21 Areas of Focus for Christians in 2021
Finally, we’re here, embarking on a brand new year. But where and how do God’s people steer our focus after making it through 2020 by His grace?
Because “brand-new” conjures up all kinds of hopes and dreams.
And Merriam Webster defines it: conspicuously new and unused, also: recently introduced. Synonyms: fresh, mint, pristine, span-new.
While we might have wished for 2020 to end early, most of us welcomed it with a cheery, “Hello, New Year” twelve months ago.
Instead of the ability to go back and undo our warm welcome to 2020, we only possess the gift to look ahead—focus forward.
Yet, any new year never promises care-free days.
So here are 21 areas of focus for believers.
Focus on Brand-new
(1.) Beginnings. “The point in time or space at which something starts.”(Google) The world, life, time and space all started with God. Give Him the new year and your new beginnings.
(2.) Forge new paths. Whether careers, direction, vision, mission, or ministry, remember who makes new paths. “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:19 (NIV)
(3.) Dreams. Dream big ole’ ginormous things only God can pull off. He’s the biggest dreamer of all. Dream with God, you and Him dream best together.
Dream big ole’ ginormous things only God can pull off. He’s the biggest dreamer of all. Dream with God, you and Him dream best together. #NewYear #Focus Click To Tweet(4.) Do-overs. Sometimes we get to do something over, other times it’s impossible. But every new year, month, week, and day presents opportunities to change our actions, reactions, perspective, words, and outlook.
(5.) Second chances. Everyone hopes for a second chance after forgetting something, messing up, or hurting someone. Not only expecting them from others, but also giving them to others. Because we serve a God of second chances and countless chances.
(6.) Wholeness. We were made for wholeness, but we learned brokenness. Jesus makes us whole. “For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.” Colossians 2:9-10 (ESV)
Living Life Focused
(7.) Abundant life. Do you realize abundant life started the moment you received Christ as Lord? “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10b (ESV)
(8.) Joy. Jesus told us to abide in His love and keep God’s commandments so that “my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” John 15:11b (ESV)
(9.) Peace. Peace from the Prince of Peace. “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)
(10.) Love God and others. “There’s no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:31b (ESV)
(11.) Stay in the Word. Nothing anchors us more than a God who is trustworthy and true to His Word.
Stay in the Word. Nothing anchors us more than a God who is trustworthy and true to His Word. #NewYear #Focus Click To TweetFocus on the Lord
(12.) Hope in the Hope-giver. Hope has a name. Jesus.
(13.) Depend on God. Culture says we are weak if we need help and we can’t pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps. God says, “Look to the hills, where does your help come from? From Me the God of heaven and earth.” (See Psalm 121:1)
(14.) Stand on holy ground. Are we shifting ground from this world’s opinions to holy ground?
(15.) Walk by faith. Our faith is unstoppable when we trust in an unstoppable God who does bigger and better things than anyone or any god.
(16.) Trust a God who’s faithful. Great is His faithfulness!
Focus on Spiritual Things
(17.) Fruit of the Spirit. Are we growing every year in spiritual fruit? “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV)
Are we growing every year in spiritual fruit? “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV) #NewYear #Focus Click To Tweet(18.) Prayer. Prayer releases our burdens to God. The Lord has a strong shoulder for the burdens heaped upon us from people, the world and hardships.
(19.) Build up the body. “We are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” Ephesians 4:15b-16 (ESV)
(20.) Invest in the Kingdom. Reach the lost, make disciples, pour into others and help the needy.
(21.) Hold onto Jesus. No matter what the future holds, cling to Christ with all our might as He holds onto us!
How can you ask God to help you focus on important areas for the brand-new year?
A Promise: God Crowns the Year with Goodness.
Sometimes I participate in these link-ups:
Legacy Linkup/Inspire Me Monday/Tell His Story/Purposeful Faith/Recharge Wednesday/Worth Beyond Rubies/Tune in Thursday/Heart Encouragement/Embracing the Unexpected/Candidly Christian, Faith On Fire and Faith and Worship Christian Weekend.
© 2020 by Karen Friday, All rights reserved
This year presents a special opportunity to renew our minds and hearts in Christ. Great post!
It really does, Nancy. Lord, help us focus on You, Your Word, Your voice and Your desires for us!
A good reminder that we don’t know what the future holds but we know who holds it. We must close to the Master to stand any trials the future holds.
Yvonne, I’ve always loved that truth. So peaceful to know He holds the world, us, and time in His hands.
A new year brings new opportunities to grow in faith. I pray we all grow closer to Him.
