When I first learned what New Year’s resolutions were during high school, I thought they were silly. If you wanted to exercise regularly, eat healthier, spend less time on screens, or read your Bible more, why would you wait for the New Year to do something about it? Why not implement these positive life changes as soon as you think about it?

As I grew older, I began to realize that there is some merit to being intentional about reflecting on your past year and looking forward to the year ahead at the same time every year. There is something significant about regular rhythms or traditions in a year.

You could show love to your spouse on any day of the year, but there is something significant about loving him or her on your anniversary.

You could celebrate how far you have come in life any day of the year, but there is something significant about celebrating your life on your birthday.

You could spend time with your family any day of the year, but there is something significant about a family trip or vacation.

The Jews were particularly good at rhythms and traditions in their year because God commanded them to observe them. Leviticus 23 lays out God’s instructions for seven sacred assemblies and festivals throughout the year to reflect and remember significant events in their history, like when God delivered them from Egypt and they did not have time to leaven their bread (Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, Lev. 23:4-8), or God’s provision for the harvest (The Feast of Firstfruits, Lev. 23:9-14, and the Feast of Weeks, Lev. 23:15-22), or when Israel had to wander the desert and live in temporary homes (Festival of Tabernacles, Lev. 23:33-43). Israel could have remembered God’s deliverance from Egypt, thanked Him for the harvest, or reflected on their time in the desert at any time of the year, but God instructed them to do so at particular times in their year. Clearly, God thinks there is something significant about reflecting on and celebrating something at a particular time of the year.

As we begin 2025, I encourage you to spend time with God reflecting on this past year and looking forward to the year ahead. How did God show up or reveal Himself to you in 2024? What do you need to thank Him for and celebrate? How did He grow you and your family? What might He be leading you to do or change in 2025? Let us resolve to pursue and love God even more in this upcoming year by reflecting on His goodness to us in the last year.