Annual Plans? No!
What truly changes in our lives from one year to the next? Why so much emphasis on the turn of the year and not on changes from one minute to the next, from one hour to the next, or from one month to the next?
Could it be because an annual change is more convenient, as it doesn’t demand immediate action from us? Our sinful nature tends to postpone changes, making them more “comfortable” if we view them as something that needs to happen only once a year.
Biblical imperatives always call for immediate change, resulting in sanctification that allows us to see the Lord—that is, to behold the beauty of His holiness:"Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord." (Hebrews 12:14)
Fleeing immorality prevents us from a greater fall, a sin against our own bodies:"Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body." (1 Corinthians 6:18)
Living as those who walk in the light and not in darkness requires us to daily abandon the works of darkness:"The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh." (Romans 13:12-14)
Joshua did not wait until the end of the year to commit himself to serving God alone:"But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15)
The disciples of Jesus also did not procrastinate in accepting the task of making disciples:"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will send you out to fish for people." At once they left their nets and followed him. (Matthew 4:19-20)
Therefore, the idea of making plans for the next year does not seem ideal. The ideal is to make plans every single day of the year, starting the moment, we wake up in the morning.
Happy daily days of the year 2025!
Antonio Mendes
Church and Ministry Leadership Consultant
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