The season for bingeing on Christmas movies, whether on Hallmark, Netflix, or Prime, is almost over. With our hearts full of joy from the sappy and predictable storylines, we learned lessons on love and reconciliation, as well as values and traditions, from them. With the lighting of the Advent candles in churches over, we’re encouraged to remember what each represents: hope, peace, joy, and love, with the fifth one symbolizing Christ Himself. The question is, will we carry on the theme of rejoicing in the new year?
Business as usual?
Three best friends traveled to Europe for the Christmas markets. Their fun adventures invited everyone following them on social media to share the beautiful memories they created. The last post was a photo of them with long, sad faces. The caption read: “Pray for us during our time of mourning. Our vacation is over, headed home.” What a way to close their travel chapter by recognizing that the reality of daily life is upon them!
Think about this. On New Year’s Eve, many will be glued to their TVs to watch the Times Square Ball Drop in New York. After watching the entertainment lineup, the glitter ball finished the countdown, and Auld Lang Syne sung; it’s a wrap! The holidays are officially over, and we begin the next 365 days with the same view from our old eyes. It almost feels like we partied too hard the night before, then crashed and burned the next day. Is that how we want to start the first day of a new year?
An invitation to reflect.
Just before December hit, a team had one last staff training course for the year. The topic, Goal Setting for Success, was well received. The speaker invited each one to focus on their personal goals set for the year and consider what had worked and what hadn’t. One more element was added—a follow-up question to reflect on why it worked and why it didn’t.
We often become so focused on what we want to accomplish that we forget about flexibility and the importance of pivoting. Imagine a Roomba designed to clean a room efficiently, but it's stuck in a corner instead. It hits the wall repeatedly. Now imagine yourself doing the same thing and expecting a different outcome each time. Yes, we all have heard the famous saying, “Try and try until you succeed.” We do want to get back up and not lose hope, but sometimes, it’s just insanity to think that our strokes must be the same.
As we contemplate things, remember what advice Jesus gave to His disciples as He sent them out: “And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. And as you enter the house, greet it. And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town” (Matthew 10:11-14 ESV). Jesus wanted them to use their time and energy wisely, so He established guidelines. There was no need for them to keep knocking on doors that remained shut. And it should be the same thing for us. We either go back to the drawing board and see what changes need to be made or move on to the next thing on the list. We need to accept the fact that we don’t have to succeed in everything, especially all at once.
Creating a vision of joy and rejoicing.
A married woman explained to people during a meet-up with new friends how she and her husband had met. She said she walked past him in a busy street, but he quickly turned around to follow her. And he randomly blurted to her, “I can’t believe that I manifested the woman of my dreams!” As lame as it sounded to her at the time, they went for a drink, and the rest was history.
What do you think of creating a vision focused on joy and rejoicing for 2026? Will it inspire us if we have images, words, and whatever else is connected to joy and rejoicing to manifest them in our lives? Will a hodgepodge collection of symbols of our goals and dreams provide more clarity for our future and help us live life to the fullest when we have a guide?
We just celebrated the birth of Jesus, the Messiah, so it’s important to remember the angel’s announcement regarding joy and rejoicing: “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people” (Luke 2:10 ESV). And Paul encourages us with these words as well: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice” (Philippians 4:4 ESV). That’s a serious order to find joy in the One we call our Lord and Savior.
Including growth in spiritual life in our vision board.
As believers in and followers of Christ, we are told this: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV). But it sounds like we are constantly clinging to our security blanket, the idea that we are works in progress, to excuse our old, sinful nature showing up from time to time. Paul, the apostle, clearly stated that, “those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (Galatians 5:24). But why are we more comfortable with our old selves rather than rejoicing in the new us?
How wonderful it will be to see words like “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control,” the fruit of the Spirit, added to the vision board! (Galatians 5:22-23 ESV). We don’t really need pretentious religiosity by adding an image of Christ or a cross, which is creatively included in kits sold in stores for a more Christian vibe. Just scribble the Bible verses that speak to you during your devotionals and prayer time and pin them on the board. You will find that it will get easier to memorize them, especially when you use them for daily affirmations. This practice will lead to a daily renewal of our inward man (2 Corinthians 4:16 ESV).
Our vision board’s call to action.
As we become more comfortable and see ourselves as a vision of Christ’s artistry, we will not overlook the fact that we are created for action. Paul called it “good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10 ESV). We like to think that our compassion stems from our hearts breaking at the sight of the sad and difficult circumstances around us. But as one song line recognized, we must ask the Lord to show us what breaks His heart and align our hearts with His. There are many today who practice misplaced compassion, diverting our attention and efforts away from care, justice, and mercy to the real broken and hurting.
The practice of good works, putting the vision into action, will “let [our] light shine before others…and give glory to [our] Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). What God has purposed for us becomes a testimony of a joyful, blessed life lived in obedience to God’s Word.
How can we optimize joy?
There is no reason to limit our joy and rejoicing to the last two days or two weeks of the holidays. God is constantly watching over us, and each day should be a cause for rejoicing. As David says, “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11). Let’s carry on the theme of rejoicing in the new year!
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Kara Gebhardt
Luisa Collopy is an author, speaker and a women’s Bible study teacher. She also produces Mula sa Puso (From the Heart) in Tagalog (her heart language), released on FEBC Philippines stations. Luisa loves spending time with her family over meals and karaoke!
