If you really want to have 2012 as a new beginning, you got to decide what you want to accomplish this year. It’s not enough that you have a desire. You need to have a plan, a goal or a vision.

I know some folks who say that they will not make a plan because they are afraid that by doing so, they may miss the plan of God! But that’s not true. You may be familiar with this adage: “It is difficult to steer a parked vehicle. But when it starts moving, it’s easy to direct it”.

As we look around, we find that comparatively, it’s those who don’t have a vision suffer discouragement than those who do have a vision. That is why Proverbs 29:18 declares: Where there is no (prophetic) vision, the people are discouraged.

However, when you prayerfully create a goal, the amazing thing is, God starts working on your behalf. Besides, discouragement wouldn’t be found anymore!

Here are 3 smart tips that help you in creating your goal for 2012.

1. Check your passion

What are you passionate about? If you can do only one thing in life, what would be that one thing? Your goal must be closely connected to your passion.

2. Check what you dislike

What do you consider as “I can’t stand it!”? What stuff, situation or scenario produces a (righteous) anger in you? Though you may not realize, your God-ordained purpose is connected to that! Incorporate it into your goal.

3. Check your track record

What have you been through the past 5 years, especially 2011? It may be a mixture of good and not-so-good circumstances. But God used them to prepare you for 2012. Seeing these from a ‘mountain-top’ angle will help you create a ‘heavenly’ and realistic goal.

So, remember: it’s your decision to accomplish something specific that helps you begin 2012 afresh!

In the next post, we are going to deal with the third step to starting 2012 afresh. Meantime, what are some of the past experiences that help you in creating your 2012 goal? Pen your comments below in the comments section.

- – - written by Joe Abraham from www.joeandancy.com

One thing you can be certain about in the coming year is that you can’t be certain about what is ahead. This is a great blessing, because you do not need to know. To know what is ahead and the details of what will happen would be too great a burden to carry and too great a responsibility to bear.

What you do need to know about the future is not what is ahead of you, but Who is ahead of you. It is the Lord who goes before you, is ahead of you, and is preparing the way for you. Your future is in His sure, strong, caring hands.

“I am with you, and I will protect you wherever you go. One day I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have finished giving you everything I have promised you.” – Genesis 28:15

As you pass through the door of 2011 and enter the door of 2012, here are six of the needs you are certain to have.

1. There will be the need for prayer

Until you get to heaven, there will always be the need for prayer. In every prayer as a believer, you will be speaking to the living God, your loving Father—the One who invites you to come, the One who hears your cries, the One who answers your prayers, and the One who will work all things together for the good according to His will and purpose.

2. There will be the need to trust

God does not want you to be fearful or worried about what is ahead. He will give what you need when you need it; He will tell what you need to know when it is time to know it; He will show what you need to see when it is time to see it. When He is silent about any matter, be at peace about it and do not become anxious.

3. There will be the need to obey

You will never outgrow your need for obedience. To obey the Lord is to please the Lord. He will always give you the provision, the time, and the opportunity to do what He has asked you to do. If He is not asking you to do anything new or different at the present time, continue to do the last thing He asked of you.

4. There will be the need to forgive

No one will ever act perfectly or speak perfectly to you. Even those who love you will not perform perfectly. Forgiveness is an attitude of the heart and a choice of the will that you must walk in each day. Some people carry hurt, bitterness, or resentment in their hearts for years, never wanting to let go of the past. As you go through the door of 2012, drop at the entryway, all the hurts of yesterday and carry them no more.

5. There will be the need to be faithful

In 2012 you will need to press on in the will of God for your life; you will need to walk on through the valleys and over the mountain tops that you will face; you will need to carry on in your service of love to others; you will need to live on in the will of God with a thankful heart, with praise upon your lips, and with zeal in your spirit.

6. There will be the need for Jesus

Every day, in every moment, through every circumstance of 2012, you will need Jesus. You will need Him fully and you will need to trust Him completely. You will need His grace to enable you, His Spirit to empower you, His strength to support you, and His counsel to instruct you in all the will of God.

The best place is wherever He puts us, and any other would be undesirable, all the worse because it would please our fancy, and would be of our own choice. Do not think about distant events. This uneasiness about the future is unwholesome for you. We must leave to God all that depends on Him, and think only of being faithful in all that depends upon ourselves.

When God takes away that which He has given you, He knows well how to replace it either through other means or by Himself. – Fenelon

Strive to carry yourself with total resignation to the Divine will that God may do with you and all according to His heavenly pleasure, relying on Him as on a kind and loving Father.

- – - written by M. Molinos

Everyone has a beginning. And, the good news is, you can begin again! If you like to start 2012 afresh, I believe it’s important that you consider this year as a God-ordained new beginning for you.

In fact, it is God’s desire that all of us should have and enjoy new beginnings. See this beautiful statement in 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT) “…anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”

It doesn’t matter what you did or didn’t do in 2011. You can begin again!

It doesn’t matter what you are or what you aren’t. You can begin again!

It doesn’t matter what you have or what you lack. You can begin again!

Don’t think, “It’s just another year”. No. It’s not.

It’s a New Year for a new beginning – new plans, new resources, new accomplishments.

You may have had dreams and desires in the past which you left somewhere along the journey because of negative experiences. I believe it’s time that you prayerfully re-dig the pit and once again pull out those dreams. Bring them along with your whole life into the hands of the Savior. He will do a fresh work in you.

So, remember: 2012 is a new beginning! What else comes to your mind when you think about 2012 as a new beginning for you? Add your thoughts below in the comments section.

- – - written by Joe Abraham from www.joeandancy.com