15 Things to Give up in the New Year
As we move into a new season, here are 15 Things to Give Up in the New Year. If you give up these 15 things you will experience more joy and fulfillment than every before. Take time to prayerfully reflect on letting these 15 things go forever. Here’s a guide to help you take a spiritual retreat for the New Year. Click Here to Download
15 Things to Give up in the New Year!
1. Doubting yourself
To doubt is to plummet into a sea of uncertainty where you lack conviction. If you allow this uncertainty to grow it will cause you to hold back, to hesitate and procrastinate. Doubting will paralyze you and keep you from obtaining the fullness of your destiny. Your indecision will cause you to lack the confidence that you need to move forward into the New Year in faith.
God’s word says:
“For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” James 1:7-8
2. Negative Thinking
A Pessimistic view will skew reality and put you in a bad mood. If you change your thinking you will change your world view. If you have a gloomy attitude heading into 2019, you will not be able to accomplish much. Negativity steals the joy out of life. As you go into the new year think on these things:
“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Philippians 4:8 NLT.
When you think on the positive of your identity in Christ your future will open up to you.
3. Fear of Failure
The Fear of Failure can sabotage your success. Fear is an unpleasant emotion that causes worry and anxiety. You begin to feel uneasy about your future. Let go of the fear of failure and ask for help. Embrace the fact that everyone makes mistakes. Be at peace with yourself and stop trying so hard. Do not let the fear of failure control whether you say “yes” or “no.” Joyce Meyer says:
“Just because you feel fear doesn’t mean you can’t do it. Do it afraid”
4. Destructive Relationships
As you go into the New Year do not allow destructive relationships to control you. When you experience daily injury from another person through violent behavior you need to be safe from harm. Hostile relationships do not help you walk in peace. It’s important not to let go of our covenant relationships easily. Conflict can be an opportunity for greater intimacy. However, when a relationship has become detrimental to your health and well-being it is important to put up healthy boundaries.
5. Gossiping
Repeating rumors starts wars. Idol gossip assassinates someones reputation. Unfounded slander divides relationships. Gossip is destructive to you and your relationships. Proverbs 16:28 says:
“A troublemaker plants seeds of strife; gossip separates the best of friends.”
6. Criticizing yourself and others
Gossip quickly leads to criticizing others in your mind and attitude. When you are constantly finding fault with another person you are no longer able to see or perceive clearly.
“Don’t bad-mouth each other, friends. It’s God’s Word, his Message, his Royal Rule, that takes a beating in that kind of talk. You’re supposed to be honoring the Message, not writing graffiti all over it. God is in charge of deciding human destiny. Who do you think you are to meddle in the destiny of others?” James 4:11 MSG
When you put a stop to your critical attitude towards others, remember not to be critical or disapproving of yourself. Give yourself a break. Be gracious in how you think about yourself.
7. Anger
Anger can be a smoldering wick of quiet condemnation or it can be a violent outburst of wrath. Either way, when you have uncontrolled anger in your life it is like opening the door to a thief and inviting him to come in and take over.
“And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.” Ephesians 4:26-27 NLT.
8. Comfort Eating
In 2018 its time to let go of comfort eating. The next time you are tired, angry or stressed notice what you do. Do you find yourself looking in the pantry trying to find something to eat? Do you stop by a convenience store to buy your favorite snack? Do you think in your mind, “I deserve this because of my hard day?” It’s time to let go of habits that are self-destructive.
9. Laziness
If you are unwilling to work or use energy, you may be struggling with laziness. You may not know it because you have been lying on the couch watching re-runs too unmotivated to get up and do something productive. Remember those things that fire up your passion. Begin to focus your mind and heart on your God-given destiny and shake off any laziness.
10. Negative Self-Talk
When I was pregnant with my first daughter I was unprepared for how hard pregnancy would be. I found myself waddling around frustrated. Out of my mouth came these words, “I hate life.”What a terrible thing to say when you are pregnant and carrying life.
The enemy of our souls constantly belittles. If you are not careful you will mimic the enemy’s negative words. What are those words or phrases that you find yourself saying over and over in your mind that then it spills out your mouth?
- I ALWAYS blow it
- I can’t do anything right.
- No one really likes me anyway.
Make positive confessions about your future:
- I am always surrounded by God’s Grace!
- I can do it! I am making progress.
- I am loved and appreciated.
11. Procrastination
If you constantly delay or postpone what you know you should do, you are just creating strife in your life. Procrastination robs your potential. Don’t be denied what God is calling you to do. Take advantage of the positive momentum of the New Year to focus on what is really important to you. As you focus on your priorities it will help you take one step forward at a time. You can do it!
12 Fear of Success
Your feelings of anxiety can get mixed up with your true desire to succeed in life. You may fear that you may be unable to cope with the responsibilities of success. You may be anxious that others will reject you. Or you may dread becoming someone else. The fear of success is debilitating. You were made for success.
“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10 NLT.
You have been created for a purpose. Success in God’s eyes is doing the good things that He prepared for you. His grace is sufficient for all that He has called you to do.
13. Anything Excessive
God has made all things for us to enjoy. However, there are things to give up in order to gain.
Anytime that we over-indulge in good things it is destructive. In the New Year, it is time to give up the excessive lifestyle of over-shopping, over-eating, over-indulging and to walk in self-control. Self control is a godly virtue that more of us need to embrace. His divine enablement helps us to quit addictive behaviors.
14. People Pleasing
You will sink your own ship if you trying to get everyone on board. In order for you to be the original creation of God, you have to accept that you won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. You won’t be able to please everyone all of the time. So in 2018 become a God-pleaser rather than a man-pleaser.
15. Fear of Future
Here we are at the intersection of time. If you blink, your present becomes your future. When you fear your future you welcome death. None of us are able to live in the past or stay in the present. Our lives are always moving forward with the greater cosmic picture of the universe.
The best way to let go of your fear of the future is to trust the ONE who holds your future. Trust in God who will never disappoint. That doesn’t mean that your life won’t at times be disappointing. It means rather that God is bigger the menial minutia of each day. His perspective ALWAYS bring life, hope and peace.
These are 15 Things to Give up in the New Year
God’s perspective welcomes and even yearns for the future. The world we live in is wasting away, but the future shines brightly in eternity. Get your copy of 21 Days to Spiritual Breakthrough now! Click Here to Download
If you want help to give things up in the new year, order your copy of Women Who Move Mountains Today! Click here if you are interested in leading a Women Who Move Mountains Group.
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Giving up these 15 Things is so essential to a joy-filled life. It is helpful to see it in print so that I choose another way.
It’s so easy to slip into old patterns of negative thinking. Giving up these 15 things will guarantee a fresh start!
Hi Sue.
This was a great post. One that has me thinking. A lot has happened to me over the last 2 years and most of this post has direct implications to my current life.
I think if I could add one thing it is: to make decisions rather than letting people or circumstance make them for you. This applies to all the points above. One must decide to act and not mearly try.
I hope you and your family are well and pray 2018 is your best year yet.
Rob,
It’s good to hear from you. Yes, the family is doing well. Most of us live in Texas now and we have planted a church called Life Bridge.
I agree, taking clear steps of action is very important. I am so sorry to hear about your divorce. I can’t imagine the pain you are going through.
I have not experienced the pain of divorce, but because of other things that I have experienced I believe with all my heart that — God is a redeemer and a restorer. He makes all things new. I am praying for a new beginning in your life. I remember how hungry for God and desperate you were for His presence when we first met. I pray that you would encounter God in a radical way. Thanks for reaching out.