Not everyone is a morning person, I get that. But I am. Unless I am just exhausted and way behind on sleep, I love waking up before the dawn and being able to witness the sunlight whenever it first starts breaking in through the windows. I love to suddenly become aware of the moment that the birds first start to sing. I love beginning each day with a prayer of thanksgiving and having a cup of coffee as I reflect on God’s goodness and mercy in my life. As I meditate on this, I offer up prayers for my family, my friends, and for the church and all the people in it. I’ve noticed that no matter how the day before went, if I stick to this routine, it helps me to live each day with a fresh, healthy perspective, and a renewed since of purpose. After all, each day is a gift, and each day is a chance to grow in and share God’s love.

Having said that, it should come as no surprise that I also cherish the hope and potential that each new year brings. It is like a new day, but on a grand scale. We are greeted with the opportunity to live another year here on earth, and to make the most of whatever lies ahead of us. Just like a morning routine can effect the way you approach a new day, our perspectives heading into a new year can be equally powerful.

Not all days will be good. Not all years will be good. In fact, some of them will be incredibly difficult and painful, but make no mistake, each new day, each new week, and each new year truly is a gift from God, the Author and Sustainer of life. If we commit to beginning each one with hope and with thanksgiving, we will move forward with a more Christlike perspective, and whether wonderful or difficult times lie ahead, we will be more prepared for the future because we enter into it with hope, joy, and thanksgiving. I pray that you embrace this new year as a gift from the God who gave it. May it be a year of blessing for you and your loved ones, and may we all grow in grace together in 2025.