Pastor Stephen Dedman

Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established.
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭16‬:‭3‬

As we set new goals for the new year, the excitement of possibility fills our hearts. Whether it’s to grow spiritually, improve our health, build relationships, or achieve a life-long dream, we often begin with high hopes. However, real and lasting success comes when we align our goals with God’s will and trust Him to guide us every step of the way.

God is not just interested in the “big picture” of our lives—He cares about every detail. When we bring our plans to Him in prayer, He not only provides clarity but also gives us the strength and wisdom to pursue them.

Setting goals is good, but surrendering them to God is even better. This act of trust acknowledges that His plans are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9) and that He can accomplish more through us than we could ever imagine. It also brings peace, knowing that our success is not based solely on our own efforts but on His faithfulness.

As you work toward your goals this year, stay connected to God through prayer and His Word. Let Him refine your desires so that they reflect His purposes for your life. And when challenges arise, remember that His grace is sufficient for you (2 Corinthians 12:9), and His timing is always perfect.

Have you prayed about your goals for this year and asked God for guidance? How can you remain faithful and trust Him even if things don’t go as planned?

Pray

Lord, thank You for the opportunity to set new goals and pursue growth this year. I commit my plans to You, knowing that You have a purpose for my life that is greater than I can see. Help me to seek Your will in all I do, trust Your guidance, and remain faithful in every step. Strengthen me when I feel weak, and remind me that You are working all things for my good. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
‭‭II Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭17‬

Today, as the calendar turns to a new year, we are reminded of God’s incredible gift of new beginnings. The start of a new year offers us the opportunity to reflect on the past and look forward to what lies ahead. But more than resolutions or plans, it is the transformation we have in Christ that truly renews us.

When we give our lives to Christ, we are no longer bound by the mistakes, regrets, or failures of the past. We are made new. This doesn’t mean we won’t face challenges or stumble, but it assures us that God’s mercy is available every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23). His grace is sufficient for every day of this new year.

As we step into this fresh season, let us pause and consider what God is calling us to leave behind. Are there habits, fears, or doubts that no longer align with the new creation He’s shaping in us? Likewise, what is He inviting us to embrace—a deeper relationship with Him, a renewed commitment to serve others, or simply trusting Him more fully?

Pray

Lord, thank You for the gift of a new year and the reminder that in You, all things are made new. Help me to leave behind anything that holds me back from living fully for You. Guide me in this year to grow in faith, love, and obedience. May my life reflect Your glory and bring hope to others. I trust You with my plans and my future. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭43‬:‭19‬

As the final hours of 2024 approach, it’s natural to reflect over the past year. For some, it was a year of blessings and triumphs. For others, it may have been a season of trials and uncertainty. Yet, regardless of how we perceive the year, one truth remains constant: God was with us through it all.

Isaiah 43:19 reminds us that God is always at work, creating new opportunities even when we feel lost or weary. As we anticipate the beginning of a new year, it’s an invitation to embrace hope and trust in His plans for us.

Take a moment to consider how God has provided for you this year. Maybe He brought unexpected joy through a challenge, deepened a relationship, or answered a prayer you’ve held in your heart. Perhaps there were moments when you felt His presence most clearly in the quiet of your struggles.

The turning of the calendar is not just about starting over; it’s about stepping forward with renewed faith. The same God who brought you through this year is already preparing the way for you in 2025.

Pray

Lord, thank You for walking with me through every step of this year. As 2024 ends, I lay my triumphs and trials at Your feet, trusting that You are doing a new thing in my life. Open my heart to see the paths You are preparing and give me the courage to follow You into the unknown. May 2025 be a year of deeper faith, renewed purpose, and abiding joy in Your presence. In Jesus’ name, Amen.