The new year has arrived, and along with it we all have new goals, high aspirations, and fresh hopes for the coming 52 weeks.
This past year has been an exciting one for us, while at the same time being trying and difficult at times. We don’t know what the new year holds, but we know the one who holds the new year. He is our Lord. Our hope is therefore not in the new year but in the Lord.
Psalm 33:20-22 (NLT) “We put our hope in the Lord. He is our help and our shield. 21 In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. 22 Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in you alone.”
What is the meaning of new year? New Year’s Day is the world’s most celebrated holiday. On this day, many people remember last year’s achievements and failures and look forward to the promise of a new year, of a new beginning.
New Year’s Day is the most active-minded holiday because it is the one where people evaluate their lives and plan and resolve to act. What one does on this day one will do for the rest of the year. Yes, easier said than done. This would mean that what we decided must be actioned, otherwise it will remain a dream.
Proverbs 29:18 (NLT) “When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild.”
Proverbs 29:18 “Where there is no vision, the people perish”
The Hebrew word “paw-rah” means “to perish”. “Paw-rah” was the word used in a biblical proverb where a woman’s hair was let flow out of its covering (hairband). Unconstrained in the wind her hair is directionless and blown in all directions.
The problem is not with the vision, goals or new year’s resolutions that are taken on New Year’s Day, the problem is with the execution thereof. Vision without action is a daydream, action without vision is a nightmare.
“The human mind treats a new idea the same way the body treats a strange protein; it rejects it.” ― Peter Medawar
That’s the problem. Vision without action is dead.
James 2:14-18 (MSG) “Dear friends, do you think you’ll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, “Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!” and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup—where does that get you? Isn’t it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense? 18 I can already hear one of you agreeing by saying, “Sounds good. You take care of the faith department, I’ll handle the works department.” Not so fast. You can no more show me your works apart from your faith than I can show you my faith apart from my works. Faith and works, works and faith, fit together hand in glove.
“Action without vision is only passing time, vision without action is merely daydreaming, but vision with action can change the world.” – Nelson Mandela.
This year let us put action to our vision.
I wish you a very Happy New Year hoping your goals would be reached. May God always be present in your life. May the Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.”
“Have a Happy New Year”.