Think about this: “What the New Year brings to you will depend a great deal on what you bring to the New Year” (Vern McLellan). Let us start our 2023 journey on the right foot by being grateful to our loving and merciful God who never stops loving us even when we keep on letting Him down. Let us be resolute because it is so easy to slide back into our old habits. “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-24).

 

I was struck by a beautiful song, “Grace” (by Laura Story), which says “My child, I love you; and as long as you’re seeking my face, you’ll walk in the power of my daily sufficient grace.”

 

One must-have companion in our journey is prayer. Nowadays, people have Waze and other online apps so that they are guided and do not lose their way. We need prayer to guide us and help us find our way to God’s heart. Prayer is a compass that guides us. Amid the noise and chaos in this world, search for GPS - God’s Presence in Silence. “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).

 

Pray for inner peace. Let us be reminded that there are two “thieves” that rob our peace. The first “thief” is our PAST–our constant rewinding of hurts, regrets, disappointments, the could-have-been, and should-have-been. The second “thief’ is our FUTURE–our constant fast forwarding of anxieties, worries, and fears of what might happen.

 

Whenever you encounter these two “thieves”, pray this: “Lord, I surrender my past in your heart, I entrust my future in your hands, and I live the present moment in your love.”

 

Let us find consolation in God’s promise: “For I know the plans I have for you; plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).Whatever you are going through, take comfort in these words: “This day is holy to our Lord; do not be sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10).

 

Let our agenda for 2023 be to pray more and to love more. Be a hope whisperer, a peace maker, and a joy bringer. Like the Magi, may our journey be guided by the Lord’s star. Every single day of the New Year, may each one of us confidently and humbly say: “I am becoming a better person… and I have come closer to God’s heart.”