2023 in the Light of God’s Love
Reflect on the old year and enter the new one in the light of God’s love. Trust that God’s love is constant. God does not love you less because of bad habits, wrong steps, or unmet goals. God won’t love you more if you lose weight, quit drinking, or stop yelling at the traffic. God isn’t blind to the ways you may need to change, but God’s priorities may be different from yours. God’s love is a dynamic force that works within us to help us grow in love ourselves.
In the light of God’s love, review this past year. Complete these sentences in your head:
The wisest decision I made…
The most important thing I did for others…
The most important thing I did for myself…
What hurts or wounds need healing? Where do I need to forgive someone? (You don’t have to forgive yet, this is just an inventory.)
For what do I need forgiveness, from God or from others?
Give God thanks for this past year and ask God to join you as you imagine next year. Complete these lists:
This year I will love these three things about myself…
I am ready to let go of these three things…
This year, I will make these three things a priority…
Consider creating a vision board -
Thumb through a magazine or newspaper and cut out images or words that draw your attention and glue them to a piece of cardstock or cardboard. (The library has free magazines you can take and use for this purpose.) Find pictures in old calendars or coffee table books that you were going to give away. Write your own words or draw your own pictures. Your vision board doesn’t have to be good, it just has to be yours.
Complete the YearCompass booklet
This booklet is a free resource recommended by Priya Parker. https://yearcompass.com/gb
Melissa Earley (she, her, hers)
Lead Pastor, First UMC of Arlington Heights
Here are some vision boards we made after worship on January 1st:
