Every year around my birthday, I like to take some time to reflect on the past year and look forward to the coming year. I do a version of this same sort of thing around New Years as well, but something about my birthday feels special to me. The questions I go through vary each year - sometimes I answer more or less - but I’m finding a rhythm of reflection and looking forward that works well for me.
After my birthday I shared on social media a little about the questions I go through and included snippets of my answers to the questions as a way of sparking the answers of others. So many people were interested in going through the questions in their own lives, reflecting on what the Lord has done and looking forward to all he is going to do.
I emailed a handful of people the document I used, but thought I might post it up here as well. These questions aren’t mine - I didn’t come up with them or write any of them for the first time. I’ve gathered them over the years from different places, journals, blog posts, sermons, etc. They worked for me this year and they’re helping me walk into 24 with my eyes open and on Jesus. Hopefully they serve some of you as well.
Reflect
In the past year…
What events took place?
What theme or themes did I notice running through the year?
What filled me up?
What drained me?
Declare the past year completely over. Thank God for what He accomplished, His faithfulness, and the things He did in me.
Look Forward
What am I excited about this coming year?
What do I want to ask for and pray actively for this year?
What’s one thing I can do in the coming year to increase my enjoyment of God?
What can I do to improve the quality of my family life in the coming year?
In what area of my life do I most need growth and what will I do about it this next year?
What habit (or habits) do I want to build or continue building this year?
Thank the Lord for this coming year of life and ask for His blessing over it. Ask the Lord to help me grow in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control as I follow Him.
(PS If you prefer a document you can save for yourself, you can click here for the google doc.)
Photo by the ever-lovely Jenna L. Richman Photography