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hello, 2024!

Hello, friends! I hope your Christmas was wonderful! Today, I decided to make a post for the new year since 2023 only has FIVE more days… wow. I also wanted to touch up on this topic because it is something I need constant reminding of.

For starters, I always get super excited for the new year! I love creating new routines to better my lifestyle, and lists of habits I would like to start or improve on, and I buy about 5 planners because I can never have too many. With the new year approaching, I usually consider it as an opportunity to start fresh and begin my life in different ways. You know the saying, “New year, new me”.

I may be speaking to myself when I say this, but I tend to plan out this extreme perfectly routined life for myself at the beginning of the year, just to end up exhausted and disappointed two weeks later because it was either too much of a jurassic change or because it’s simply implausible for me to accomplish this rapid transition in such a short time frame.

Don’t get me wrong – I love creating new routines for myself to better myself. There is nothing wrong in creating new, healthy habits for yourself. But something the Lord convicted me of is that I placed so much hope into the idea of a “new year” than I did in Him. He knew too well that my crazy resolutions and new routines were grounded in the desires of my flesh rather than direct leadings by His Spirit.

I feel that we as people on earth, there is so much pressure to change so much about our lives when we only need to change one thing: the placement of our hope. Jesus is the only true refreshment and complete nourishment that we crave entering the new year. The new year cannot change anything, but God can.

A scripture that I love and is the scripture of the week is Romans 15:13: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” This is such a beautiful and empowering verse, especially at this time of the year. Notice how it says “God of hope”. He is the God of hope, who pours hope into us.

The hope that He offers is abundant. We cannot hope for too much. I heard this quote before and it said, “Hope is not optimism.” Optimism involves an expectation that things will turn out well, but the hope that God has for us right now is rooted in a deeper and more profound assurance that is tied to faith in God and in His promises. Where optimism is wishful thinking, hope transcends beyond the present circumstances because hope is anchored in the unchanging nature of God.

I used to rely so much on the entitlement of a new year that I didn’t give any credit to the One who makes it new. The new year doesn’t necessarily change anything other than the date from December 31, 2023, to January 1, 2024. The season I am in on December 31 is not going to automatically transform into a different season by January 1 just because it’s a new year.

So often I feel that we either create plans for our days without taking it up with the Lord, or we expect God to bless something that was never birthed by His Spirit. When we feel burnt out or discouraged, it is simply because our focus relies on our willpower rather than the power of the Spirit.

God, who is full of hope, created for us an overflowing river of hope that fills us and infiltrates those we encounter and interact with. The opportunity to change sinful and or unhealthy habits is always ready for us because our God is always here.

John 15:4 says, “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” The fruit you produce in the coming year can only come from Jesus – not by ourselves. This year, do not rely on your perfect plan or on producing results by your strength. Cling to the person of Christ. Abiding in His Presence allows Him to prune us on the inside so we can display transformation on the outside.

It is such an amazing thing that we can transform our lives at any moment in time. It doesn’t have to be on January 1st. Do not put your hope into the new year, rather than the One who created it new. He is the God of hope. His offer never expires. If you miss it one day, you can chase after it the next.

Same chapter, John 15:7 says, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” You will handle this year as well as you handle God’s Word. By praying His Word over your days and finding scriptures that reveal His love for you, your year will prosper in more ways than you can comprehend. His Word is the greatest guide as we embark on a new year.

How amazing is the God of hope? He just continues to love us and pour into us. My prayer to you today is to audit your focus coming into the new year and train your mind to rely on Him. If you have been planning your “new” life for the new year and placing all of your hope into the new year itself or in your ability, reset your focus. Know that God is the One who makes it all new.

Thank you for reading today’s post! I have added a prayer that has helped me learn to audit where my focus lies. I hope the Lord spoke to you from this!


[Lord, I come to You today to ask that You discern me from relying too much on the things of this world. The new year does not provide me any certainty of change, but You do. I pray for reminders of Your faithfulness and of the abundance of hope that You and only You can provide to me. I want a change in my life, which can only be accomplished through Your power. Not by a new year, not by my ability, but by Your very own Spirit. Lord, I thank You for all You have blessed me with this previous year. Allow me to reminisce on all the workings You have done in my life if I ever stray away from knowing of Your greatness. Amen.]