Women’s Devotion: A Practice for the New Year

“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

“Every season must end so something new can begin.” As I write this it is still officially the Christmas season until Epiphany on January 6. I love to let “Christmas” stretch as long as possible, but the new year is upon us and I can’t ignore the inevitable changing of the seasons as the totes have to come back out and all the Christmas treasures are once again packed away.

As this season ends, what is that new thing that God is doing? The prophet Isaiah asks, “do you not perceive it?” As I reflect on the old year of 2025, I think about the tough days and challenges of the past 12 months, and I have to say I am ready for a new year. I don’t want to dwell on the past, and I am ready for what God is up to in 2026! But how do I perceive it? How do I pay attention to where God is leading me?

I am trusting that God will show me a recurring theme, a growing edge. One of the practices I have in January every year is to intentionally complete a list of things I purpose to do in 2026. The original idea for this practice came from Ann Voskamp 10 years ago, and I have added to it the practice of finding my word for the year.

I don’t just do this in one sitting, but over the course of the next couple of weeks I will ask some questions to reflect on the year gone by—not dwelling on the past, but learning from it—so that I can begin to perceive what new thing God is doing in my life. What brought me joy last year and what didn’t? What went well in the last year, and what didn’t? How did my relationship with Jesus deepen last year? What will I keep from the past year, and what will I let go of?

These reflection questions help me select my word for the new year and live more intentionally in all areas of my life. This practice serves as a way to spiritually focus for living on purpose and trusting God for guidance through the wilderness and wastelands of life. I have attached the worksheet I use if you’d like to join me.

Gracious Lord, I thank You for the gift of a new season. I surrender my plans and my “resolutions” to You. Open my heart to the word You have for me this year and to sense the theme of this new season You are leading me into. May I see how You are making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. Remind me of Your presence and Your purpose in every circumstance as I perceive the “new thing” You are doing in my life. Amen

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