Goal." We listen to God, to the dictates of our Inner Pilot, and we run toward the ultimate Reality. The New Year energises us, encourages us and inspires us to run toward that ultimate Goal.
When the New Year dawns, we have to make ourselves conscious of the fact that we have to transcend ourselves this year. We have to go beyond our present capacity, beyond our present achievement. When we have that kind of firm determination, God showers His choicest Blessings upon us.
God always wants us to move ahead; He does not want us to look back. We know that while a runner is running fast, if he looks back, he will stumble. Similarly, if we are constantly looking behind at the year that we are leaving aside, we will think of our sorrow, misery, frustration, failure and so forth. But if we look forward, we will see hope dawning deep within us. Every day in this New Year is equally important.
Sri Chinmoy 2
Sacred Text
Philippians 3:13, “Forgetting the things which are behind and stretching forward to the things which are before.”
Psalm 65:11 You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV) “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
Sri Chinmoy “Every day, when morning dawns, we should feel that we have something new to accomplish.”
Honor the space between no longer and not yet.
Nancy Levin
I look upon a year lived as a year earned; and each year earned means a greater treasury of experience and power laid up against time of need.
Anna Botsford Comstock
The greatest joys in life are found not only in what we do and feel, but also in our quiet hopes and labors for others.
Bryant McGill
"It is always important to know when something has reached its end. Closing circles, shutting doors, finishing chapters, it doesn't matter what we call it; what matters is to leave in the past those moments in life that are over."
Paulo Coelho
Next 12 days to represent the next 12 months a select a different word each day from the following list that you feel will help you express the spiritual nature you want to cultivate and live:
Understanding, Patience, Forgiveness, Kindness, Self Care, Gratitude, Letting Go, Willingness, Perseverance, Discipline. Compassion, Calm, Discernment,Awareness, Joy, Peace, Responsibility, Humility, Positive Thinking, Acceptance, Oneness, Believe, Faith Trust, Respect, Honesty, Harmony, Listening,Expansiveness, Expectancy, Serenity, Imagination, Creativity, Power, Enthusiasm, Grace, Purification, Decisiveness, Authenticity, Purpose, Change, Transformation, Health, Well being,Love, Courage, Humour, Balance, Fearlessness, Prayer, Confidence, Surrender, Deliberate, Beauty, Integrity, Flexibility, Healing, Intentional, Play, Openness.
Be specific. If you want to be more kind, be specific about what that means. Don’t just say, “be more kind” or “try to be nicer.” Instead, think about specific things that are important for you in your life and how being more kind can impact them positively.
Another example of a specific goal would be writing down all the ways we were unspiritual during the past week and making amends with those people in our lives who we hurt through our actions or words. We might also decide not to watch anything violent or negative on television anymore (and replace it with something positive). You get the idea! Specific goals allow us to pinpoint exactly what needs improvement so that we know when we’ve reached them
Poem: Wishes For A New Year BY John Peter Read
Brush away old heartaches. Learn from our mistakes. Another year is finally over. A new dawn awakes. Let the old year out. Welcome the new one in. Bury the bad things of the past As a new year now begins. Make your New Year wishes As simple as you can. Pray for peace and love, Not for wealth or fame. Pray for health and happiness. Pray for your fellow man. Pray for all the ones you love. Pray for those who've lost their way. As the midnight hour chimes, We leave the old and embrace the new. I wish the things you wish for yourself, And may God’s love stay with you.
Science of Mind Reading
Story: A New Year Perspective by Filoiann Wiedenhoff
"Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." NIV
As Christmas comes to an end we anxiously await the words "Happy New Year!" My best friend and I have this tradition we do every year for the last five years usually around the end of December. We go to our favorite beach spot, where we talk and pray about the past year and look ahead to the New Year.
We ponder and discuss all the interesting occurrences that happened the past year; the good times, the bad times, the frustrating times and the fun times. We share what valuable lessons we learned from our experiences, what God showed us and how He was faithful through all of it
We do this as a closure to one year and then an opening to the next. After we have laughed a while and then cried, we begin to look forward with great excitement, wondering what God has for us this coming new year. What new experiences will we go through and what new lessons will we learn. It's all fresh and new and that is exciting.
