Forward to a New YearSample

Seize Your Tomorrow Today

How do we stay focused on tomorrow, letting go of the past and moving forward to the future? Typically, it all starts with a dream. That’s the first step in this process of moving forward.

As followers of Christ, we can cultivate a dream for our lives that outlasts the world, transforms time, changes eternity, and advances His cause and His kingdom for His glory.

In fact, that’s the story of the Bible. The Bible is filled with people who saw what life could look like in God’s kingdom and then moved forward in faith. Their stories—the dreams of men and women of God thousands of years ago—still inspire, guide, and affect us more than we know. And they remind us God wants to do the same with you and me. The Lord’s dreams for us are just as real.

What about you? Do you have a dream? Can you envision God’s next step for your life? What does He want to do through you this year, in the coming years, and in the remaining time He gives you in this life?

Take some time to identify your dreams by looking back, and looking forward. The best dreams don’t start with us but instead are planted in us by God. If it isn’t rooted, it’s rotten. We stand on the shoulders of others. We are links in a chain, and we build on what others have done, even as future generations will build on the work we have done.

That’s why it’s all right to look around for ideas and see what others are doing. We get ideas from history and from how others are inspired to act today. To develop your dream, think about your heritage, what you love to do, and your life experiences. Think about your background. Everything in your life has prepared you for the next step, so look at what’s already happening in your life and church. Start where you are and work outward and forward. Root your dream in history, and you will have a firm foothold on which to move forward.

Next, pay attention to what moves you. Having a dream for tomorrow isn’t just a matter of feeling a generalized burden. It may start there, with a yearning to feed the hungry, help the homeless, or evangelize the world. But as your vision develops, it takes on distinct and detailed images. You can see yourself rolling up your sleeves and getting a grip on the very things needed to press forward with your dream. You can convey it to others in a way that excites them.

Don’t worry if you can’t see the final fulfillment of your long-term dreams. For now, what matters is being able to imagine your dream in a way that captivates both you and others.

And please remember there are no small tasks in the Lord’s work, and no insignificant dreams. Our work is never routine, our labor is never wasted, and our legacy is capable of outliving us. As you identify your dreams more concretely, you will feel God moving you forward. I’ve learned I can trust God with my dreams even as I move forward toward His plans for my life.

And so can you.

Respond

1. What are some dreams God may be nurturing within you for the coming year? What about long-term? 

2. How has your background and your past informed any new dreams you may be developing? 

3. What has been moving to your heart lately? How might that translate into a dream growing within you, and into a new step forward that could leave a mark on the world? What will you do to seize and act on that dream?