New Year, New ______.
The New Year has a way of bringing about fresh perspectives and excitement for a new beginning. For many of us, January 1st is a symbolic representation of an opportunity to make positive changes and lifestyle choices, but for others, it can be symbolic of another year of pain.
Everyone, no matter how rich or poor has gone through something, may currently be going through something, or are freshly recovering from something. For some, 2024 was a year of difficulty, heartache and pain, and for others a year of blessing and abundance. My only point here is that we should all be more sensitive to this fact and understand that no one is exempt from the difficulties of life. Lead each day with love, consideration, and compassion for others.
My one true hope for 2025 is that we would all be reminded of God’s divinity and omnipresence, knowing that He is with us, He sees us, and He hears us. For those of you who have entered this year feeling down, let this be a reminder that God has not forgotten about you.
Don’t allow yourself to walk into this new year reveling in the pain of your yesterday. Despite what you may be going through today, there is hope in tomorrow, there is God’s promise in tomorrow, and He will be with YOU in the midst of every circumstance, sure to bring you out on the other side in due time.
Move forward with your heart and mind set on things above. Good things, Godly things, life giving things, and watch how your life and mindset begin to shift. One of my biggest takeaways from the past two years was related to mindset. So many of our battles are within our minds, and many of us are constantly fixated on the negative, constantly planning for and anticipating the negative, just waiting on the other shoe to drop and we drain ourselves in almost every area of our life by doing so, so I encourage you to make some changes. Changes to your mindset that is, and start small.
Start small with training yourself to live in a state of gratitude and joy each day.
Start each day with prayer, regardless of how you feel emotionally.
Spend quality time with God. Mediate, journal, get to know Him more.
Learn and KNOW what God actually says about YOU. Not what your friends or family members say, not what your ex may say or even the negative things that you’ve been telling yourself for years, but what God says, what your creator says about you!
I know some of you reading this today may be shocked to know that despite your past choices, God thinks highly of you. He thinks good things about you. He desires for you to know this truth and more importantly, to know Him, who He is, and what He stands for. Don’t fall for the lies of the enemy.
He is a good Father. Loving, ever-present, and with us through all of life’s twists and turns, and when we repent and turn away from our sin, is quick to forgive, helping us to remain on the pathway of righteousness. He is a gracious God, merciful, bringing forth supernatural peace and comfort to those who need it. A healer, a teacher, a heart mender and my dear friend, He absolutely LOVES you more than anyone of anything ever will!
In addition to this, spend more time with YOU. Loving you and nurturing you. Self love and daily gratitude are so important and are crucial to our healing, growth and development. Take care of YOU — spiritually, mentally, physically and emotionally, and trust God to come through for YOU in unimaginable ways, because… He absolutely will.
I love you all.
May this year bring you many beautiful things to smile for, moments and life giving memories to hold dear, and a beautiful new beginning. Go deeper with the Lord this year. Setting aside old ways of living, let go of old habits, mindsets and lifestyles and walk into the newness of who God is calling you to be. Happy New Year!
Until next time,
Amari E.