I love the window of days between December 25th and January 1st. It’s the ultimate opportunity to look back and look forward… to remember and to dream. Our oldest son is a junior in college, so these days are even more special now while our entire family is under the same roof for a precious few days. April and I have four children, so it’s always a party when everyone is around the table! I love it so much.
Looking back is a healthy exercise. There are so many passages in scripture where the author pleads with the audience to look back and remember God’s faithfulness, or His warning to not do something, or a promise He’s made. In music ministry, as with most ministries and businesses, looking back should involve some type of evaluation. It doesn’t have to be a formal process. It can be as simple as taking out a sheet of paper and your calendar so that you can look back through the year and make note of the memories you’d like to celebrate and anything you’d like to tweak moving forward.
Some of us are not naturally nostalgic and therefore are not prone to look back and celebrate. (I will admit, however, that I’m becoming more nostalgic as my kids get older and my Facebook memories seem to be multiplying! I can tear up in a split second when those pop up!) I’m wired to immediately shift my focus to the next worship service or project. Over the years, I’ve become convicted when I don’t celebrate what the Lord has done. Celebrating God’s faithfulness, provision, healing, protection, and blessings is just another way to bring Him glory. Celebration can quickly lead to praise when it involves giving attention to what the Lord has accomplished.
Celebration should walk side by side with evaluation. It’s a good thing to consider what could be stronger in the upcoming year. It’s a better thing to develop a plan and make changes to accomplish these desires. Evaluation is such a valuable concept – but only if actions follow in the areas that you wish to improve. To continue taking the same approach in any given area while expecting different results will only lead to frustration. Now is a great time to evaluate and plan, which may include making some needed changes.
This is also a great time of year to reset in the area of the spiritual disciplines. Pick up a new Bible reading plan. Grab a new devotional. Buy a new journal as a symbol of a renewed approach to journaling your prayers. You may be thinking, “Cliff, are you basically just saying that we need to make a New Year’s resolution to spend more time with God?” You can call it whatever you’d like! But if this busy season of life has caused your time with the Lord to be less frequent than you want it to be, it certainly deserves a restart… and nothing says “restart” like January 1st!
At First Baptist Dallas, the leadership of our church has often asked the question, “What is the next step the Lord is asking you to take?” It’s been so impactful in my own life, I highly recommend asking yourself the same question. Is it to reorganize your schedule and create more margin for something new? Is there someone who could really benefit from being mentored by you? Is the Lord calling you to lead a Bible study at your church or in your neighborhood? Are you the one who needs to share the Gospel with your new neighbor? Maybe this is the year of “next steps” for you! It could be very exciting to reflect on at the end of 2025!
I read a passage recently in Proverbs 2. It says, “For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints. Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path.” (verses 6–9).
I love that phrase “every good path.” I pray that, in the year ahead, the Lord will be your source of wisdom and you’ll find yourself taking all the right steps on every good path.
God’s richest blessings to you in the new year.
