What do you want most in the new year?
I’ve been asking myself that for a month. Every thought I’ve had comes down to one word: NEW. 2023 was tough, as I grappled with grief and loss and searched for silver linings. So in 2024, I want a new horizon. A new focus. A new me.
Thank God, any newness in my life comes within the context of his unchanging love. He can and does do new things — but he does not change. I can walk forward in hope, relying on who God is and what he has done in the past and certain that he who has begun a good work in me will bring it to completion in the day of Christ (see Philippians 1:6).
I chose this “Word of the Year” to guide me
In other years, I’ve chosen a word of the year (thank you, Jen Fulwiler!). This year, I decided to choose a Scripture verse instead. I put a handful of possibilities together, then prayed on them. And found myself drawn to this:
My soul … is bowed down within me. But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. (Lamentations 3:20–26, ESVCE)
What this verse means to me
For context, this is Jeremiah speaking. He’s watching the destruction of Jerusalem. I’d understand if he lost faith in God, as everything went up in smoke. It was a terrible time. But this I call to mind, he says. That’s a big “but”! Regardless of circumstances, he has hope in the steady and never-ending mercy of God that is “new every morning.”
Maybe I can do that too!
This is a powerful passage for meditation and prayer—and memorization, for that matter. To help it come to mind throughout the year. Whatever you’re going through. You can wait quietly, in the situation, knowing that God is faithful and good to those who wait and seek.
Here are some to get you started
That’s my Word for 2024. Would you like to choose one too? Here is the list I started with (you’ll notice the “new” theme!). Feel free to use it or add your own … and allow the Holy Spirit to guide you as you ponder them.
- Proverbs 3:5–8
- Isaiah 40:1, 28–31
- Isaiah 43:18–19
- Jeremiah 29:11–13
- Lamentations 3:20–26
- Zephaniah 3:17
- 2 Corinthians 5:17–20
- Revelation 21:3–5
Let me know what you choose and how you fare! Either here in the comments or on Instagram, @comeintotheword.
May God bless you richly with his Word this year!
© 2024 Sarah Christmyer
Your post reminds me of an article I had published about “Always keep the fire of God burning.”
Lots of points that could be brought out, referenced from the article but (bottom line) is that it is up to us, to keep our love, our devotion, our commitment to the Lord.
He helps us, however, He DOES NOT “do it for us.”
More?
Our soul may be bowed down (like you referenced) , we may not understand it all
BUT
Every time we ‘step towards Him’..He IS there.
We just have to keep stepping.
It’s truly up to us to ‘keep our individual fires burning’
***
Keep your fire “burning”, sister 🙂
Here’s the article:
https://medium.com/divine-revelations/always-keep-the-fire-burning-7f078837fbf0