Are you ready for the new year? How do you finish the year well and pray and plan for the year ahead? I wanted to walk you through my three-step process and give you some printables and resources to help you along the way.

How to set Christian goals for the new year:

Step 1: Pray and ask God to direct you! Ask God to put a word on your heart and in your path for what He wants you to focus on for the new year ahead.

Step 2: Reflect on the year that’s ending – It’s important to think about all the ways God was faithful in the past year. It is important to document what God did, what He taught you, the hard moments, the wonderful moments. During challenging times, we need to look back and be reminded of God’s faithfulness. “We thank You, O God! We give thanks because You are near. People everywhere tell of Your wonderful deeds.” Psalm 75:1

• Make a list of the 12 months of the year: What were the highlights of each month? What went well? What was challenging? What were your favorite memories? What did God teach you?

• Look at your life in 12 categories and do the same! Reflect on what went well and what was challenging about those areas: Faith, marriage, family, home, finances, fitness, food, job/business, ministry, rest/mental, fun/recreation, friends

Step 3: Pray, dream, and plan for the new year ahead:

• Remember: We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps. Proverbs 16:9

• Look at those same 12 categories and set goals in each of them. Think about what habits and rhythms you want to form in those areas: Faith, marriage, family, home, finances, fitness, food, job/business, ministry, rest/mental, fun/recreation, friends

• Make a Pinterest board with pictures to represent your goals for the year! Click the year to see the Pinterest board I made with images: 2024 / 2023 / 2019 / 2018

• Print the pictures on white sticker paper and add them to the front of your planner to reference and look at during the year.

• After reflecting and praying and dreaming, look for overarching themes. Use those themes and prayer to help you pick a word for your year! What does God want you to focus on for the year ahead? Ask Him to make it clear! Ask Him to put signs and songs and images and verses in your path to make it clear what He wants you to do in the new year.

• I also like putting together a journal for my word of the year to document what God taught me about that word throughout the year. I like to add pictures, Bible verses, quotes and stories.

Need some ideas for your word for the year? Here are mine from the past:

• 2014: Be brave

• 2016: Pray

• 2017: Be still and rest

• 2018: Courageous (click HERE for printable about how God placed this word in my path)

• 2019: Surrender

• 2020: Joy & sacrifice (click HERE for word of the year journal set up video)

• 2021: Joy & strength (click HERE for word of the year journal set up video)

• 2022: Grace, peace & joy (click HERE for word of the year journal set up video)

• 2023: Trust (click HERE for word of the year journal set up video)

• 2024: Rejoice