"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
— Jeremiah 29:11

Every autumn, our Jewish brothers and sisters observe Rosh Hashanah, the biblical new year. It is not simply a celebration of beginnings, but a solemn call to rest, reflect, and repent. For them, the days leading up to Yom Kippur—the Day of Atonement—are a sacred time of searching the heart, turning from sin, and preparing to walk into a new year aligned with God’s will.

As Gentile believers, this should speak volumes to us. For while many of us set resolutions on January 1st, promising to do better—eat healthier, work harder, spend less, love more—how often do those promises fade by February? We try to muscle through change in our own strength, but quickly discover how fragile our willpower is.

The difference is simple: we forget to add Christ.

Paul reminds us in Philippians 4:13:
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Lasting transformation never comes from willpower alone. It comes from surrender. From resting in God’s presence, reflecting on His Word, repenting of what has pulled us away, and trusting that His plans are far greater than our own.

Rosh Hashanah is a beautiful picture of what we need in our daily walk with Christ. It invites us to pause. To search our hearts. To lay down the burdens of the past year and step into the future with hope—not because we are strong, but because God is faithful.

Maybe this year, instead of making empty promises, we can make a holy commitment: to put Christ at the center of every plan, every dream, every step. To trust Jeremiah 29:11 not as a vague blessing, but as a personal blueprint from a loving Father who already sees the road ahead.

As we enter a new season, may we embrace the rhythm of rest, reflection, and repentance. May we remember that resolutions fade, but Christ’s strength endures. And may we step into the future not with fear, but with faith—because the Lord has declared He knows the plans He has for us, and they are plans of hope.

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