Happy New Year! I hope that you enjoyed the holidays and are ready for the New Year. As I write this post, a major winter storm is headed my way and all I can say is Spring will be here in 73 days!

As I closed out 2023, a good pal of mine shared an insight that has really driven my thinking and actions over these first few days of the year. It’s simple, yet profound.

New Inputs Lead To New Outputs.

In other words, if you want something new to happen, you have to do something different. As much as we want our lives to magically change, it’s not going to happen. Many people began 2024 with a list of resolutions: lose weight, join the gym, look for a new job. Whatever these goals are, they will remain goals unless some action is taken. 

• We won’t lose weight eating the way we always ate.
• We won’t get in shape staring at the gym postcard we got in the mail.
• We won’t get that new job if we don’t update our resume.

Over the holidays, my daughter created a vision board full of her goals for the year and beyond. She framed it and hung it in her bedroom so she could see it every day. However, this “eye candy” will remain just as it is if specific and thoughtful actions are not tied to each goal.

Recently, a few people have asked me about God’s plan and purpose for their lives. They’re in a place of “I know I’m supposed to be doing something, but  I’m not sure what.” I so get this! And guess who else gets it? God! He even spoke about the importance of having a vision in the Bible:

“Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, it will not tarry” (Habakkuk 2:3 NKJV).

God has a vision for your life. He has a specific purpose and plan that only you can carry out. What is it? Well, that’s between you and God but I will tell you this. Whatever it is, it’s needed!

There’s a reason you are alive right now. It’s no secret that the world is getting darker and God needs you to shine your light. 

“For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14 NKJV).

“But how do I know what God wants me to do?” While I can’t answer this specifically, I can give you some things to think about:

1.    Your natural talents are a good place to start. God has placed specific gifts in each of us that He wants you to develop and use. What are you good at? What comes so easy to you that others marvel?
2.    What tasks or endeavors make your heart sing? What brings you so much joy that you could do it all day long for free?

You see, when we are operating in our God-given gifts and using them to bless others, we are walking in the divine purpose for our lives. We are filled with joy. We are making an impact.

This week, I want to encourage you to spend some time contemplating these  questions. When you have your answers, ask God what He wants you to do. Ask Him to open up doors of opportunity for you.

Even if you’re not 100% sure, take a step in faith in what you believe is the right way. What’s the worst that can happen? You’ll fail? Oh well…we all fail. At least you’ll have an answer as to what not to do!

“If people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; But when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed” (Proverbs 29:18 MSG).

Without a vision for your life, hopelessness and confusion will reign. God does not want either for your life. His will for you is in His Word. Read it. Pray about it. Then do it.