Starting the New Year with God

"For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Ephesians 2:10)

The best way to begin a new year is with God directing your steps and priorities. See below for a series of exercises, reflections and declarations to help you find God's direction as you approach the new year. Some people find it helpful to do these New Year spiritual exercises as a week of devotions, doing one part each day alongside the recommended Scripture reading ...

PART 1 - THANKSGIVING & REFLECTION

Write down 10 things you thank God for in the past year.
- e.g. provision, encouragements, holidays, people who were a blessing to you
Write down 1-3 lessons you’ve learnt in the past year that you need to remember in the year to come

Recommended Scripture: Philippians 4:4-7

PART 2 - FOUNDATIONS & FUN

Write down 5-10 things you praise God for as you head into this year
- e.g. comforting truths about God, Bible promises, Gospel hope
Write down 1-3 Bible promises you are going to memorise and hold on to this year
What is one fun thing you are planning in January?
- In what is often the most dreary month of the year, it's a good idea to have something you're looking forward to!

Recommended Scripture: Psalm 103

PART 3 - DEVOTIONAL RHYTHMS

What is your manageable daily Bible reading and prayer pattern for the coming year?
- What time(s) of day?
- What resources will you use?
- What is your fallback option when you’re especially tired/busy?

For many devotional ideas, resources and fallback options, see our Daily Bread page here.

Recommended Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:15-17

PART 4 - REST & REFRESHMENT

How effective were your daily, weekly and termly periods of rest and refreshment last year? What most needs improving?
What is your best realistic weekly pattern of rest?
What pattern of breaks, holidays and retreats will help you this year?
Have you considered making a Christian retreat or festival part of your annual rhythm?

Recommended Scripture: Deuteronomy 5:12-15
"Divert daily, withdraw weekly, abandon annually." (Rick Warren)

PART 5 - HEALTH & HOPE-SHARING

How healthy are your eating, drinking and exercising patterns?
- What is the one thing you most need to improve? What is the most effective practical step you can take to make that happen?
How consistent would you say you were you last year in helping others to explore and discover the Good News?
- What is the main area you need to grow in here? e.g. courage, tact, intentionality
- What practical step can you take to be better equipped to share the Good News?
  - Tip: Check out Rev Mark's Speak Hope Training playlist here. Choose the topic you most need help with. Listen to the episode and take a few notes.
Where do you have opportunities to invite people to church, or open up conversations about the Good News God this term?
- When and how can you invite them?

Recommended Scripture: Colossians 4:2-6

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NEW YEAR DECLARATIONS

The series of declarations below are to help us as individuals and a church commit to serving God faithfully and wholeheartedly this year. Some of the later ones relate specifically to the 4 core values of Christchurch Swansea: devoted to prayer; growing in grace; loving the lost; blessing the city. If you are doing this in a personal prayer time, you may like to copy the text below and add to the end of some of the sections a few personally-tailored declarations of how you want to serve the Lord this year (e.g. in your work, in your marriage, in your parenting). You might also like to sing a hymn or song before or afterwards, e.g. Be Thou my vision.

This is the year that the Lord has made:
I will rejoice and be glad in it.
This is the day I choose my path:
I will worship and serve the Lord.
Family declaration: As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord! (Joshua 24:15)

Jesus said that the first and most important commandment is this: “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”

This year, I choose a God-centred life.
With the help of His Spirit:
I will love the Lord with all my heart.
I will love the Lord with all my mind.
I will love the Lord with all my soul.
I will love the Lord with all my strength.
I will put God first in all I do.
With the help of His Spirit, I will love the Lord.

This year, I choose a Jesus-following life.
Jesus is my Light, my Saviour, my Shepherd, my King.
I will fix my eyes on Him every day.
I will follow Him in:
living by the Gospel of God,
obeying the Word of God,
relying on the Spirit of God,
rejoicing in the goodness of God
believing on the promises of God,
pursuing the purposes of God,
and seeking the glory of God.
And with the help of His Spirit, I will.

This year, I choose an obedient life.
I will follow the commands of Scripture:
to love my neighbour as myself,
to love others as Christ loved me,
to take up my cross daily,
to forgive others daily,
to show grace and patience daily,
to choose kindness daily,
to seek first His kingdom and righteousness,
to give my best for God,
to give my all for God.
And with the help of His Spirit, I will.

This year, I choose to love the family of God,
and serve the mission of God:
to be present, not absent,
to be wholehearted, not half-hearted,
to pray faithfully,
to serve humbly,
to give generously,
to love patiently,
to invite cheerfully.
And with the help of His Spirit, I will.

I choose to play my full part in this church's vision
to see Sandfields, Swansea and Wales captivated by Christ.
I choose to live out our core values, and give my best in:
devotion to prayer,
growing in grace,
loving the lost,
blessing the city,
and living the Jesus way.
And with the help of His Spirit, I will.

This year, I will say with my lips and my life:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be your name,
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done in me, this church and this city,
as it is in heaven.
To You be the glory forever and ever.
Amen.

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