Walking with your Faith in the New Year - 2024
"We are new creations in Christ; the old has passed away, and the new has come" (2 Corinthians 5:17).
As we enter the New Year, let us not be discouraged by past failures or overwhelmed by the pressure to make perfect resolutions. Instead, let us cling to the grace and mercy of our Savior, who offers us a fresh start each day. In this new year, may we be intentional about seeking God's presence and aligning our hearts and strides with His desires. Let us prioritize spending time in His Word and in prayer, allowing His truth to shape our thoughts and actions. As we draw near to Him, we will find strength, wisdom, and guidance for every aspect of our lives.
Yet as we focus on our relationship with God, let us not forget the importance of community. Surrounding ourselves with fellow believers who can encourage, challenge, and support us is vital for our spiritual growth. Together, we can spur one another on to love and good deeds, holding each other accountable to live out our faith boldly.
You wouldn’t step into the ring without the guidance of a trainer when you started, and your faith is no exception. Celebrate the power that comes from community in your own faith journey. So, as we step into this new year, let us embrace the opportunities it brings to experience God's love, grace, and transforming power. One of my favorite verses as we enter the new year is 2 Corinthians 5:17
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here”
The old is gone and the new is here - Christ gives us an opportunity to grow our relationship each and everyday. Through Jesus’ resurrections, we are washed anew and forgiven of our sins. While there is always a place for you at the table, use the New Year to step into your faith and welcome Jesus into your life. If you’re already a believer, the New Year can provide an opportunity to remind yourself of your faith, your goals, and the type of person you want to be in the world.
What is your goal?
I am using the New Year to get back to what lights my soul on fire: sharing my journey, growing my faith, and building a community.
As equestrians, we can use this time to settle ourselves in the winter season, start setting goals for the spring, and celebrate where we are in our riding journey. With a break from the spring and summer season, the new year offers us a place to reflect on what is working, and where we can change and grow in the next year.
Use this New Years day to start setting your goals as an equestrian and a believer. While there are many different methods you can use, One of my favorite ways to start off the New Year with intention and celebrate the blessings that I know are going to come into my life is through a digital prayer board.
Similar to a Vision Board, a Prayer board gives you an opportunity to visually see the blessings that God has brought into your life, what you may need to let go of, and how you can move with the Holy Spirit into the future.
While there are many ways to set your goals, a prayer board is a great way to combine the many different parts of your life into the amazing plan that God has for you. From your horses to your partner, or even your business, you can place the parts of yourself that you want to continue to change onto your prayer board for the New Year.
What is a Prayer Board?
A prayer board is a collage of images, words and scriptures that visually shows what you are praying for. It's something you create to display in a prominent place. Every time you see it, it's a reminder to pray for the things God has placed on your heart for the world.
While there are many ways that you can make a prayer board, one of my favorites is through Canva or any other digital design software. This way, I can visually see the blessings God has already brought into my life and what is yet to come. I personally keep my prayer board as my phone background, but establish this visual reminder in a place that you are going to look at it. You may think it is a bit crazy, but a daily reminder of where you want to go can be a powerful tool in your life. You can use a prayer board as a tool to pray, meditate, and establish if your desires are within God’s plan for you. Now I know that we can’t predict the next year, so don’t get stuck on the details of what to put on your prayer board. Listen to your heart, and know that the tug you feel will pull you in the right direction. Now if things change through the year, don’t worry, your prayer board can grow and change as: your goals grow, your faith deepens, and life challenges you. Yet from one equestrian to another, continue to take it all in stride. You’ll be surprised on what you can accomplish when you keep your eyes up and dream big.
Enter the new year with an open heart, ready to embrace the endless possibilities that lie ahead, and celebrate the incredible truth that you ARE already enough in the eyes of God. In the midst of the busyness and chaos of this world, it is so easy to get sucked into the never-ending cycle of expectations and the pressure we put on ourselves. We often forget the amazing world that God has created for us. While most of us know the peace and connection that we feel in the saddle, it is easy to lose that connection to God through the hustle of the day-to-day.
By keeping your prayer board in a place of prominence (like a phone background), you can continue to keep God and your place in his plan at the forefront of your life - even when the going gets tough. Let’s be honest with ourselves: the energy of the New Year isn’t going to last forever. While it is easy to be excited about your training goals now, there will always be challenges along the way. Celebrate the New Year by creating a tool that will keep your eyes on the Lord, and the Lord in your goals.
How to Use a Prayer Board
While you will want to listen to your heart and follow your intuition, you can also utilize the power of your prayer board to guide the blessings in your life. My prayer board, which is placed prominently to the right, serves as a compass that directs my heart, mind, and feet towards the path that God has intended for me. There are times when I feel the need to pray but find myself unsure of what exactly to pray for. In such moments of uncertainty, I turn to my prayer board and allow it to illuminate my way. It provides me with a gentle nudge, reminding me to surrender all aspects of my life, including my relationships, goals, faith, and personal boundaries, to God's caring hands.
However, it is crucial to note that a prayer board is not just for the start of the New Year; it is a tool that you can utilize throughout the entire year. By adding scripture verses, inspiring quotes, and gentle reminders on how to live a faithful life, I know that my prayer board will serve as a trusted guide that will shape my journey in 2024.
As both an equestrian and a Christian, I know that it is all too easy to become swept up in the current trends and lose sight of who I truly aspire to be. I can relate to the feeling of trying to fit in with the ever-changing fads, only to discover that they ultimately do not align with my most authentic self. That is why I encourage you to let your prayer board serve as a constant reminder of your faith and your genuine identity as you step into this new year. Let it be a beacon of light that guides you towards the person God has called you to be.
As we start the New Year, let's not be discouraged by past mistakes or feel overwhelmed by the pressure to make perfect resolutions. Instead, let's hold onto the forgiveness and fresh start that Jesus offers us every day. In this new year, let's make it a priority to seek God's presence and align ourselves with His desires. We can do this by spending time reading the Bible and praying, allowing God's truth to guide our thoughts and actions. Drawing closer to Him will give us strength, wisdom, and guidance for every part of our lives.
Surrounding ourselves with other believers who can support and challenge us is crucial for our spiritual growth, and by coming together, we can encourage each other to love and do good, and hold each other accountable to live out our faith boldly. Your prayer board is just one part of your faith journey Just a riding student needs a trainer for guidance, we need the support of others in our faith journey. So, as we enter this new year, let's embrace the opportunities we have to experience God's love, grace, and transformational power.
If you’re looking for a community to join, come and join “Strides in Faith” over on social media.
Happy New Year lovelies, and I do hope that this upcoming year is full of blessings and growth for you and yours.