Maybe 2024 so far was filled with successive victories, downhill regressive failures to the end or a mixture of both. No matter how it ended, be glad that it finally ended and it’s time to reflect and start anew.
To end one stage of life that was very painful and start the next phase hoping to make it worthwhile, one needs to take stock of the previous one, reflect on weaknesses and strengths and then see how those weaknesses can be changed in the next phase of life.
If a lousy relationship comes to an end, there’s a need to sit down, reflect on knowing what part one played that led to the demise of that relationship. Then work on those character flaws, become healed before entering into another relationship. If this is not done and one enters into another relationship with same garbage and broken heart, the present relationship may likely end up broken as well.
Therefore to prevent the mistakes of last year, the following questions must be asked.
As you’ve entered into this new, it doesn’t mean your life has changed, it is only the year that has changed, but you are the same person. To have a satisfying new experience this year, you need to work on your character through the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.
Learn to forgive: No matter who has hurt you: your spouse or ex-spouse, your friends, colleagues, child, siblings, boss, or employees, please forgive. Someone said unforgiveness is like drinking a poisonous substance and then expecting another to die, rather, it is you who drank the poison that will die.
Job 42 verse10: “The Lord restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.”
When Job prayed and forgave his friends, God restored his fortunes in a double portion to him. Without forgiveness, there’s no restoration.
You may ask: is it easy to forgive? No.
That is why we need the assistance of the holy spirit. I have been there when hurt deeply by a family member. It was challenging for me because I had to get in touch with this person frequently. If I see this person, it’s as if I’ve seen the devil directly. What helped was to start praying for this person every day.