Look back–Step Forward
As we begin a new year, I invite you to take a moment and reflect on last year before leaping boldly into 2025. Is there value in taking a look back before a bold step forward into a New Year? I believe so, but only if we view this as a positive experience, not as an opportunity to bash ourselves for mistakes we may (or may not) have made.
Look Back
I’m not recommending looking back and dwelling on the “what ifs” or “should haves.” I invite you to ponder these aspects of the “old” year:
- What do you view as the positive aspects of 2024?
- Were there highlights last year that you remember with joy?
- Is there a helpful lesson you learned from a circumstance that didn’t turn out like you expected?
- What is a goal you completed that you’re happy about?
- Can you think of an action you took that helped someone in need?
- Is there a goal you wished to complete in 2024, but you didn’t quite get there?
- Special memories—what is your most wonderful memory of 2024?
There are always mistakes that I tend to dwell on—“I wish I hadn’t done that” or “If only I’d done this instead of that.”
We cannot change the past, but we can learn from it.
Let’s glean what wisdom we can from our mistakes—remember the lesson—and put the mistakes behind us.
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” (Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV)
God has a plan for our future and is with us on the journey forward.
Step Forward
Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. (Proverbs 4:25-26)
I’m an introvert—it’s hard for me to step boldly into the public domain. But I know I am not alone on the journey–God is with me. And there are ways to get around my fear of being bold.
I love to act. In a play, I can pretend to be bold. As an author or speaker, I can move into the role I want to play just as if I were onstage acting a part.
Perhaps you don’t need to pretend in order to be bold. I’m happy for you, but those of you who are shy and reserved probably cringe (like me) at the thought of stepping boldly into a new year.
I invite you to pick a task you’ve been putting off. Perhaps you were nervous about this task. Maybe you need to do some research or ask for help before you begin this new action.
Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining forward to what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13-14)
Knowing God is with us, can we leap boldly in support of each other? How about offering a helping hand?
Image by Sasin Tipchai from Pixabay
Can we pray for each other as we step (or leap) boldly into our plans for 2025?
Leap Boldly
My introverted bold leap plan is to actively engage with YouTube–not just to view segments others have posted, but to put myself out there. Ahhhhh! It’s not my most comfortable direction. Your prayers are appreciated.
If you decide to leap boldly into a new task or adventure, please let me know how I may pray for you.
How exciting! I’m praying for your leap onto the YouTube stage. I just listened to a conversation with Annette Reeder and Linda Goldfarb on Your Best Writing Life podcast about YouTube. I’m sure you will leap – and land – well💛. In the mean time, I will ponder Proverbs 4:25-26. Such a good reminder.
How exciting! I’m praying for your leap onto the YouTube stage. I just listened to a conversation with Annette Reeder and Linda Goldfarb on Your Best Writing Life podcast about YouTube. I’m sure you will leap – and land – well💛. In the mean time, I will ponder Proverbs 4:25-26. Such a good reminder.
Thank you for your good wishes, Kristy. I’m grateful for your encouragement. Linda Goldfarb is amazing! I need to look up that podcast. Thank you for sharing. I hope your week is going well–a great start for 2025!
Happy New Year, Katherine. Blessings on your YouTube venture.
Thank you, Diana. Your thought, prayers, and encouragement will help me with this new leap. May your new year be full of blessings.
I’m praying for you as you leap, Katherine! My leap is eschewing a book that will sell (according to a best-selling author, so I reckon she knows) and instead going on a writing journey with God in the form of a short story/poetry collection.
I’m so grateful for your prayers, Priscilla. Praying for your writing journey as well. If God is with us…we will make it!
Happy New Year! I look forward to seeing your YouTube videos. 🙂 Thank you for your encouragement and support with my writing.
Melissa, During my recent time of rest and renewal, I read A Holy City Christmas. I enjoyed this book so much. Every story was delightful. Your writing community did an awesome job on this book. I’m working on review! Thank you for sharing joy and encouragement with your readers and fellow authors. Blessings!
Loved you article. Happy New Year. Good memories were visiting the UK and Paris. Exciting for you to take your “introverted bold leap plan is to actively engage with YouTube” – Praying for God’s blessing on using YouTube. I’m stepping out with more paid marketing and have a new book coming out soon with the working title, “The Liberator’s Song:An Allegorical Retelling of The Torah and The Pentateuch” which is scary as I have worked on and off on this project for fifteen years and when I first read part of it back in 2008 at my secular writing group the majority went crazy roasting me – except for two ladies who were Believers and got it and new what it was and said it had to be a God thing and to not be discourage from the heathens not understanding it. Still king of scary. God bless you.
Jimmie, thank you for sharing your journey and your new venture into this amazing project. It’s wonderful that those two women encouraged you in spite of what the others in your group were saying. I love it that God sends encouragers just when we need them most. I’m grateful for your prayers and kind support. Praying for you on your new book and hoping it’s not too far over my head! May God bless you, kind sir, in your service to Him.
So good to see an email from you waiting in my inbox. I’m sure whatever you endeavor to do in this new year will be fruitful. Looking forward to watching you grow. Happy New Year, Katherine.
You are so kind and encouraging, Terri. Thank you. May God bless you in this New Year and send showers of blessings your way.
Katherine, thanks for sharing this encouraging post. I struggle with regret, but the opening questions made me ponder the positives from 2024. Congratulations as you leap into the world of YouTube!
I’m thankful that God doesn’t look at us and our mistakes with regret. Like you, I remember my mistakes and focus on them more that I should. But our loving Father loves us through those trials and regrets; helps us learn from those lessons; and encourages us as we move away from the past and into the future–surrounded by His love, mercy, and faithfulness. He won’t leave us. May God bless you.
Thanks for the wonderful advice for the new year. Blessings to you as you begin your YouTube adventure!