2020 has been uncertain at best.  With an unreliable economic forecast, widespread COVID, and unprecedented spiritual warfare, it seems every area of our life has been disrupted.

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We now find ourselves on the precipice of a new year, leaving one season to enter another.  It’s important how we leave one season, for it is the way we enter into the next.

Considering the challenges we have walked through, how do we leave 2020 and enter into 2021 with faith and expectancy?

The answer? We must look back to move forward.

While it is true that we are often told not to look back, at times it can prove beneficial.

Deuteronomy 6:12 says, “Then take care lest you forget the Lord, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.”

We must first of all remember it is God who has brought us through this year.  Yes, it has certainly had its challenges, but He remained faithful to bring us through.

Not only did He bring us through, but I believe He has wrought great change with an intense time of pruning in the Body of Christ in 2020.  We are seeing the fruit of that pruning all across our nation.

We have seen an unprecedented increase in prayer across this nation, including the Give Him 15 daily prayer initiative with Dutch Sheets – where he and a massive group of people pray specifically for our nation every single day.

We saw the December Jericho March in Washington, DC, with thousands in attendance, worshipping God and praying for our nation.

We have witnessed people standing up for God and for what He has declared about our nation.  People are refusing to settle for injustice. Instead, courage has arisen to stand firm in faith for righteousness to prevail.  It is an exciting time to be alive.

We can’t look back on this year without seeing the goodness and faithfulness of God all across this land.

We must enter into this coming year with peace, faith, and great anticipation.  The question is, what do we take with us and what do we leave behind?

We take the true things with us.

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things (Phil 4:8).

The true things are the faithfulness of God.  The fruit that has been brought forth in each of our lives.  The firm stand believers all across the United States of American have taken, demanding freedom for our nation.  Yes, there has been rioting, anger, and fraud, but we have also seen the goodness of God in the very midst of the chaos.

We take with us the change we have seen in the body of Christ.

I recently saw a sign that said, “I remember when I prayed for what I have now.”  When I read those words, I was reminded of the many times we have prayed for God’s people to arise and pray and take back our nation.  We are seeing the fruit of that prayer – and that is something we can take into the new year.

Let’s take with us the momentum the Body of Christ has gained as we have arisen, awakened, and are fervently praying for our nation.

What do we leave behind?

The Bible says, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us” (Heb 12:1).

The Passion Translation says it like this; “As for us, we have all of these great witnesses who encircle us like clouds. So, we must let go of every wound that has pierced us and the sin we so easily fall into. Then we will be able to run life’s marathon race with passion and determination, for the path has been already marked out before us.”

May we lay aside every wound that has pierced us.

This year has been filled with wounds of hurt, anger, sickness, and fear.  These things have been stoked and manipulated with constant lies from the media. We need not take these things with us.  Lay them aside, do not allow them to hinder you from entering into the new year with great anticipation and faith. If you have been wounded by people, remember, hurt people hurt people.  Let it go and love them unconditionally.  Just as Christ loves us.

Yes, we can look back and thank God for His faithfulness this year.  For His blessings and His goodness.  We can and we should.  But…now it is time to move forward.

Philippians 3:14 says, “I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward.”

It’s time to press forward, into the new year. The new season—a time of great anticipation.  A time of seeing God’s Word fulfilled.  We will see our prayers answered in fulness.  We have fought the good fight of faith this year.  Together, we have stood firm.  As we enter into 2021 may we purpose to hope against hope and see the promises of God manifest in our nation.  May we enter this new year with thanksgiving for what is behind and move forward to the good things ahead.

Author Kim Potter is a writer and the founder of A New Thing Ministries, which sends a daily teaching to thousands of people all around the world. Her articles have appeared on The Elijah List, Charisma, Spirit Fuel and iBelieve.com. Kim’s message is one of hope. She speaks to the heart of those who have grown discouraged or disappointed by the circumstances of life, imparting hope. To receive her daily inspirational writings, go to www.anewthingministries.com. (Photo Credit: Unsplash.)

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