Hope for a better tomorrow
The New Year brings us hope for a better tomorrow and leave the past behind us. A chance to make things better, start over, and chase after our dreams once again. We all start the new year with a resolution or a promise to ourselves to achieve better health by joining a gym, losing unwanted pounds, or getting our cholesterol under control. The problem though is the resolutions have no substance. It’s merely a promise we make to ourselves to feel better, look better, be more active. Yet there is no accountability. We can and do become complacent.
The new year is a time of hope. A fresh perspective, that somehow things will be better than last year. But have you looked back and deliberated the events of the past year. It’s easy to forget all the good and reminisce on what held us back. I count my blessings to celebrate my wins. Especially unexpected blessings. Just before the holidays started I received three gifts. All very personal for me. The first gift was the feeling of something greater than me upon visiting a Church we previously belonged to. Memories of joy and being part of a community of believers. This Christmas eve eve service was exceptionally wonderful reliving who I was then and how God has transformed me into who I am now. The second gift was a box of gifts with no tags on them left on our porch to unwrap when we came home after service. I knew after unwrapping the first gift who they were from and why she gave them to me as a gift as it was a cherished gift as well as the friendship. The next gift came Christmas eve morning in the form of an email I was hoping for. It was a monetary and sort of expected but the amount was more than I had thought and the timing was perfect. I consider this a gift to because I know it was from God, my provider.
Do not conform to the patterns and behaviors of this world but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn God’s will for your life, which is good, pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2(NLT)
I could think of dozens of times in 2025 that I was blessed. Like a new job that fits me and absolutely love. I could go on and on. The point being is my perspective is on my blessings and not what went wrong. And believe me there is a few things to take with me that held me back when things didn’t go well. I simply choose gratitude over my mishaps and know in 2026 I will not be disappointed.
What do you choose to focus on, gratitude or your disappointments?
No matter what you choose, there will be consequences or opportunities. Personally, I prefer the latter. So, when you hope for a better tomorrow, look back and see how truly blessed you really are. Don’t get me wrong, we all want to strive to do better for ourselves and our families. I do encourage you to move forward with and set meaningful goals that are built on a solid foundation. Then take the mistakes you made and learn from them. Use them as steppingstones to achieve a better you, a better lifestyle with meaningful relationships with your friends and family, and with God.
I invite you now to take 30 minutes and journal your thoughts before deciding what is truly important to you. What of significance speaks to you?
If you don’t already have a journal, you may purchase one in the link below:
Or visit my website
https://thomasbrattonauthor.com/books/
Pray with me:
Father in Heaven, thank you for all you have blessed me with. Help me to remember even the smallest gifts of all. The gifts that help me to remember how you work behind the scenes in my life. I pray that my plans would align with the plans you have for me and that I would become closer to you God in all areas of my life. Let me bless others with the gifts you have bestowed upon me be a blessing for others. I trust you to lead me along the path you have chosen for me. It is the best way. The only way to really thrive. Help me let go of what doesn’t work for me anymore and to always choose you over me. In Jesus name, Amen…