My family and I took quite a bit of time off this holiday season, and we sure made good use of our time together. Besides celebrating Christmas and bringing in the new year, we enjoyed time with friends and family, a day at the movies, skiing, sledding (perks of living twenty minutes from Tahoe), and just enjoyed each other’s company.

It’s been nice, but now, we’re back to it. And I’m ready to dive back into writing!

New Beginnings

As a new year begins, I think it’s an appropriate time to assess where we’ve been, where we currently find ourselves, and where we’re going. To see what worked, what didn’t, and to take a look at the reasons behind these successes and failures.

While it’s good to assess each aspect of your life, in a more holistic approach, I’d like to challenge you to take some time, look back over 2012, and deliberately assess your relationship with Jesus.

Though I’ve spouted off this truth many times, I know it to be true now more than ever: we can do nothing apart from Jesus. Our life, and everything we hope to achieve during it’s duration, amounts to nothing if Jesus is not at our center.

With this in mind, I’ve come up with several questions for you to answer, in hopes they will lead you into deeper relationship with Jesus in the year 2013. I hope you find them helpful.

Be sure to write your answers down!

• Overall during 2012, did you grow closer to Jesus or further away? Why?
• Did you see yourself grow in your faith? What “fruit” was produced as a result of your growth?
• Did you notice a backslide in your faith? Why do you think that was? How has this setback affected you, your relationship with God, your life, your family, your friends, your community?
• At any point last year, did you hear from God? Did He call you to do something? Did you do it? Why or why not?
• In what areas have you struggled the most in 2012? How might you be able to see victory in these areas in 2013?
• What are your top 10 evidences of God’s grace in your life in 2012?
• What area of your life do you need to surrender to God in 2013? (Remember, He won’t settle for part of you; He wants all of you.)
• What are your top 5 “successes” pertaining to your faith in 2012?
• What are your top 5 “failures” pertaining to your faith in 2012?
• If you were to choose one word to represent an area that you need to focus on in your life what would it be? Write this word down. Keep it somewhere you will see it as a reminder.
• How might you be able to grow in your relationship with God this year? Pray for God to show you. Ask for at least 5 action steps. Put at least one in place today.

I pray your answers will allow you to gain insight into the areas you need God’s grace to touch. I pray each one of you grows deeper in love with our mighty God beginning today, and that this love will allow you to endure unto the end.

Here’s to new beginnings. May you be given many blessings––whether through hardship or joys––in the year to come….

Behold, I am doing a new thing;
now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
and rivers in the desert.

– Isaiah 43:19

{We serve a God of new beginnings. Let your relationship with Jesus deepen in 2013.}

What are your hopes for 2013?

Share in the comments.