Closing 2022 Well
December 30, 2022
Dear CPC Family,
As this letter goes out there are just over 40 hours remaining in 2022. The church where I grew up had (and still has) a New Year’s Eve Watch Night Service. Those who attended closed the year with testimonies of God’s grace, singing, a short message, and the Lord’s Supper shortly before midnight.
The shift from one year to another isn’t just significant for the calendar, it can also be significant for our spiritual lives.
Here are some ideas to help us grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as 2022 changes to 2023:
Reflect
Remember the past year. What joys and trials crossed your path in 2022? More importantly, how have you seen the Lord draw near to you with provision, protection, or guidance in the midst of these joys and trials?
Use Scripture. Let me encourage you to find a few quiet moments in the next few days and read a passage like Isaiah 40, Psalm 90, Ephesians 1-2, Hebrews 12:1-2, 1 Peter 1:1-9. All of these passages call us to remember God’s faithfulness and be assured of his presence. They are great for bidding farewell to one year and hello to another.
Give thanks. The psalms often recount God’s wonderful works in creation and redemption which leads to thanksgiving (see Psalm 136, for example). Follow that example as you reflect on the past year: “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.”
Rest
I actually mean to really, physically rest. Bible scholar D.A. Carson once said sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is take a nap. The week between Christmas and New Year’s Day is already a strange schedule. So embrace the strangeness and, if possible, squeeze in some rest.
Do you feel burdened with what is unresolved in 2022 or what may be looming in 2023? Remember 1 Peter 5:7: “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” You can use this verse as the basis for a very simple prayer: “Father, I know you care for me. I give to you my concern about _____________. Give me peace and help me rest in your love.”
Resolve
With the always needed reminder that your standing with God is based on Jesus and his finished work … and that whether you reach your goals in 2023 or blow all of them within the first 24 hours does not change that fact one bit, it’s good to remember that you “are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). What good things might God have for you to do in 2023?
Consider one new habit that will help you abide in Christ in the new year. We sometimes use the term “ordinary means of grace.” That simply means the normal ways God promises to sustain and encourage us. It might not sound dramatic or exciting, but imagine how each of us might be different if we resolved to be at church every Sunday, read the Bible for 10 minutes daily, and pray for 5 minutes daily. You might be doing all of those things already! Consistency in simple habits over long stretches makes a huge difference.
One final idea: as you think through these “3 Rs of ending the year,” I encourage you to actually write them down. It might be uncomfortable, but the simple act of writing things down will make them more concrete, memorable, and meaningful.
What a privilege it is that we get to begin 2023 with the Lord’s Day! I’ll see you then at 9:30am!
In the Father’s Love,
Pastor Andrew