The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore. (Psalm 121:8)

Why all the fuss over New Year’s?

As clocks around the world tick forward relentlessly, folks count down the hours to the midnight when our day-counting shifts to the next calendar. Hugs, toasts, kisses, shouts, noise-making, and fireworks all wildly proclaim that the new year has arrived.

But what makes this particular evening an occasion for revelry?

Perhaps it’s because the failures, problems, and catastrophes of the old year have been swept into the past. A new, unspoiled, clean slate has just been placed in our hands. It’s a beautiful moment.

Everyone celebrates, even with mixed feelings—excitement about new opportunities and a bit of trepidation about what lies ahead.

We know we’ll face the blessings of new growth as well as daunting challenges. The previous years have taught us that. But we’ve also learned that while we’re living on this earth, God is with us every step of the way. 

As the author of Psalm 121 notes, our God is our Helper and Keeper. He will never sleep in His care of us, day and night. Our Lord will preserve us even as we leave the old behind us and go forth into the unknowns of the new.  

So when the chimes strike their last twelve notes of the old year, the question we must ask ourselves as Christians is this—what are we going to do in the coming year for Jesus? 

Please pray with me for God to guide each of us, support us, guard us, provide for us, and energize us. We need His courage to go into battle for Him and remember that the victory is His. We need to surrender completely to Him to accomplish His will for His kingdom.

Because we know He will never leave us, we can be assured He will carry us through. Let’s ask Him to draw us closer to Him and His love in the new year. Let’s rise up and celebrate that whatever happens, He will carry us through. Amen…and let’s begin!

God, Creator of the universe, Father of all time, help me to face the new year with the hope and joy that only comes from You. I praise You for the blessings of last year’s happy memories and the gift of new beginnings. Be my Guide and Helper through Your Holy Spirit, that I may endure all things with Your strength and wisdom. Give me vision for how to participate in Your kingdom work and energy to pursue Your plans for me. Please provide the skills, resources, and opportunities I’ll need. And help me tackle the challenges ahead with the assurance that You will never leave me. To the honor and glory of Your Son, Jesus Christ, Amen.

Nancy C. Williams is a Christian wife/mom with a writing career spanning more than 40 years in business and journalism. Williams is the author of the novel To Love a Falcon and the devotional book A Crocus in the Desert: Devotions, Stories, and Prayers for Women Experiencing Infertility. Her blogs are featured on Crossmap.com and AriseDaily. To follow Nancy’s posts and news, go to her home page at NancyCWilliams.com and subscribe at the bottom. 

© Copyright 2025 Nancy C. Williams (text and photography). Unless otherwise noted, Scripture verses are taken from the New King James Version®, Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. #newyear #2026 #newyearseve #celebrate #fireworks #prayer