New Year's Revelations

God desires to reveals His truths to us through His Word in the new year. Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash.

This year, instead of listing lots of New Year’s Resolutions, I am asking God for New Year’s Revelations. If you want to craft actionable New Year’s Resolutions, please read my previous blogs with suggestions on how to have holistic and  SMART resolutions. Though I try this method every year, I don’t always reach my goals. During the lockdown in 2020, I didn’t visit a new state. I couldn’t control COVID. I also failed to meet other goals, but God reordered my world that year and accomplished different things instead.

To better align with God’s desires, I’ve decided to pray for God’s revelations on what He wants me to do. My first goal is to seek insights into His will and design for my life during each day this year. I can set all the lofty goals I want, but have learned that many things reside outside of my control. God knows my future. I need to listen to His will for the moment instead of charting a course when I don’t even have a map.

I look to God’s Word for His directions. Second Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (NKJV). God gave us the Bible so that we may deepen our relationship with Him every day. All God-breathed Scripture gives us wisdom to obey God so that will glorify Him and have no regrets.

When I seek wisdom, often I use a concordance or go to www.Biblegateway.com to look for verses on a specific topic. For example, when writing this blog, I discovered there are 86 verses in the NKJV that include the word “reveal.” I reviewed those verses, collecting the ones the Holy Spirit highlighted in a Word document to use in this blog. Scripture answers the questions you are asking God. He doesn’t leave you high and dry, but shares His truths with you so you can honor Him in all your ways.

The Bible clarifies that when God reveals truth to me, He wants me to obey. Deuteronomy 29:29 says, “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law” (NKJV). Sometimes, obedience requires action. Maybe I need to apologize to someone or send a note of encouragement. Other times, obedience requires patience. I am to stay and listen. I struggle to wait for God’s timing because I have a bias for action. Yet, in my waiting room, God whispers to my hungry soul that He will provide all my needs. His timing is perfect. God is never early or late. I need to obey without delay, be that stay or go.

As I listen for God’s voice to guide my steps, I remind myself that God will never reveal “new truths” that contradict the Bible. When I look for God to reveal His will, I read a passage in context and cross-reference it with other parts of Scripture. Sometimes, people will read the Bible to try find a verse to justify their actions. God is not about helping us find excuses to disobey His Word, but uses Scripture to convict us of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8).

As we go forward into 2022, I challenge us all to sit at the feet of Jesus by reading the Bible and listening to the truths He reveals to us. Daniel 2:22, “He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, And light dwells with Him” (NKJV). May we listen to the deep things He wants to share with us to lighten our paths. May we obey no matter the call, so we can see greater things in the year to come. I pray that we, our children, and all generations would listen to the secret things of the Lord and live them out in our world for His name and renown both now and forevermore.

• What areas of your life do you need God to reveal truth to you in the new year?
• What will you do to seek God’s wisdom for your decisions?