Series Details
The arrival of the New Year often puts us in the mood to evaluate—to look back over the previous year and think about where we’ve been or to look forward to the coming year and consider where we’re going. Chuck Swindoll’s two messages in this mini-series will spur you to carefully consider how you’ve spent this past year and encourage you to seek the Lord’s direction for the year to come.
The transition into a new year is a spiritual “crossroads” that calls for intentionality rather than just a turn of the calendar page. In this two-part mini-series, Pastor Chuck Swindoll uses the simple logic we teach children at a street corner—Stop, Look, and Listen—to help believers evaluate the past year and seek God’s direction for the future. These messages provide the biblical “musts” for maintaining a focused, peaceful, and productive life in the year to come.
1. Time to Reflect and Renew (Philippians 4:4–9; James 4:13–15)
- Overview: Explores the danger of living life on “auto-pilot.” Chuck encourages us to Stop and assess God’s movements, Look for His new directions, and Listen for His voice through the Word.
- Key Fact: Reflection is the bridge between a cluttered past and a renewed future. Without it, we are prone to repeating the same spiritual mistakes.
- Scripture: James 4:15 – “Instead, you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.'”
2. Three Musts for a New Year (Selected Scriptures)
- Overview: Identifies three essential disciplines for the coming year: maintaining a spirit of joy, practicing the presence of God, and focusing on things that are true and honorable.
- Key Fact: A successful year isn’t measured by the achievement of resolutions, but by the consistency of our walk with Christ.
- Scripture: Philippians 4:8 – “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable… dwell on these things.”
Common Questions: New Year’s 2012 Messages
1. Why does Chuck use the “Stop, Look, and Listen” analogy? In “Time to Reflect and Renew,” this analogy is used to combat the frantic pace of modern life. Just as children are safe when they pause at an intersection, believers find spiritual safety when they pause to “Stop” their business, “Look” at their circumstances through God’s eyes, and “Listen” to His specific counsel.
2. How do I avoid making “arrogant” plans for the new year? Drawing from James 4, Chuck warns against the presumption of “Tomorrow we will go to such and such a city.” We avoid arrogance by submitting our plans to the sovereignty of God, always holding our goals with an open hand and the prayer, “If the Lord wills.”
3. What are the “Three Musts” mentioned in the second message? While the specific message elaborates on them, they generally center on:
- Joy: Choosing a posture of praise regardless of circumstances.
- Prayer: Maintaining a constant “open line” to the Father.
- Focus: Intentionally filling the mind with biblical truth rather than cultural noise.
4. How can I “renew” my commitment when I feel spiritually exhausted? Renewal comes from a shift in focus. Instead of trying harder, the series suggests “dwelling” on the things listed in Philippians 4:8. By filling the mind with what is “excellent and worthy of praise,” the heart is naturally invigorated.
5. What is the most important “intersection” to watch for this year? The most important intersection is where your will meets God’s will. The series encourages believers to look for those moments where God may be calling them to a new direction or a deeper level of surrender.