Me too, Melissa! Our faith is unstoppable when we trust in an unstoppable God who does bigger and better things than anyone or any god.
What an amazing list, Karen. Yes, We have so many reasons to keep our eyes and hearts focused on God as the New Year unfolds. May we all grow in the Spirit to become more Christ-like with every passing day.
Blessings!
Martha, Happy New year, dear friend! I pray continue to know the Lord more and make Him known!
These tips are so helpful! For me, staying in the word has been so important. I am looking forward to new opportunities to grow in faith in 2021!
God’s Word is key to really ground us no matter what any new year holds for each of us!
Wonderful areas and thoughts to focus on as we enter this next year Ms. Karen. Great list ma’am. Thank you, Happy New Year, and God’s blessings ma’am.
Thanks so much, J.D. Happy New Year! Hope has a name. Jesus.
I have always loved clean slates and new beginnings. Thank you for these 21 areas to focus on for 2021. The verse from Isaiah In #2 has always been one of my favorites.
Hey Laurie, everyone loves new beginnings and what better way to start over than with the God of new beginnings! Happy New Year!
All good things to focus on! I love this time of year, with a fresh, new start to look forward to.
Agree, Barbara! “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:19 (NIV)
I want to “set my mind in things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.”
It’s not my default, but I am learning!
Yes, what a great way to start off the new year and a powerful prayer for us daily! Happy New Year, Michele!
Love this, Karen! Such wonderful ways to look ahead into 2021, with the Lord at the forefront of our minds, hearts and lives. I always ask God to help me draw closer to Him. Praying to keep seeking His heart by reading the Word, praying and singing His praises. May the Lord bless and keep you and your beautiful family in the year ahead! Thank you for your ongoing faith and faithfulness! You shine so brightly for Christ!
Melissa, I like to pray to stay ever so near to the Lord, so the enemy has no choice but to hightail it out of my life. Happy New Year! Nothing anchors us more than a God who is trustworthy and true to His Word.
What a great list for beginning a new year! The year hasn’t yet seen the light of day, but we already know that an untouched year lies before us, unmarred by our mistakes or shortcoming yet, with vaccinations soon to reach our homes and perhaps a reprieve from all of the illness arriving at some time during the coming year. We can begin again, do-over the many mistakes we made, start fresh. Thank you, Lord, for getting us through the old year and into the new!
Powerfully said, Melinda. It’s such a wonderful thing to start fresh with Jesus, forgetting what lies behind and moving on to the future, secure with Him by our side. Happy New Year! Great is His faithfulness!
What a great idea to list 21 things for the year ‘21! I am certainly praying it will be a better year. Your last point, #21, is my “go-to” and without Him, I don’t know how I’d make it. Happy New Year, Karen. Thanks for sharing your tips and spreading His love through your ministry and writing.
Hey Lisa, thank you and I left #21 for last because it really ties all the others together. And agree it’s my top one on the list. Happy New Year! Cling to Christ!
Give Him the New Year. That’s the smartest resolution I’ve heard yet!
Lauren, it makes sense because He created all time and space. And He is Lord over new beginnings.
I’m focusing on prayer this year, and I’m so excited to see what God has in store!
Happy New Year, friend!
That’s a great focus, Rebecca. We often forget the sheer power of prayer to change things and people, to change us! Happy New Year!
Karen, you’ve shared so many great areas to place our focus this year. I especially love your last one . . . focusing on and clinging hard to Jesus. No matter how this year goes down, if we’re holding tightly to Him, we’re going to have hope.
“…if we’re holding tightly to Him, we’re going to have hope.” Agree, Jeanne. It’s the reason I saved this one for last, it’s a great summary for all areas of focus wrapped up together!
[…] we discussed 21 Areas of Focus for Christians in 2021 last week, what better way for God’s people to focus in the new year than […]
Karen, I appreciate you giving these great words of wisdom. I appreciate this quote, “God’s the biggest dreamer of all. Dream with God, you and He dream best together.” Thanks for sharing!
Thank you, Lisa. I used to think believers weren’t allowed to be dreamers. And we don’t want to dream following after the world’s ways. But Joseph was a dreamer in the Bible. And he stayed faithful to trust God would bring his dreams to pass one day, even years later.
Lord, give us Your dreams for us!
Karen, I love this. Such great insights and reminders of the areas of focus for Christians. Thank you for such an encouraging post. Blessings.
Thank you, Paula. I pray that no matter what the future holds, I cling to Christ with all my might as He holds onto me!
[…] In this post, we discuss growing in the fruit of the Spirit every year: 21 Areas of Focus for Christians in 2021 […]