Purpose for a New Year

There is something about turning the calendar to a whole new year

that gives us reason to contemplate what lies ahead 

and how we can make the days of the year count.

I think it is all of our desire to live in such a way

so as not to look back at the end and feel like we wasted our time.

But how do we do this?
What would my life look like if I daily sought
to find even one small purpose?
Maybe that is the beginning -
to ask for even just the will to act on that.

Psalm 138:8 says,

The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me.

Reading those words spurred me on to more

about God's purpose 

and I read in Proverbs 19:21

Many are the plans in the mind of a man,

but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.

Rather than these verses making me feel uncomfortable

I took them as encouragement to know that

God, who has shown His love for me,

is ultimately the one who has a plan for my good.

Knowing this, I want to look for 

His specific purpose for me, be it big or small.
Sometimes it will be easy;
sometimes it will seem impossible.
But I will trust that His purpose is
to work all things out for good.

For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

Philippians 2:13