5 Things to Leave Behind to Have the Best Year Yet

1. Negativity 

Negativity is simply a result of consistent thought patterns existing outside of God. 2 Cor. 10:5 says to "take every thought captive to Christ." This means literally transferring every thought that whispers, "You can't do that," or "I wish I was her," or "I'll never get this right,' and handing it over to the Lord. It can be tough, especially when negative thinking seems justified by the world's standard, but positivity is a mental exercise that trains your heart and brain to see things through God's eyes. It also helps to go a step further after taking negative thoughts captive by replacing them with an opposing truth.

We can see past our negative thoughts if we focus on God, His goodness, His love, and faithfulness. If you feel like you have greater chances of discovering life on Mars than losing that last 10 pounds, focus on the fact that you're healthy and have the ability to exercise and move when so many don't. If your co-worker almost insists on slacking or just plain drives you nuts, try praying for them, asking for grace, and being thankful you don't share their weaknesses. Like any spiritual exercise, it takes some practice, but it helps to think, "How would Jesus think and act in this situation? Even if we'd be right, in the natural, to feel and act negatively, God's ways are higher. With a willing spirit, nothing is impossible with Him.

2. Guilt-Based Regret

This is one to toss out and never look back. No one likes the feeling of failure, but hanging on to memories of things you wish you had done differently can be so paralyzing. We might have valid regrets and wounds caused by wasting time on the wrong relationship, making a poor business investment, or not apologizing to that friend quickly enough, but God calls us to repent, meditate on how we can do better, and move forward without feelings of guilt.

Dwelling on our failures brings a sense of defeat and hopelessness and keeps us stuck in the past instead of trusting God still has a plan. A great scripture for the New Year is Romans 8:28: "For God works all things together for those who love the Lord." No matter what, God has been and is still working to ensure we'll prosper despite anything we wish we had done differently in the past. Consider making self-forgiveness a top resolution this year. Really ask God if you're holding onto guilt and shame from past mistakes, misgivings, or sins that you need to give over to Jesus.

This can be difficult, but our loved ones actually suffer when we're riddled with guilt and regret. It weighs down our spirits, robs us of our joy, and depletes our energy. Surrender all your mistakes, guilt, and regret to 2023, and experience the freedom of refusing to look back.

Photo Credit: © Getty Images/Marjan_Apostolovic

3. Unhealthy Relationships

Whether romantic or platonic in nature, unhealthy relationships can be toxic, wrongfully influence us, and simply drain our energy. In this frantic life, it's easy to exist on auto-pilot without examining the state of our lives- how and whom we spend our time with and where we allocate our focus and energy. Whether it's a quasi-ex who's still in the picture or a "friend" always giving ungodly advice, 2024 may be the year to transition out of unhealthy relationships, as painful as it may be. Though we're called to love and serve others, it's still possible to be kind without allowing anyone and everyone access to our hearts, time, and attention. We have to establish healthy boundaries and assess what the people closest to us are bringing to our lives. Even Jesus withdrew from others and said the word 'no' from time to time, escaping into nature for days on end to be alone with God. If you sense God pulling you away from a relationship, ask for wisdom and help moving in a different direction. It will be worth the admittedly difficult process, and in the end, we'll have the energy for those he's put in our paths. And maybe even time for hot yoga this year…Lord, let it happen.

4. Apathy

It's been said that nothing great has ever been accomplished without passion. One of the best ways to guarantee a fulfilling 2024 is to say 'yes' to the life-giving opportunities life brings. The definition of apathy is "a lack of interest or concern." Sometimes, we approach life with a lack of expectancy and adventure simply because the distractions and pressures of daily life snuff out the magic, wonder, and belief that new and exciting things to learn, ways to grow, and experiences to treasure exist after we've walked a few decades on this Earth. We often become dormant without realizing it, sinking into the comfortable plateau of behaviors and activities we've become accustomed to, but miss out on the next great friend, the move of the Lord, or entrepreneurship opportunity because we know what we like and we do what we do. God has so many opportunities and new ventures waiting for us this year, but he can't (or at least won't!) pause Netflix or uninstall the Insta app without our permission. It's time to allow ourselves to be stretched out of our comfort zones and say 'yes' to the experiences we've been daydreaming about or putting off for far too long. Plus, judging by the news today, I think Jesus may be returning sooner than we think! Maybe plan that trip to Fiji.

5. Our Will 

How many times have we seriously tried to do the same thing over and over again, only to come up short or fall flat on our faces? When pondering another new year, many of us dust off the journal or open a fresh Word doc, listing all the goals and hopes for the next 365 days, and then ask God to bless them. "Lord, help me find a better job in this specific industry, more success in the ministry I've chosen, and better communication with the boyfriend I'm not sure I'm supposed to even be with. And abs. Better abs would be stellar."

Many of us have been programmed to believe that if we love God and our intentions are good, the plans for our life will just naturally unfold. But I've found God will still bless our life- our health, our jobs, our kids, even when we're not operating in the fullness of who He's called us to be. This year, instead of asking God to come alongside our plans, let's spend time asking what He desires for our lives. When our hearts really align with the truth that God is good, we'll understand He wants better for us than we can even imagine and trust His plans alone. He wants us to be happy (He did make chocolate and espresso beans). The best year is surely ahead of us, with Him leading the way.

Life can feel eternal, especially when thinking of a whole new year, but it really is a vapor. Life is too short to give fear, regret, bad habits, or anything outside of God's will a place for us this next year. Let's run towards this next season, free of anything that holds us down, and embrace newness and freedom. Cheers to the adventure of 2024!