We did it! Well, we almost did it anyways. There is just a few more days left of 2018. Soon, there will be a ton of articles, blogs, sermons, and all kinds of advice on how to crush 2019. I have already been thinking about goals and resolutions I’d like for my self, my family and our church to make 2019 the best year yet. I am sure you are thinking about next year too!

Before we embrace this new year, let’s take a moment to reflect about 2018. What kind of year was 2018 for you? Maybe you are ready to say goodbye to this last year like you were with last the terrible relationship you had. You are ready for it to be over and done with! Maybe you had to binge watch Netflix and had to eat your feelings just to finish the year. Or maybe you lost someone this last year and you’re afraid of what this next year will look like. Or maybe you’re ending this year tired. Maybe for you, it was a good year and you are ready for what is next.

Whatever your thoughts are about 2018, I have three simple suggestions to help close out the year. Three “to do’s” to close out 2018. Let’s thank God. Let’s let God. And let’s believe God.

Let’s thank God for all He has done in our lives in 2018. We can get so focused on what we want next that we forget to thank Him for all that He has done. Psalms 23:1 NIV says, “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.” Another version says, “ The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” God was my shepherd this year. He took care of me. He took care of me in 2018. I’m so thankful for that. We have endless reasons to thank Him. Often, the voices telling us what we lack or what went wrong speak louder than the voices of what went right and what we already have. Let’s thank Him for what he has already done!

Let’s let God help us to let go. Let’s not carry any baggage into 2019. Who do we need to forgive? What grudge(s) am I still holding onto? Who am I holding resentment against? What am I beating myself up about? What unfulfilled expectation is still bothering me. It is easy to hold onto things. Hebrews 12:1 TPT (bold added) says, “As for us, we have all of these great witnesses who encircle us like clouds. So we must let go of every wound that has pierced us and the sin we so easily fall into. Then we will be able to run life’s marathon race with passion and determination, for the path has been already marked out before us.” It’s easy to hold on to junk. Now is time to let go. To end well. It’s time to lose some baggage and weight that is holding us down.

Let’s believe God. Let’s believe that He had a plan in our lives for this last year. He worked in incredible ways. We may have seen it. We may not have seen it. But we know, He is active in our lives. And He is just getting started. He has things planned that are still unfolding. Chapters that are still to be written. Some things may seem impossible to let go of or to believe for but nothing is impossible with God. “For with God nothing will be impossible.” Luke 1:37 NKJV

We have a few last hours of 2018. Let’s close them well. Let’s bring in the Closer. He can help us finish this year well. Let’s pray this prayer together.

God I’m thankful for all you have done in my life this last year. You are the great shepherd. I give you all the things I’m holding onto that will hold me back in 2019. My fears, my doubts, my wants, my offenses, my burdens and anything else that you see that I don’t even see. Help me to let you have it all. And God, I believe that you are just getting started with your plans and purpose in my life. I believe you have more you want to do in me and through me. I believe and receive your love for me. Amen!