The Plan for The Year Is Birthed in Spring 一年之计在于春
Author : Bro Goh Hun Keng
Translate : Sis Charis Ong
“Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.”
In the Lunar calendar, a new year begins with the arrival of Spring, which also signal a time to bid things of old farewell and welcome the new. Be it a calendar year or a financial year, new plans always start at the beginning of a new year.
We might want to begin with reflecting on our faith and our lives and check ourselves if we’ve been found wanting in our relationship with God and others, in our attitude towards serving, or in our reading of the Word, prayers, and thanksgiving. These are challenges that anyone can face therefore in this new year, let us be determined to leave behind the old and welcome the new, and plan to live a life that pleases our God.
Since this is a plan that involves my life, no one else can do the planning for me as this concerns my relationship with God. Simply put to plan is to list the things we aim to achieve this year, and to set measurable goals for some of these things so that along the way, we can track our progress.
Of course, not all achievements are measurable. Yet, if we are determined to build a close relationship with God, to gain more strength from God to build our faith, then I believe our ability to serve and weaknesses in behaviour will be strengthened.
And so I feel, we must go back to the basic teachings of the Bible when planning for the year, that is to have a plan for reading the Word and to cultivate of habit of praying daily and giving thanks frequently. Do keep in mind that praying for and giving thanks go hand in hand because one cannot keep asking without knowing how to give thanks. And thanksgiving must be reflected in our actions. Life with the pandemic is filled with uncertainty, therefore it is imperative to keep praying and giving thanks. Let me encourage you with Jeremiah 33:3: "Ask of me, and I will answer you, and show you great and difficult things which you do not know".
作者: 黄师母
“你求告我，我就应允你，并将你所不知道，又大又难的事指示你.”
在农历，新的一年以春季开始，意味着弃旧迎新。不论是哪一种年历或财政年历，新的计划，总是在新的年度开始实行。
在信仰与生命上，我们或许也要先反思和检讨一下，过去一年里，是否对神或对人有什么亏欠，在事奉的态度上想要有所改善，有没有不住读经祷告和感恩？这是我们大家都会遇到的挑战。故此，我们应当乘新年的开始，立志弃旧迎新，计划今年生命大计，过着讨神喜悦的人生。
既然是我自己的生命大计，别人不能替我计划的，因为这事是有关我和神之间的关系。其实简单来说，计划就是我们立志把今年想要做好的事项订下来，有些项目要有一个目标，这样才可以衡量进度如何。
当然，不是每一件事的成就，都能衡量的。可是，若我们立志要和神建立密切的关系，从神得到更多的能力，坚定信心，我想，我们事奉的能力和行为上的软弱，必因此得到刚强。
所以我觉得，一年的计划里，要回到圣经的基本教导，就是要有计划的读圣经、培养每天祷告的习惯、并常常谢恩。请记住，祈求和感恩，是相辅相成，不能只懂得祈求而不会感恩。而且感恩是要配上行动。生活在冠状疫情笼罩下，我们的未来似乎充满着许多的不确定性，因此祈求和感恩更是重要与必需遵行的。让我以圣经耶利米书33章3节与大家共勉：「你求告我，我就应允你，并将你所不知道，又大又难的事指示你」