In doing this I believe it helps us to view each year as a season, understanding that God is Sovereign and has new seasons of experiences and growth to make us more like Christ. I can testify there were times we went through seasons of grief and there were also times we experienced seasons of joy.
It helps me to remember that God is in total control and that we are constantly growing as His children and that He knows the plans He has for us. Plans of new wisdom, insight and understanding that He wants to impart to us, if we will allow Him to.
It also gives us a fresh new outlook of the coming year and enables us to leave the past where it belongs, not that we forget the past but learn from it and move forward into our present future with opened hearts and minds to receive whatever God has for us.
With that said, I put together eight ways we can view the New Year and every year as. A Year of:
New Beginnings: Start out the New Year with a fresh point of view to new experiences, memories and blessings. Having an opened mind and heart to where ever the Lord may take you with full assurance and confidence that He is with you. (Matthew 28:19-20)
New Possibilities: There's no limit to what God can do in your life and nothing is impossible with God. God opens doors that no man can shut and also closes doors that no man can open. The possibilities are endless with God that is according to His will. (Philippians 4:13)
New Plans: Every year is a new season, be prayerful of what God has planned for you and be willing to walk by faith in obedience as you follow His leading. Remember that His plans are always for good and not for evil to give you a future and a Hope. (Jeremiah 29:11-13)
New Purpose: As you forge ahead, God always has a plan and a purpose for what you will go through and experience. Remember that God always has a reason for what He allows in your life and through it you can trust Him completely. (Proverbs 1:3-5)
New Provisions: The bible says to not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow has enough worries of it's own. Trust in your Heavenly Father who knows everything you need, who is your God and your Provider. He is faithful and He will do it. (Matthew 6:1-33)
New Growth: When we are willing to let go and let God work in us and through us, He will always stretch us and grow us. It is an important part of the growth process. Continue to grow in your relationship with Him and in His Word. Pray for God to mold you and make you pliable in the potters hand and then watch the master craftsman work on His masterpiece; which is you!
New Wisdom: With new experiences and new lessons come new wisdom and insight. Always make it a priority to seek out wisdom as hidden treasure or fine gold. In Proverbs it says that it will be like a garland of grace around your neck and honor you and present you with a crown of splendor. (Proverbs 4:7-9)
Renewed Peace: As you go through new experiences and new adventures whether they are good or bad, my encouragement is to keep your eyes fixed on Christ and He will give you rest and peace, because He is our peace and loves you and cares for you deeply. (John 16:33)
Keep in mind that if even the wicked give good gifts to their children how much more will your Heavenly Father give to those that ask Him? (Matthew 7:7-11)
Let us give thanks to the Lord for getting us through another year as we look forward to what He has for us up ahead and praise Him that He is faithful and worthy to be praised!
Meditation
Thurman’s poem “Blessings at Year’s End.” After each line, I encourage you to reflect prayerfully in moments of silence.
I remember with gratitude the fruits of the labors of others, which I have shared as a part of the normal experience of daily living.
I remember the beautiful things that I have seen, heard, and felt - some as a result of seeking on my part, and many that came unheralded into my path, warming my heart and rejoicing my spirit.
I remember the moments of distress that proved to be groundless and those that taught me profoundly about the evilness of evil and the goodness of good.
I remember the new people I have met, from whom I have caught glimpses of the meaning of my own life and true character of human dignity.
I remember the dreams that haunted me during the year, keeping me mindful of goals and hopes which I did not realize but from which I drew inspiration to sustain my life and keep steady my purposes.
I remember the awareness of the spirit of God that sought me out in my aloneness and gave to me a sense of assurance that undercut my despair and confirmed my life with new courage and abiding hope.
May the new year bring God’s blessing and peace into your life. Amen.
Rumination
And you, when will you begin that long journey into your self. Rumi
Benediction: The Year Ahead
May God make your year a happy one! Not by shielding us from all sorrows and pain, But by strengthening us to bear it, as it comes; Not by making our path easy, But by making us sturdy to travel any path; Not by taking hardships from us, But by taking fear from our heart; Not by granting us unbroken sunshine, But by keeping our face bright, even in the shadows; Not by making our life always pleasant, But by showing us when people and their causes need us most, and by making us anxious to be there to help. God's love, peace, hope and joy to us for the year ahead. - Author Unknown; Adapted by Debra Mooney
Song: Intimate with the Infinite by Amy Steinberg