When we think of New Year’s Eve, we often think of:

• Preparation for a party with friends and family or Watch Night Service at church
• Creating your new New Year’s Resolutions

That’s good stuff. Here’s another thought that might be personally life-changing. What if you dedicate a few minutes of reflection about the outgoing year and the important things you have experienced or learned?

Spending time in reflection might sound airy-headed, but it I think it is simply a practice of wisdom. How can you truly learn about yourself if you don’t slow down and think about what has happened in life, what is good and not-so-good in yourself (and in life) AND what God is doing?

If we all spend a few minutes thoughtfully reviewing the past year, we might learn something that will help us in the New Year.

Here’s how to take time on New Year’s Eve for reflection:

Choose a block of time that is realistic to you (5 minutes, 15 minutes, 2 hours, whatever is realistic for you).

• Grab a journal or open a document.
• Create some heading on things that would be valuable for your reflection:
  • Things you are grateful for this year (large and small)
  • Significant events from this year (wonderful, weird or tragic)
  • Important people in your life this year
  • Challenges you overcame, survived or made progress on this year
  • Successes you experienced this year
  • Good things you have done for others this year (large or small)
  • Ways you have seen God’s hand, support, intervention (or felt His silence, which is also valuable- He means many things by His silence)
  • Questions you have for God and for yourself in the upcoming year

When you are done, you will know yourself and God’s work in and through you better. It might even help you set your New Year’s Resolutions.

How to Take Time on New Year’s Eve for Reflection