Welcome 2015!

Welcome 2015! According to the dictionary if you have Welcomed the next 365 days you are “freely inviting or eagerly and delightfully accepting” the days ahead. That would make the New Year like a cup half full, instead of half empty.

Most people make Resolutions at the beginning of a new year. But they are usually short lived because they are orchestrated in the mind and based on their own willpower. Using only mind-power and will power puts us in control, which makes the outcome dependent upon us. But real, lasting change happens as we approach something with both mind and heart (see my blog, The Changing Process). Including our heart in the process, offers us the opportunity to transfer the control of the change process from us to God. The book of Proverbs reminds us that it is the heart that will ‘determine the course of our life’ (4:23, NLT). So, how can you include your heart with your mind in the process of Welcoming 2015?

First, it is necessary to let go of those things that are behind you and reach forward to those things that are ahead of you (Phil. 3:13). Ask yourself this question: Where is my heart and mind positioned right now? Am I wasting too much energy on things from yesterday when I could be looking forward to what God has for my future? A process called Examen will help you to be free to ‘look forward’ as you Welcome 2015.

Begin by sitting down in a quiet place and reflecting on the past year, looking at both the positive and negative happenings. Then celebrate the good things that happened and put to rest those that weren’t so desirable! This may mean that you need to ask God to forgive you for something or you may need to forgive yourself or someone else. You may also need to reflect on what you have learned from these undesirable experiences and how God wants you to personally change.

Then, ‘throw’ all your concerns about the past year on God for he cares for you (I Peter 5:7). As you ‘let go’ of these happenings, you clear out any unfinished business from the past year. You are now ready to Welcome 2015 with a clean plate because you are fully present in the New Year, not stuck in the past! In the next blog we will discuss how to move forward in the days to come.