A Year to Thrive

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~Autumn

Well, it's that time again—time to bring out the erasers, the white-out, and the erasable pens, because we’ll still be putting 2024 on top of all our papers, school essays, emails, and anything else that needs a date, only to realize it’s no longer 2024. How is it already one day until 2025?!

It’s crazy; it feels like just two months ago I started writing out things I wanted to do in 2024. Looking back, 2024 was by far the most eventful year for me. From graduating high school to starting a business, and so many other things—some of which include the amazing friendships with the FM team members and so many others. Anyhow, enough about memory lane. As we go into the new year, what are we doing? Are we making goals and resolutions? Maybe it’s finishing this class, memorizing things, reading all the books on that list, etc.

While all these things are good to do, there’s more to life than just goals. It’s not about just checking things off a list and making odd recaps about it. It’s about living with purpose. Purpose, because we’re not living for the world, we’re not living for social media, but we’re living each moment for God.

We all know life is very flighty and unpredictable—not always fun and sometimes just plain overwhelming. But when our purpose goes from surviving to thriving in Christ, our perspective begins to change. No longer is it, “I hate washing dishes.” It becomes, “Thank You for letting me have meals that make dishes dirty.” Instead of, “I can’t deal with today; I need a break,” it can be you running into His arms and sending up a prayer asking for strength.

As we head into 2025, let’s not forget our purpose and the true goal of living a life for Christ. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed; we don’t know how many days we have left, but we do know that we can choose to live for something greater than ourselves. We can live to glorify God in everything—our actions, our words, and even our thoughts. So why not take this new year as an opportunity to recommit ourselves to living fully for Him?

Here are 5 simple ways to flip the switch from surviving to thriving:

1. Live with Purpose Every Day
   It’s easy to get caught up in the grind of everyday life and forget the bigger picture. But the truth is, God has a plan for each of us, and every day is an opportunity to be part of that plan. Whether it’s showing kindness to someone, working hard at our jobs, or just being present with family and friends, we can do it all for His glory. As Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters” (ESV).

2. Serve Others with Love
   We can reflect God’s love by serving others. In 2025, let’s look for opportunities to serve those around us. It might be helping a neighbor, volunteering at church, or just offering a listening ear to someone who needs it. Maybe you might be in a place where you can’t do any of those for anyone—here’s one you could probably do: chores. Whether washing dishes, cleaning your room, or any other job you may have to do, this can be a way to serve others. Jesus showed us the ultimate example of serving, and we can follow in His footsteps by putting others’ needs above our own. Galatians 5:13 reminds us, “Serve one another humbly in love.”

3. Grow in Your Faith
   Living for God means growing in your relationship with Him. In 2025, make it a priority to spend time in prayer, reading the Bible, and just listening for His voice. The more we grow in our faith, the more we reflect Him in everything we do. Whether it’s joining a Bible study, starting a daily devotional habit, or simply taking time to sit in silence and pray, make 2025 the year you deepen your connection with God.

4. Be Bold in Sharing His Love
   We are all called to be light in the world (Matthew 5:14). In 2025, don’t be afraid to share the love of Christ with others, whether it’s through your words or actions. It doesn’t have to be a huge, dramatic moment—it could be as simple as showing kindness to someone who’s struggling or being a listening ear when someone needs it. You never know how God might use those small moments to impact someone’s life.

5. Live with an Eternal Perspective
   It’s easy to get caught up in the here and now—the pressures, the distractions, the stresses, the fast-paced chaos. But when we live with eternity in mind, it changes everything. In 2025, remember that this world is not all there is. We have an eternal hope in Christ, and that should affect how we live today. It doesn’t mean we don’t care about the present, but it does mean we should live with the bigger picture in mind, knowing that what we are going through right now is part of the picture the Master Artist has painted for our lives. Even rain clouds eventually run out of rain, so look up and keep your eyes on Him.

What will 2025 be for YOU?
2025 is coming, whether we are ready or not. This year is going to look vastly different for all of us. Will every day be perfect? Absolutely not. This isn’t the Disney Channel; this is life—your life, my life, our lives. The question is: Are we surviving or are we thriving?

I challenge you: Make 2025 the year you flip the switch and stop surviving and start thriving in Christ.